140 
The Ohio Naturalist. 
[Vol. XIII, No. 7, 
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 importance. 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 conservation 
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 involving 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 he 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¬ 
ervoirs, 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 purposes without in any degree 
affecting their value for the original purpose. Abundant sites 
exist in the state for the construction of additional reservoirs, 
largely in the valleys which are not of great value for other pur¬ 
poses, and which in the aggregate would furnish a large capacity. 
The Columbus storage dam containing 1,(500,000,000 cubic feet 
with the present thirty-foot dam occupies a river valley which 
was practically unused and of slight value for agricultural pur¬ 
poses. A number of such reservoirs suitably located and properly 
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. 
