Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve

Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve. Parking Lots and Trailheads. , Parking Lots and Trailheads , This park is part of the Mentor Marsh ecosystem - where Lake Erie mingles with waters that drain into the Mentor Marsh. The Mentor Marsh takes in water from a 28.6 square mile area - most of which is in the City of Mentor. The Marsh ecosystem, including areas owned by the City and others, is about 1,500 acres, which is more than 2 square miles. It includes both a City and a State Nature Preserve. The Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve was one of the first established in Ohio. It is a now-rare coastal wetland on the Lake Erie shoreline., In 1966, the US Department of Interior designated the Mentor Marsh as a National Natural Landmark, due to its rich biodiversity. The plant and insect life here are part of an important feeding and breeding ground for many species of fish, and migratory birds., Park Trails , Over three miles of hiking trails encircle the Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve providing four distinctly different vistas: a view of the Mentor Lagoons Marina, Mentor Marsh, upland forest and Lake Erie shoreline., Why manage our stormwater here? , Rainwater picks up pollutants from roofs, roads, and parking lots. Polluted water can harm wildlife, and humans. The Marsh is where rainwater draining from upland mingles with Lake Erie. The Marsh filters out sediments that would otherwise travel into the Lake. Keeping Lake Erie clean helps us all. Lake Erie and the other Great Lakes of North America contain one fifth of all the freshwater on the Earth., The pavers of this parking lot let water flow into and through stone layers underneath. This traps pollutants coming from parked vehicles, and cleans the water before it reaches the Marsh., The 'bio-cells' next to the building have native species plants., The plant root systems also trap pollutants and clean water before it reaches the Marsh., The City and many partners work together to help maintain this area. Mentor received financial support for our parking lot and trailhead improvements from the US Environmental Protection Agency through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The City gratefully acknowledges the support it has received through the US EPA, and the Chagrin River Watershed Partners, for this project.