Mentor Marsh
Mentor, Lake County
Mentor Quad
691 acres (240 acres of which is leased)
Significance
Mentor Marsh, one of the largest natural marshes remaining along the Lake Erie shoreline, became Ohio’s first state nature preserve in 1971.
The marsh is an important breeding and nursery area for several fish that live in Lake Erie.
Mentor Marsh and the adjacent Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve are among the best places in the state to witness spring migrations of songbirds. Great numbers of waterfowl also stop at the marsh during seasonal migrations, such as Blue-winged Teal, American Wigeon, Gadwall, American Black Duck, Northern Shoveler and Hooded Merganser.
Brief History
On January 8, 1960, the Carrol Hill Plan for “Mentor Regional Park Development” came to the attention of Harold Zimmerman, president of the Burroughs Nature Club, and two other members of the club’s conservation committee. The Club took the threat to Mentor Marsh to their membership and subsequently individuals from several groups (including the Museum) became involved in an effort to protect the Marsh.
On April 7, 1961, the first Mentor Marsh Committee meeting was held at Holden Arboretum. Museum Director William Scheele was a member from the committee’s inception.
On June 28, 1961, The Nature Conservancy agreed to become involved in the project. Through Director Scheele’s efforts, several Museum trustees, including Harold T. Clark, many Lake County citizens and The Nature Conservancy worked together to raise money and negotiate a purchase agreement for an 80-acre tract owned by the New York Central Railroad.
During the public campaign to buy the New York Central tract, the Morton Salt Company donated 320 acres and Diamond Alkali donated 90 acres to preserve the marsh. Two hundred twenty-three acres of the Morton Salt Company land was donated to the Ohio Division of Parks and Recreation in 1964 (it was leased to the Museum in 1965).
In 1964, the Museum Board of Trustees agreed to accept custodianship of Mentor Marsh contingent on terms that would limit the monetary obligations of the Museum.
The Museum acquired 420 acres of Mentor Marsh property in 1965 and approved setting up a Mentor Marsh Committee consisting of board members and members of the original Mentor Marsh Committee.
Additional gifts and purchases since 1965 have brought the amount of land managed by the Museum, as the Mentor Marsh Preserve, to 691 acres.
An important addition to the Mentor Marsh Preserve was made in 1969 when the Museum purchased the Kerven home to serve as the Mentor Marsh House.
In 1971, Mentor Marsh was dedicated as the first State Nature Preserve. In 1973, the Museum and the state of Ohio signed an agreement that made Mentor Marsh an Interpretive Nature Preserve. The Mentor Marsh Committee continues to raise stewardship and education funds for Mentor Marsh from annual appeals through a mailing list called “Friends of the Mentor Marsh.”
In April 2003, fire destroyed the Wake Robin Trail Boardwalk. During summer 2003, estimates to replace the boardwalk were reviewed and a contractor was selected to replace the boardwalk. The newly constructed Wake Robin Trail Boardwalk was formally dedicated on November 13, 2003. At the ceremony, the Lubrizol Corporation presented the Natural Areas Division with a $5,000 check to help pay for the $84,000 boardwalk.
Directions to the Mentor Marsh House
To get to the Mentor Marsh House from Cleveland, take Ohio Route 2 east and exit at Ohio Route 44. Go north on Route 44 about a half mile to the Ohio Route 283 overpass (Lakeshore Boulevard). Exit and go west on Lakeshore to the first traffic light. Turn right onto Corduroy Road. The Mentor Marsh House is on the right at 5185 Corduroy Road, just before the road crosses the Marsh.
Mentor Marsh Programs and Events
View the programs and events at the Mentor Marsh.