Waterloo Aquatic Education Center

Thank you, Waterloo!

After many years, Raccoon Creek Partnership is no longer using Waterloo Aquatic Education Center for our education and outreach events.  We are grateful to have been able to use the facility for so long, and we will remember all of our camps and events fondly.  Thank you, ODNR Division of Wildlife, for letting us use the facility!

Mission

The mission of the Waterloo Aquatic Education Center (Waterloo AEC), located at the intersection of State Routes 356 and 56 near New Marshfield, is:

“to create aquatic science educational opportunities for nurturing an appreciation for our local landscape, to promote conservation of our natural resources and to halt watershed degradation with the involvement of our community by developing an aquatic education center available to all citizens.”

The Waterloo Aquatic Education Center (AEC) is a laboratory formerly used for research by the ODNR Division of Wildlife. The building, which includes a library, a laboratory, and offices, is located along Hewett Fork, a tributary to Raccoon Creek, and is on the Waterloo Wildlife Area. The surroundings consist of a stream, two ponds, and many vernal pools. The area of approximately 3000 acres is directly connected to Zaleski State Forest and continues on to Lake Hope State Park. The Wildlife area is actively managed for ruffed grouse habitat and is the site of many research projects including Wild Turkey surveys, fawn surveys, mast surveys, bat habitat enhancement, and blue bird nest box projects. Thirty-five hiking trails are marked and cover the entire area.

Currently, Raccoon Creek programs bring school groups, youth groups, and local environmental groups to this area for science field days and environmental science workshops. Two miles from the Waterloo site, the Carbondale AMD treatment doser is actively enhancing the quality of the watershed.

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