Grand Lake St. Marys Watershed has a long history of hypereutrophication, meaning excess nutrients. In 2011, the Grand Lake St. Marys Restoration Commission (LRC) formed in an effort to improve water quality in and around the lake.  

The LRC is a partnership between everyone with a stake in the health of the lake. It includes the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Mercer County, Auglaize County, the City of Celina, the City of St. Marys, Ag Solutions, Ohio’s Grand Lake Region Visitor’s Center, local Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the Lake Improvement Association, Wright State University, the St. Marys Community Foundation and the Mercer Civic Foundation.

The “treatment train” concept was developed by the LRC and first tested in 2012. Improving in concept and design each time, “treatment trains,” are simply wetlands that filter nutrients from the water. These wetlands have been extremely effective in reducing nutrients, but require a great team of people to ensure their functionality continues. 

Because these projects are publicly-owned, they are open to the public year-round from dawn to dusk each day. The LRC partnership does our best to keep the sites maintained and the walking paths in good condition.