HO The Ohio Naturalist [Vol. XIII, No. 



It is estimated in a recent article in the National Geographic 

 Magazine that Ohio contains 1250 square miles of swamp, or, 

 in other words, 800,000 acres, and this area is now practically 

 unused except perhaps to some extent as a hunting ground, but 

 without control or regulation regarding the protection of certain 

 species further than is given by the general laws regarding the 

 killing of game. That this area could be profitably converted 

 into a permanent water area for the retention of rain-fall, and by 

 a system of canaling made into cultivable land or water, seems 

 certain. Estimating the capacity of such an area we would have 

 for one foot of water nearly thirty-five billions of cubic feet, or 

 for two feet of increased depth nearly seventy billions of cubit 

 feet, which, if compared with the previous estimates as to the 

 excess of outflow responsible for serious floods, will seem to have 

 a very direct iinportance. If it be recognized that this area could 

 be kept in water, and at the same time produce valuable crops, the 

 advantage of preserving this resource will be apparent. 



It seems, therefore, that the general policy for the conserv^ation 

 and utilization of water which is a very constant element in our 

 state wealth, should be that of retention and culture for various 

 crops, rather than a rapid discharge by drainage applied to all 

 swampy land. This is perhaps the main point invohnng a radical 

 departure from present policies, but this is of immediate impor- 

 tance since there are constant efforts in the drainage of existing 

 swamps, and once these swamps are drained, a re-establishment 

 of the conditions for retention of water will be very difficult, if 

 not impossible. 



To the engineer a drainage scheme is perhaps the most at- 

 tractive, since it presents definite possibilities in the disposition 

 of water, but from the biological standpoint the retention of water 

 seems far more important. Ohio already has a distinct start in the 

 direction of reservoirs in the Grand, Lewiston and Licking res- 

 erv'oirs, which are bodies of considerable size. Although designed 

 originally in connection with the canal system of the state, they 

 are capable of serving for other iDurposes without in any degree 

 affecting their value for the original purpose. Abiuidant sites 

 exist in the state for the constmction of additional reservoirs, 

 largely in the valleys which arc not of great value for other pur- 

 poses, and which in the aggregate would furnish a large capacity. 

 The Columbus storage dam containing 1,000,000,000 cubic feet 

 with the ])resent thirt}'-foot dam occupies a river valley which 

 was practically unused and of slight value for agricultural jmr- 

 poses. A number of such reservoirs suitably located and projocrly 

 controlled, while nor .sufficient to entirely prevent flood conditions, 

 might certainly aid greatly in preventing the excessive flood con- 

 ditions that result from the immediate outflow of all surplus 

 water, and also serve largely in the improvement of navigation. 



