Corridor

Restoration

Fund

 

A fund dedicated to restoring a forested buffer to Big Darby Creek and its tributaries.

Please join us in restoring the Darby Creek Watershed!

 

THE DARBY CREEK WATERSHED

Big Darby Creek is nationally recognized as one of the last healthy streams in the Midwest. It is one of the few places where man and nature have managed to coexist in relative harmony, to the benefit of both. Today this "ribbon of green" flows through a mostly rural setting, providing residents with welcome beauty, open space and wildlife. It also:

l Consists of 245 miles of free flowing streams that stretches through 7 counties in central Ohio

l Has received National and State Scenic River designations

l Provides habitat for an abundance of wildlife, including 36 species of rare and endangered fish and mussels

Despite Darby’s reputation, the natural and scenic state of the watershed is under continual threat from erosion, development, deforestation and pollution.

THE DARBY CREEK CORRIDOR

A healthy river corridor has a lush and diverse plant life along its banks. Ecologists have shown that a thick buffer of diverse vegetation is an integral part of a healthy ecosystem. Trees provide the river with shade upon which many species depend, while their roots extract pollutants from the soil before they reach the river and help stabilize banks by preventing soil erosion.

A damaged river corridor has depleted plant life. Exposed banks leave the shore vulnerable to erosion and may allow fertilizer and other pollutants to be washed into the river. The lack of a tree canopy exposes water to the sun, which may raise temperatures and hurt the fragile habitat of the river’s fish and wildlife.

Today many parts of the Darby watershed have only two or three feet separating the river from developed land or roads! In places, human impact left little more than a row of trees or patches of grass to stabilize and protect the river.

It is imperative to the future of Darby’s special ecosystem that these damaged areas of the corridor be restored to a healthier state.

DAMAGED PORTIONS OF

THE DARBY CREEK CORRIDOR

In the residential area pictured above, nothing protects this tributary from erosion and sun exposure.

In this photo exposure to sun has caused an accumulation of algae along the shore. When this algae dies bacteria will consume great amounts of oxygen in the water, leaving little left for the stream’s aquatic life.

 

CORRIDOR RESTORATION FUND

In response to this corridor deterioration, the Darby Creek Association has created the Corridor Restoration Fund. Many landowners would like to improve the riparian area of their riverfront property, but lack the funding and experience to do so. By raising money for restoration projects, the Corridor Restoration Fund seeks to improve the riparian corridors of the Darby Creeks and increase collaboration between landowners and existing groups doing similar work in the watershed. Funding will be used for tree and grass plantings, conservation easements, wetland protection, bank stabilizations, and other projects.

HOW YOU CAN HELP!

DONATION. The Corridor Restoration Fund depends on the generosity of caring individuals and organizations. If you would like to donate to the Corridor Restoration Fund, please complete the attached form and return it to the Darby Creek Association, along with your tax deductible contribution. Your donation will go directly towards restoring the Darby Creek corridor.

PARTICIPATION. If you are a private landowner interested in applying for a grant from the Corridor Restoration Fund, or if you or your organization are interested in participating in a restoration project, please complete and return the attached form, or contact us by phone or email!

By contributing to the Corridor Restoration Fund through donation or participation, you are helping to protect and restore the Darby Creek river corridor, ensuring that this ecological treasure can be enjoyed for generations to come!

THE DARBY CREEK ASSOCIATION is a volunteer-based non-profit organization that has worked since 1972 to keep the Darby Creeks and their tributaries in their natural free flowing state.

 

R YES! I would

like to help restore the Darby Creek Corridor!

£ Please accept my tax-deductible donation of $________ to the Corridor Restoration Fund! Please make checks payable to the Darby Creek Association and note that you would like the donation directed to the Corridor Restoration Fund.

£ I would like to apply for a grant through the Corridor Restoration Fund. Please send me more information!

£ I am interested in becoming a member of the Darby Creek Association. Please send me information about membership!

£ I would like to learn about other volunteer opportunities with the Darby Creek Association. Please send me more information!

Date ___________________________

Name ___________________________

Address ___________________________

City, state, zip _____________________

Phone ___________________________

Email ___________________________

& Please detach and send to:

Darby Creek Association

P.O. Box 85 - Plain City, OH 43064

614-470-2247

www.darbycreeks.org

darbycreeks@aol.com