Exploring the Estuary: Old Woman Creek

HURON — The Old Women Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve recently took 20 people on an educational tour along the popular waterway.Estuaries form when different bodies of water meet and mix together, and they're a crucial part to America's coastal communities. Old Woman Creek is one of the few remaining freshwater estuaries in America, Old Woman Creek education coordinator Jennifer Buchheim said."This event gets people understanding what's going on with the environment and the ecosystem," canoeing participant Daniel Newman said. Added Bill Pifer, a national resource technician at Old Woman Creek: "If you see this estuary, and all the nature out here, all the flowers, the animals, that's why you would want to save it and protect it.On the two-hour tour of Old Woman Creek, individuals saw osprey dive for fish, great blue herons gracefully standing along the banks, a muskrat swimming, a beaver lodge, and blooming lotus flowers."It helps people understand nature as well as observe and appreciate the gifts we have, Sandusky resident Jean Lawrence said. "These are natural gifts that we have around here."After the tour, participants were asked about their favorite part of the canoeing/kayak experience. "The lotus flowers were awesome. That's the reason I came here," Avon resident Jack Saltman said. "Seeing the bald eagle and muskrat were my favorite parts of the tour."Added participant Keelie Webb: "It's fun and relaxing here. I've done this tour a couple times before. The lotus flowers were my favorite."According to Jennifer Buchheim, the paddling tours were created to introduce the general public to an area that is a protected resource to provide an impactful experience on such a unique ecosystem."This opportunity is essential because it shows people the importance of nature," Cleveland resident Timmy Thompson said. Reach the Register at news@sanduskyregister.com. Follow us on Twitter @SanduskyRegistr and at Facebook.com/sanduskyregisterTravis Rainey, phenological species monitoring intern, showing individuals a practice beaver lodge, which an adult beaver made to show offspring how to create a beaver lodge.A woman, enjoying a peaceful night kayaking, Thursday, Aug.9,2018 at Old Woman Creek.Jean Lawrence is all smiles Thursday night while using her own kayak during the educational tour at Old Woman Creek.A researcher at Old Woman Creek collecting samples of the vegetation to understand how much methane is being produced and how much carbon dioxide plants are absorbing.A woman kayaking near lily pads and lotus flowers at Old Woman Creek Thursday evening, Aug. 9, 2018.Keelie Webb, Norwalk resident, on left and Amanda Sipes, Cleveland resident, on right are enjoying a canoe trip at Old Woman Creek on Aug. 9, 2018.