______________________________ v&x

USDA is an equal opportunity provider 

and employer.

Wetlands on the Wayne

There are several types of wetlands in Ohio: 

bogs, marshes, swamps, vernal pools, etc. 

The primary type of wetland that occurs on the 

Wayne is the floodplain wetland. 

Floodplain wetlands were seasonally inundated 

as a result of stream flooding. Water stored on 

the floodplain slowly soaks back into the ground, 

but small depressions on the floodplain led to areas that held water longer. Mosaics of wetland 

soils resulted from years of seasonal flooding.

Because of their topography and rich soils, 

floodplains were valued by settlers for raising 

agricultural crops. Many floodplain wetlands 

were drained to enhance crop production. Over 

time, the Wayne has acquired lands that were 

tiled or ditched and have restored or enhanced 

wetland habitat along streams like Sand Fork, 

Pine Creek, and the Little Muskingum River. 

Many abandoned railroad 

beds also criss-cross the 

Wayne. In some cases, these 

old railroad lines have affected the hydrology of the floodplains and resulted in permanent wetlands. An example 

is Tansky’s Marsh near New 

Straitsville, Ohio.

A wetland story isn’t complete 

without the ultimate wetland 

engineer – the beaver! Beaver 

populations have increased 

over the years, and so have beaver wetlands. 

At times, beaver impact Forest neighbors and 

visitors – flooding roads and private property. 

The Big Bailey Wetland project, completed in 

December 2003 in partnership with the Athens 

County Engineers Office, resulted in the protection of both an Athens County Road and a large 

beaver wetland.

Contact Us

The Wayne has three offices to serve visitors. 

Office hours are 8- 4:30 Monday through 

Friday. 

Athens Ranger District

13700 U.S. Hwy 33

Nelsonville, OH 45764

Phone: 740-753-0101

Marietta Unit Office

27515 State Route 7

Marietta, OH 45750

Phone: 740-373-9055

Ironton Ranger District

6518 State Route 93

Pedro, OH 45659

Phone: 740-534-6500

Federal relay system for the deaf and hearing 

impaired: 1-800-877-8339

website: www.fs.usda.gov/wayne

Cadmus Wetland

Wayne National Forest

Wetlands

Forest

Service

FS-R9-019

03/2015
Shrinking Wetlands Buttonbush - This shrub is found in 

many wetlands on the Wayne. It belongs to the 

same family as plants that produce coffee. Buttonbush grows in 

deeper water than 

most shrubs and 

forms dense colonies. Its blooms 

are ball-shaped 

clusters of white 

flowers.

Beaver - The 

beaver is the largest rodent in North America. 

They are one of the only animals besides man, 

that can alter their environment. They carry 

branches and mud to wedge into an area where 

water is flowing to create a dam. Beaver hides 

were a valuable trade item in the early days of 

our country and by 1830, the beaver had disappeared from Ohio. Today their populations 

have reb o u n d e d 

and they are 

once again 

found in 

most wetlands on the 

Forest. 

Mallard Duck - These “dabbling” ducks 

feed by tipping up their 

tails and feeing below the 

water level. When frightened, they take off with a 

nearly vertical leap.

Once wetlands were prominent across Ohio’s landscape. Today, they are reduced to scattered fragments 

though the Wayne is committed to reconstructing 

many of the historic wetlands which were once found 

on the Forest. 

Since pre-settlement times, over 90 percent of Ohio’s 

wetlands have been drained. As we lost wetlands, we 

also lose the important role they play in our environment. Wetlands store excess storm water that would 

otherwise contribute to flooding, they filter out sediment and pollutants, and provide recreational opportunities like hunting and bird watching; and serve as 

habitat for many species of plants and animals. 

All wetlands have certain characteristics:

• water at or near the surface during some or part of 

the growing season

• soils that lack oxygen

• plants that are adapted to saturated conditions.

We hope that as your understanding and appreciation 

of wetlands grows, you will do your part to help protect these remarkable areas.

Snags - These are dead standing trees that are 

crucial to many animals. Mammals and birds 

use the cavities or branches of snags for nesting 

sites and to roost. Raptors may perch on snags 

while hunting.

Great Blue 

Heron - Standing 

up to four feet tall these 

birds may have a wingspan of seven feet. 

They are often seen 

standing motionless in 

shallow water waiting 

for prey. They nest together

 in trees with several other 

herons in what is known 

as a rookery.

Painted Turtle - In most wetlands you 

will see these turtles basking on logs, sometimes in large groups. They need to spend 

several hours a 

day in the sun to 

keep their shells 

hard. The turtles 

bury into the mud 

in winter. 

Spring Peeper -

These small frogs vary from tan to green and 

will only be an inch or 

so in size. Spring peepers are nocturnal and 

named for their loud 

mating calls.

Cattail - These plants 

grow up to 10 feet tall and spread by their underground root systems to cover large areas and 

provide cover for many types of animals. Native 

Americans used the plant for food, to start fires, 

provide insulation, and wove the leaves.
7

800

26 260

255

537

565

260

Holmes Wetland

Leith Run Embayment

The Little Muskingum Wetland

Newport

Graysville

Rinard Mills

New Matamoros

0 2.5 5 1.25 Miles

Marietta Unit

Wetlands on the Athens Ranger District

Holmes Wetland

Little Muskingum Wetland

Leith Run Embayment
278

691

155

13

216 595

682

93

685

78

56

550

356

32

7

9

8

13

56

33

50

Tansky's Marsh

Paine's Wetland

Greendale Wetland

Big Bailey Wetland

Rutherford Wetlands

Athens

Corning Shawnee

Glouster

Nelsonville

New Straitsville

0 2.5 5 1.25 Miles

Athens Unit

Tansky’s Marsh

Paynes Wetland

Big Bailey Wetland

Wetlands on the Athens Ranger District
Wetlands on the 

Ironton Ranger District

140

522

93

775

141

233

790

650

218

325

588

373

553

52

35

Cadmus Wetland

Superior Wetland

Sand Fork Wetland

Pine Creek Wetland

Pedro

South Webster

0 1.5 3 6 Miles

Cadmus Wetland

Sand Fork Wetland