Work to add a small wetland to the Peter Szabo Memorial Forest in Wyoming is expected to be completed in October.
County of Lambton General Manager of Infrastructure and Development Jason Cole said there was a low-lying area that was perpetually wet and many trees were either dead or damaged.
"So instead of replanting those trees, which had to come down anyway, we decided to take a look at options to better use the typography that was in place, and what's come out of that is we're installing a small wetland area - about a quarter acre," Cole said.
The forest is 6.5 acres in total. Cole said the woodlot has had some ups and downs over the years.
"It was very impacted by emerald ash borer maybe about 10 years ago and the recovery that it's made with additional plantings and the care that we've undertaken in conjunction with the (St. Clair Region) Conservation Authority, it's really flourished over that timeline," he said. "So with it maturing, we've just been able to identify an area that was naturally wet and it was too wet to sustain the trees."
Cole said wetlands are important and provide many benefits, including the creation of additional habitat.
"This is just a small area, it's a representation of bigger projects we've undertaken on many of our lands but it's a nice addition to just diversify the small forest that is behind the county administration building," he said.
The total cost of the project, which began in July, is about $25,000.
"We are working with the conservation authority to fund that, both through our natural managed lands fund and other funding that's available through the province and other agencies."
While the maintenance work is ongoing in the northwest quadrant of the forest, those who use the trails are asked not to enter the marked construction areas.