Wills Creek Dam

Wills Creek Dam, a dry dam situated in Coshocton, Ohio, was constructed in 1936 and is regulated and maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The project was authorized under Section 4 of the Flood Control Act of 1938. The dam serves a multi-purpose role, primarily focused on flood damage reduction, recreational opportunities, and supporting local fish and wildlife populations.

This Chronolog is displayed over approximately 9 acres of pollinator habitat, featuring a grassland and wildflower plot and an interpretive bee barn. One of the key natural resource’s missions of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is to convert mowed lawn areas into thriving pollinator habitats. The Wills Creek Dam project is a prime example of this initiative. The pollinator plot contains over 150 milkweed plants, which are critical for monarch butterflies, and has been certified as a Monarch Waystation.

A Monarch Waystation is a carefully managed habitat that provides essential resources, including milkweed and nectar-producing plants, to support the migration, breeding, and lifecycle of monarch butterflies. By offering a haven for these butterflies, the Wills Creek Dam pollinator plot plays a key role in the conservation of this endangered species, particularly as they traverse through their seasonal migrations.