Olentangy River Wetland Research Park

Olentangy River Wetland Research Park A unique, urban facility at tOSU established in 1993 within CFAES and managed by SENR The grounds are open to the public daily from dawn to dusk.

The Schiermeier Wetlands is the home of the School of Environment and Natural Resources’ aquatics program and a gateway to research, teaching and outreach related to water resources at the university. The Schiermeier Wetlands pursue basic and applied research at multiple levels of ecological organization, from microbes to ecosystems to landscapes. The Schiermeier Wetlands also provides training fo

r undergraduate and graduate students and service to the community through environmental outreach and extension. Through these activities, the Schiermeier Wetlands plays an essential role in developing science-based solutions to critical issues in water resource management, restoration and conservation. The 52-acre urban research site is situated adjacent to the Olentangy River and consists of two experimental wetland basins, an oxbow wetland, bottomland hardwood forest and a mesocosm compound. The Heffner Teaching and Research Building located on the site includes analytical and teaching laboratories, a wet laboratory, flexible classrooms, offices and meeting spaces. Our experimental wetlands can be viewed from the Sandefur Observation Pavillion which is open to the public. Additional viewing opportunities of the natural areas are available along the Olentangy Greenways Trail and paved paths throughout the site.

Last week, the ORWRP had the pleasure of hosting Winous Point Marsh Conservancy technicians for the second half of our i...
05/27/2026

Last week, the ORWRP had the pleasure of hosting Winous Point Marsh Conservancy technicians for the second half of our intern swap! 🦆

During their visit, the technicians received a tour of the site and had the opportunity to participate in some of the research we do! Fortunately, they got the special opportunity to observe and conduct fyke net surveys, which are only done twice a year! These nets help researchers monitor aquatic wildlife in our wetlands as well as assess the health of the ecosystem! If you want to learn more about how we use fyke nets, go and check out Ourlands Episode #2! 🐟

Additionally, the technicians had the opportunity to sample aquatic macroinvertebrates and fish through electrofishing! Thank you Winous Point for giving us the opportunity to share some of the work we do! ✨

🚨THROWBACK THURSDAY🚨Welcome back to our American Wetlands Month celebration. Expect a new batch of old photos every Thur...
05/21/2026

🚨THROWBACK THURSDAY🚨

Welcome back to our American Wetlands Month celebration. Expect a new batch of old photos every Thursday this month!

Today, we’ve got a bit of an eclectic mix of photos. These are the fun ones that really stood out to Connor as he was sorting through all our albums. Learn a little more about each picture below!

Photo 1: Kids helping plant our oxbow (or play in the mud) ~ 1997
Photo 2: Dr. Mitsch leading a tour ~ 1994
Photo 3: Planting a Block O flag in Wetland 1 during the ORW Dedication ~ 1995
Photo 4: Kid standing next to heavy machinery during the early days of our site ~ 1994
Photo 5: Breaking ground on the Heffner Building ~ 1997
Photo 6: Christmas lights in the distinctive shape of our kidney wetlands framing the ‘Shoe ~ 1997
Photo 7: ORWRP flag hoisted from the Sandefur Pavilion ~ 1999
Photo 8: Hawk holding court between the two wetlands ~ 1996
Photo 9: Wide shot of researchers in Wetland 1 ~ 1997

Join us next week for our final batch of old photos!

Last week, the ORWRP and Winous Point Marsh Conservancy conducted our first intern swap!Winous Point protects, restores,...
05/18/2026

Last week, the ORWRP and Winous Point Marsh Conservancy conducted our first intern swap!

Winous Point protects, restores, and enhances 3000 acres of wetland habitats and wildlife in the southwest Lake Erie region! During our two-day visit, ORWRP staff received an extensive tour of the site and participated in sunrise and sunset secretive marsh bird surveys, with the primary purpose of these surveys to identify marsh birds that are more often heard than ever seen!

On the morning of day two, ORWRP staff assisted with bird captures, bird banding, and blood draws. The primary purpose of this protocol is to test for West Nile virus and to better understand the path of transmission in these northern latitudes. This is an established collaborative effort between Winous Point and The Ohio State University, with CFAES researchers testing for the virus in mosquito populations at our wetlands in Columbus!

Thank you Winous Point for hosting us last week! We’re looking forward to hosting a few Winous Point interns this week at the wetlands!

🚨 THROWBACK THURSDAY 🚨Welcome back to our American Wetlands Month celebration. Expect a new batch of old photos every Th...
05/14/2026

🚨 THROWBACK THURSDAY 🚨

Welcome back to our American Wetlands Month celebration. Expect a new batch of old photos every Thursday this month! Today, we’ll be honoring Dr. Bill Mitsch, the founder of the Olentangy River Wetland Research Park.

A highly regarded and distinguished professor, Dr. Mitsch pioneered the study of wetland ecology and ecological engineering, founding the ORWRP in 1992. For his extraordinary achievements as a researcher, educator, and advocate for wetlands, he was awarded the prestigious Stockholm Water Prize in 2004. Often called the “Nobel Prize of Water,” this award recognizes outstanding achievements in sustainable water use, honoring laureates annually at a ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden.

In 2008, Dr. Mitsch successfully led an effort to have the ORWRP designated a Wetland of International Importance by the Ramsar Convention, one of only 41 such sites in the United States and the only one in Ohio.

Dr. Bill Mitsch passed away in February of 2025. Because of his leadership and vision, the Wetlands will continue to be a celebrated legacy of his dedication to science, conservation, and education for years to come at The Ohio State University.

Take a scroll through to see Dr. Bill Mitsch in action during the early days of the ORWRP. Learn a little more about each picture below!

Photo 1: Dr. Bill Mitsch (pictured in scarlet) collecting data with students ~ 1999
Photo 2: Dr. Mitsch collecting water quality data, notably in a suit and tie ~ 1996
Photo 3: Dr. Mitsch planting vegetation along Wetland 1 ~ 1994
Photo 4: A cameo from our favorite Buckeye ~ 1999
Photo 5: Dr. Mitsch joined by a group in the Heffner Building lobby ~ 2000
Photo 6: Dr. Mitsch assisting with tree planting ~ 2004
Photo 7: Dr. Mitsch at the ribbon cutting for the Sandefur Pavillion opening ~ 1999
Photo 8: Dr. Mitsch photographed mid-handshake at an unspecified event ~ 2000
Photo 9: An ORWRP-decorated cake commemorating Dr. Mitsch’s 50th birthday, March 29th, 1997
Photo 10: Dr. Mitsch receiving a gift during his 50th birthday ~ 1997

Join us next Thursday for a new batch of old photos!

May is American Wetlands Month—the best time to celebrate one of nature’s most productive ecosystems!Did you know that b...
05/07/2026

May is American Wetlands Month—the best time to celebrate one of nature’s most productive ecosystems!

Did you know that before the ORWRP was an internationally recognized Ramsar wetland, our site used to just be farmland? Our site was built from the ground up, and it was all documented! So join us every Thursday this month for a Throwback Thursday: celebrate American Wetlands Month as we scan albums and albums of our photographed history! 📸🌱

Take a scroll through to see the humble beginnings of our site, from bulldozers to boardwalk construction to school tours! Learn a little more about each picture below!

Photo 1: Early ORWRP sign before site construction ~ 1992
Photo 2: Site development via heavy machinery ~ 1993
Photo 3: Boardwalk construction on Wetland 1 ~ 1993
Photo 4: ORWRP founder, Dr. Bill Mitsch (pictured in scarlet), assisting with boardwalk construction ~ 1993
Photo 5: Students assisting with boardwalk construction ~ 1994
Photo 6: Reflection of youth tour group in Wetland 1 ~ 1999
Photo 7: Wider photo of youth tour group ~ 1999
Photo 8: Early aerial photography of recently inundated wetlands ~ 1997
Photo 9: Breaking ground on the Olentangy River Wetland Research Park ~ 1992

Join us next Thursday for a new batch of old photos! ✨

Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 30th! 📅Join us for our second annual bioblitz event! Join the Olentangy River Wetl...
05/05/2026

Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 30th! 📅

Join us for our second annual bioblitz event! Join the Olentangy River Wetlands and experts from the Ohio State University for a day full of hands-on exploration. There will be two sessions, morning and evening, and each session will feature different stations for you to explore! Jump in to stations to learn about birds, bees, reptiles, fish, plants, and more!

Throughout the day, you'll get to learn about species you can find at the ORW (and maybe even your own backyard), how to protect them, and what citizen science means and how you can participate in it every day!

You can find out more about the event and stations can be found on our website under "Upcoming Programs and Events."
Sign-ups will be open soon, so keep an eye out! 🐦🐝🐢🦌

🌎 Celebrate Earth Day by volunteering at the ORW 🌎Next Tuesday, April 21st, join us from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM for a park cl...
04/15/2026

🌎 Celebrate Earth Day by volunteering at the ORW 🌎

Next Tuesday, April 21st, join us from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM for a park cleanup event in celebration of Earth Day. All supplies will be provided.
Can't make it right at the start? Don't worry! You can drop in to this event at any time, and park staff will direct you to areas that need cleaned.

We look forward to celebrating Earth Day (a day early) with you!
You can register now using the link in our bio or by going to go.osu.edu/orwcleanup

04/14/2026

Today is Ohio State Day of Giving 2026! We are currently raising funds to support year-round employment for Stone Laboratory Biological Field Station Assistants (BFSAs).

Currently BFSAs are seasonal and finish their position end of October. With this funding support, BFSAs will work at The Wilma H. Schiermeier Olentangy River Wetland Research Park (ORWRP) during the off-season in winter. BFSAs would have the opportunity to mentor Ohio State undergraduate interns and gain experience with environmental education in an urban setting.

Help us fund continuous year-long employment for this worthwhile position that will provide hands-on career experience at Stone Lab and The Wilma H. Schiermeier Olentangy River Wetland Research Park. Every gift, no matter the size, will help support these efforts. Thank you for your consideration and support!

Please visit go.osu.edu/donatewetlands to give today!

--

Pictured here is former ORWRP intern and current BFSA Sammy and ORWRP Outreach and Education Specialist Shelby behind their ORWRP table booth with plant and seed ID photos at Westfest 2024.

Toward the end of March we had the Chrysalis Entomology Club suit up in waders and collect aquatic macro invertebrates a...
04/09/2026

Toward the end of March we had the Chrysalis Entomology Club suit up in waders and collect aquatic macro invertebrates at the wetlands!

Members of Chrysalis frequently collect insects for research during club meetings, alongside field trips to zoos, museums, and partaking in community service! Thank you for coming out to our site!

Earlier this week we hosted the ENR Scholars for a tour at the wetlands!Our interns conducted their signature “demo tour...
03/27/2026

Earlier this week we hosted the ENR Scholars for a tour at the wetlands!

Our interns conducted their signature “demo tour,” which showcases interactive demonstrations of our site research, including seine netting, terrestrial macro-invertebrate sampling, nest box monitoring, and an examination of some lab equipment!

Thank you for checking out our site!

Interested in a tour? Sign up on our website! Link in bio

Welcome back, Buckeyes!We hope you all had a great spring break! Despite the back and forth with the weather, plenty of ...
03/23/2026

Welcome back, Buckeyes!

We hope you all had a great spring break! Despite the back and forth with the weather, plenty of wildlife are making their appearances at the wetlands! Take a scroll through or come check them out between dawn and dusk yourself sometime!

📸 Sara Herman

Address

352 W Dodridge Street
Columbus, OH
43202

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+16142929774

Website

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=NlYJ61IQlUiVKx_53x0RIVS-S2sOG61CjTRPIN47GIhUN

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Olentangy River Wetland Research Park posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The University

Send a message to Olentangy River Wetland Research Park:

Shortcuts

Share