North Star BlueScope


	North Star BlueScope Steel pays close attention to the wetlands
		North Star BlueScope Steel is committed and has made significant investment in maintaining the wetlands. We constructed the wetlands in 1995 to replace the 3.1 acres of low quality wetlands damaged during construction.
		On April 30, 2004, 200 fourth and fifth grade students from the Delta Schools spent the day at our Wetlands. Students rotated thru 10 learning stations during the full day event. Activities included tree planting, identifying animals and vegetation. Participating in this special day included the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Fulton County Soil and Water, Fulton County Sanitary Engineer, Culligan, Nalco, American Red Cross, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, Alloway Testing, Delta Fire Department, and Fulton Mill Services.

Size:	7.8 acres
Function:	Flood attenuation Nutrient retention Deposition of pollutants Wildlife support Recreation Education	Sediment deposition, transformation and release Aquatic food chain support Habitat
Vegetation:	Vegetation is native wetland species. Saplings and seeds were placed strategically for survivability and to best serve the functions in a mature wetland. Obligates and facultative wet species are in or near the pools, with facultative upland species further from the water and some upland plants near the edge. Plantings include:
	Obligates: Swamp Rose, Common Button bush, Downy Hawthorn, Black Tupelo Facultative: White Oak, Red Osier Dogwood, Silky Dogwood, Pin Oak, Shell Bark Hickory, Spice Bush, Shagbark Hickory

Habitat:	Brush berms are included as microhabitat, nest boxes designed for a variety of wildlife are strategically located throughout the wetland and small mounds are located on the edge to encourage den construction.
Animals:	Muskrat, Raccoon, White-tailed Deer, Canadian Geese, Wood Duck and many more.
Recreation:	A trail along a portion of the wetland perimeter has been installed with boardwalks that extend to the observation decks. The decks provide observational opportunities while discouraging students and others visiting the living laboratory from stepping off the trail into the fragile ecosystems.