WOOD COUNTY, OH (Toledo News Now) - For the past five years residents of Wood County have petitioned to have the Portage river cleaned up. Today the county took a step forward in dealing with the problem.
County commissioners signed a resolution to have the Soil and Water Conservation District look at the problem. Their board will meet next Friday to review the proposition and decide if they will take on the task.
The area of concern lies primarily in the southeastern part of the county. According to commissioner Tim Brown, the river has never been cleaned out and this will be the largest cleanup ever attempted in the county.
Thanks to emerald ash bore beatle, trees are dying out, or have already died out, and are falling in the river. That, combined with debris, are creating blockages which then causes areas to flood.
Petitioner and farmer Jack Stearns hopes this will finally be the answer to the problem. He fears what will happen if it isn't solved soon.
"You can imagine what it'll be like if you and I stood here 10 years from now and nothings done to it...with all these ash trees and everything coming up. I've got faith in them. I think, you know, we'll just keep picking away and I think we'll get it done someday, I really do," said Stearn.
County engineers have previously worked on the project.
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