Explanation
The purpose of this legislation is to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a contract with the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS), Wildlife Services (WS). The USDA is authorized to protect American agriculture and other resources from damage associated with wildlife. The primary authority for APHIS WS is the Act of March 2, 1931 (46 Stat. 1468; 7 U.S.C.426-426b) as amended, and the Act of December 22, 1987 (101Stat. 1329-331, 7 U.S.C. 426c). Wildlife Services activities are conducted in cooperation with other Federal, State and local agencies; private organizations and individuals.
With financial commitments from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio State University, the City of Columbus moved forward with the 5th Avenue Dam Removal and Olentangy River Restoration project, CIP 650706. The City of Columbus was able to remove the former Fifth Avenue Dam and then restore the Olentangy River. The City first removed the Fifth Avenue lowhead dam and then restored the natural flow of the Olentangy River through the university area. Removal of the dam was followed by re-engineering the river channel, the addition of wetland areas to slow and filter the flow of Stormwater, shoreline restoration, and finally the planting of native species to reestablish a more natural habitat and ecosystem along the Olentangy between the area north of the OSU campus and Downtown. In the coming years the appearance of the project will evolve as the reestablished native grasses and trees continue to grow and strengthen the shoreline.
The 5th Avenue Olentangy River Restoration project is in the reseeding phase. Native grass and other vegetation were planted in the Spring of 2014. Previous reseeding attempts have failed due to the consumption of new vegetation primarily by Canada geese. In 2013, several integrated goose damage management techniques were implemented by the ...
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