Please use this as a supplement to information provided on the Side Cut Metropark map.

Messages for InterpretationSide Cut’s rich river community helps sustain the integrity of the Great Lakes’ largest watershed while serving as the ideal backdrop for past and current human interactions with nature.• CalledtheMississippioftheGreatLakes,theMaumee

River’s force is evident in this park’s natural history. • Steepedinhistory,thelandinandaroundSideCutMetroparkhaswitnessedearlyNativetribal gatherings,battlesandslowlypassingcanalboats.

• OpeningasthefirstMetropark,SideCuthasalwaysconnected people to nature and the river community through recreational pursuits.

• SideCutMetroparkboastssomeofthebestwildlifehabitat and unsurpassed viewing opportunities.

What’s In A Name?Side Cut’s name refers to its history as part of the Miami-ErieCanal.Thissidecutwastheterminusof theMiami-Eriearound1850,untilthestateofOhioextended it further down river along what is now the AnthonyWayneTrail.

Natural and Human HistoryThisMetroparkfeaturestheMaumeeRiver,whosewatershedcoversover6,000squaremiles–thelargestwatershed of the Great Lakes.

Limestonebedrockapproximately400millionyearsoldis the foundation of Side Cut’s natural community.

Thelandoneithersideofariveriscalledafloodplain.SideCut’sfloodplainstoresexcessMaumeeRiverwatertodecreasedownstreamflooding,helpsfilterandcleanthisprecioussourceofdrinkingwater,andreducesriversedimentation.

Numerouswildlifetreehomesarefoundinfloodplainsdue to ice scraping against the trees and starting the formation of tree cavities.

AsectionofriverthroughSideCutMetropark–knownastheFootoftheRapids–hasbeenanimportantcrossroads and meeting place throughout history.

Historically,nativepeopleencampedhereduringlatespringandsummer,farmingandfishingthesefertilelandsandwaters.TheymovedtohighergroundintheOakOpeningsduringmoreturbulentseasons.

TheBattleofFallenTimbersfoughtinAugustof1794markedaU.S.victoryunderGeneralAnthonyWayne,andopeneduptheNorthwestTerritoryforsettlement.

Side Cut Metropark Highlights

TheFortMeigsmonument(Warof1812)isvisiblefromSideCut’sOrangeTrail,whenstandingonthebanksandlooking across the river into Perrysburg.

A series of six locks raised and lowered boats along this Miami-ErieCanalsidecut.Todaylocks2,3&4canstillbe seen.

SideCutwasinitiallyleasedfromOhioin1930to preserve remnant canal lands. With just two picnic tablesandawell,itbecameourfirstMetropark.

Plant LifeNativewildflowersinclude:Green dragon Canada anemoneWild ginger Wild onionWild bergamot Common milkweedWhitesnakeroot NewEnglandasterLeafyIris(statethreatened)

Trees/shrubsinclude:Boxelder SilvermapleEasterncottonwood OhiobuckeyeHackberry Honey locust Willow River locust Blackwalnut Americansycamore

ThewhitelimbsandtrunksoftheAmericansycamoretree helped guide fugitive slaves on the Underground Railroad.

Green dragonCommon milkweed

Gray’s sedgeWhite snakeroot

Red squirrel

Wingstem

Nativegrasses/sedgesinclude:Bigbluestem Gray’ssedgeCord grass Indian grassSwitch grass Flat stemmed spike rush (statepotentially threatened)

WildlifeFishinclude:Walleye White bass Smallmouthbass ChannelcatfishCommon carp Longnose gar Common white sucker Freshwater drum Bluegill SpotfinshinerLogperchdarter Bluntnoseminnow

State endangered Lake sturgeons were common here historically.

Amphibiansinclude:Easterncricketfrog Bullfrog

Common mud puppies have been known to occur in the MaumeeRiveratSideCut.

Reptilesinclude:Snappingturtle MidlandpaintedturtleEasternspinysoftshellturtle CommonwatersnakeNorthernbrownsnake

Note:NovenomoussnakesoccuratSideCut.

Mammalsinclude:Redsquirrel CoyoteWhite-taileddeer MinkGroundhog Muskrat

Youcanfindevidenceoftheredsquirrelalongthe OrangeTrail,whereitcachesnutsintreenotchesandbuildsmiddens(pilesofseeds)onlargelogs.

Birdsneartheriverinclude:Greatblueheron Ring-billedgullBeltedkingfisherBaldeagleGreenheron OspreyGreat egret KilldeerWoodduckMallardduck

Birdsofprairies,woodsandedgesinclude:Baltimoreoriole AmericanGoldfinchEasternscreechowl Red-tailedhawkIndigo bunting Chipping sparrow Field sparrow Carolina wren

Insectsinclude:Commonwhite-taildragonfly MonarchbutterflyHackberry emperor Cicada killerFireflyspecies Spittlebug

Macroinvertabratessuchasmayflynymphsand caddisflylarvaeliveundertherocksatrapidsandriffles.Monitoredforwaterquality,ahighervarietyofspeciesindicates healthier water.

Thecrayfishisacrustaceanthatmakesquarter-sizedburrows,sometimeswith‘mudballchimneys,’alongmuddy river banks at Side Cut.

Stayingontrailswillprotectparkvisitorsandpetsfrom:Poison ivy ChiggersAmericandogticks Mosquitoes

Protection also includes covering up with lightweight clothing and using insecticide when necessary. (Note:ThereisnopoisonoakinNorthwestOhio.)

Common whitetail dragonfly

Great blue heron

Eastern cricket frog

Hackberry emperor