Are the lagoons eventually going to be filled in?

I just had an interesting thought after looking at some of the old CP maps over the years and how the water channel/lagoons keeps getting smaller over the years (especially since the 1970's). Dragster was the last major fill in (to provide land for the loading station, check your current maps and compare to pre-2003 to see how the water is gone from that area). Now that Paddlewheel Excursions is gone and no water is needed for a boat ride, do you see the lagoons eventually being totally filled in for more future "real estate"? I unfortunately do toward the bottom part (by Iron dragon) up until under MF's banked turn on the island. And also the dinosaurs aren't going to be there forever either. Do you think they'll be filled in eventually,thoughts?

As I recall the wet lands are now protected under law. If the park wants to "modify" and area within the protected area they must apply for a permit, which usually entails creating (or recreating) an area the same size (or larger) to replace it. So don't count on any new real estate being created like back in the 1970's.

But those rules applied back in 1995 (for Mantis), and in 2001 (for Dragster), didn't they? And that didn't prevent the park from filling in the lagoons.

How did they get around that rule then, DJ?

Probably just keeps them from -completely- filling in the lagoons.

As I understand it, when the park fills in a portion of the lagoon, they have to create wetlands of equal or greater size elsewhere in the region. I'm sure one of the more learned locals can correct or substantiate that.

I see. If it's in the region then they could "potentially" fill in everything as long as somewhere in greater Sandusky area they create some wetlands.

I actually like having the water there.

I agree^ I was just making a point

I don't think filling the lagoons in would have much of a purpose anyway, because they don't take up valuable room, especially with Iron Dragon, Mantis, and Dragster.

Do the lagoons even qualify as wetlands? They drain them in the off season, and are man made.

They are not drained in the offseason.....

The lagoons connect directly to Lake Erie and are considered Wet Lands. And yes whenever they have to fill in a portion they are required to replace it elsewhere. Most of the wet-land space on Cleveland Road was originally founded by the need to fill in part of the Cedar Point Lagoons. Though the water features around Snake River Falls and Maverick are not part of the lagoon system and are routinely drained during the off season.

The lagoons are also used for drainage of the park (their original function actually). I think that's part of the reason the Dragster Midway floods as bad as it does during heavy rains. The water is still trying to drain into a lagoon that is no longer there.

Most parks now are trying to extend and grow their water features so I don't see Cedar Point getting rid of them completely. Especially with the new emphasis on the beach and lake views.

They were drained between the 03-04 off season, I can guarantee you that.

Sections get drained on occasion for construction work, and when that happens they work closely with the Army Corps of Engineers to minimize the impact.

I saw something on a Cedar point dvd a while back that stated one of the original reasons for the dredging (creating) of the lagoons is because the park had a major mosquito problem toward the tip of the peninsula and funneling it into Lake Erie stopped the problem. Another early reason for the lagoons was to shuttle coal back and forth from the boat dock (where lighthouse point is now) to the inner mainland. I'm assuming the lagoons got cut off from Lake Erie during the creation of the CP/LE railroad in 1963 because of its reach on the far end of the peninsula. I would say about 40% of the lagoon space that was there in the late 60s is now probably gone.

The rule is/was that Cedar Point would be required to create or enhance two acres of wetlands for every acre that was affected. As I recall, East Harbor State Park in Ottawa County was the beneficiary.

So if CP wanted to then, they *could* completely fill in the lagoon(s), and then create off site somewhere else ?

In theory, by applying to the Corp of Engineers.

Don't give the park any ideas. The lagoons are beautiful, especially when riding Iron dragon and Mantis. Filling them in would make the woods bare with a big ugly open space with no trees and useless dirt from the fill-in areas. Then it would be filled with hay covering grass seed and that will look bad as well.