Dalitsch Pond Environmental Restoration

Dalitsch Pond Environmental Restoration transformed a former construction borrow pit into a functioning wetland system that improves water quality, supports wildlife, and protects one of the region's most important natural landscapes.

Located directly upstream of the Middlefork Savanna, one of the highest-quality tallgrass savannas in the nation, the site was restored to naturally filter stormwater before it enters this sensitive ecosystem. The project reshaped the pond into shallow wetland areas that slow runoff, remove pollutants, and support native vegetation.

The restored site now provides important wildlife habitat, including for the Blanding's turtle, a threatened and endangered species, while reducing erosion and improving downstream water quality. Today, Dalitsch Pond serves as a natural water filter, wildlife habitat, and example of sustainable stormwater management.