Sewer project may harm rare species

The Bay View sewer project will be good for the environment in Erie County and will make Lake Eries water cleaner.

But the construction to install the sewer system better not harm a rare turtle, Ohio Division of Wildlife officials say.

Erie County officials are being told to make sure Blandings turtle isnt harmed by the project. The Great Lakes turtle is considered threatened in Ohio and endangered in many other states, and its been found in other areas of Erie County.

Wildlife officials also want to make sure the project doesnt harm the Indianabat, an endangered bat species, and Kirtlands warbler, an endangered bird that migrates through Ohio.

At least Erie County health department officials trying to coordinate the project dont have to worry about hurting bears.

A January letter from Ohio Department of Natural Resources real estate official John Kessler to Roberta Acosta, an Ohio Rural Community Assistance Program official in Toledo helping with the project, outlines the steps that must be taken to protect wildlife. The letter notes that the project iswithin the range of the black bear, a state endangered species.

Bears are pretty mobile, though, so the project is not likely to have an impact on this species, Kessler assured Acosta.

Erie County health department officials remain optimistic the county will obtain a big federal grant soon, allowing construction of a sewer line system that will replace aging and leaky septic tank systems blamed for fouling nearby beaches.

Bob England, director of environmental health for the Erie County Health Department, said the department plans to hire a herpetologist to make sure any Blandings turtles hanging aroundthe construction site wont be harmed and submit a report to the state.

State wildlife officials have sought to revive the Blandings turtle population at Erie Countys Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve by stocking it with young turtles raised by Cleveland MetroParks and by trapping and removing raccoons, who enjoy munching on turtle eggs.

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Sewer project may harm rare species