Are the lagoons eventually going to be filled in?

I don't think we will ever see them completely taken out. Maybe more changes in the future though.

Last August the water was pretty icky and full of green slime. It wasn't very pretty, and although it didn't smell very bad - I certainly doubt anyone would wade out very far into it.

As for reclaiming land elsewhere to offset the loss of wetlands, I am sure that the Geuaga Lake property more than makes up for the loss of filling all of this area at Cedar Point.

I can't say I would be all that upset if they were to go away permanently. Lake Erie as a backdrop is more than enough to satisfy my need for beautiful scenery.

The lagoons are nasty.

That environmental impact rule sounds wacko. Ohio is full of wetlands, especially in the north. Ever driven along OH-2 after a big rainstorm???

The wetlands rules are tricky. Not every place with standing water is a wetland, and not every wetland is regulated. Yes, Ohio has a lot of wetlands but not nearly as much as it used to. Of course, if not for draining of wetlands (aka the Great Black Swamp) much of NW Ohio would be uninhabitable. The whole point of the regulation is to create a "no net-loss" of wetlands in the state from the time when the regulations took effect. I don't believe the fact that the lagoons are originally man-made affects whether they are subject to regulation, but I would be surprised if they are given they fail to meet most of the criteria to be considered true wetlands. That being said, the regulatory agencies involved often have a lot of leeway in determining what is a wetland that must be mitigated if altered.

My guess is (and somebody correct me on this if I'm wrong) the lagoons probably serve as one of the main sources of stormwater control in the park. This, more than government regs, probably makes their removal unlikely. I wouldn't argue though that they can get downright nasty in the middle of summer.

Yes they're nasty but I don't see any real point in filling them in.

MaverickLaunch said:
The lagoons are nasty.

That environmental impact rule sounds wacko. Ohio is full of wetlands...

Yeah, ecosystems are stupid. Malls and fast food joints would be a better use of the land.

Yeah, that's exactly what I was suggesting. Get rid of all wetlands in favor of malls and additional Chic-Fil-A stores.

I've come to expect such absurd statements from you.

That escalated quickly.

Leaving some surface water in the park seems like a good idea, but if they can put something awesome where the lagoons are now I'm all for filling them in.

There is a small pond inside of maverick.. And they have a whole area filled in with water when they build STR. I'm not sure if any of that counts though since its more of a pool.

MaverickLaunch said:
Yeah, that's exactly what I was suggesting.

The implication (taken at face value, and subsequently exaggerated for satirical value) was pretty clear - Ohio has enough wetlands, thus making the protective measure, in your own words, "wacko".

bholcomb said:
...if they can put something awesome where the lagoons are now I'm all for filling them in.

I'd agree, except for the fact that for the most part, any useful lagoon acreage seems pretty much used up. Especially so since StR was built, though that was not a particularly clever use of the feature.

You know what would be really cool? Some sort of boat ride through the lagoons. :)

djDaemon said:
[... thus making the protective measure, in your own words, "wacko".

What is wacko is the notion that a reduction in the swamp inside CP should need to be offset by creation of new wetlands elsewhere. That's wacko. Especially in an area of the state dominated by coastal wetlands.

The measure is there to prevent development of a vast majority of the wetlands. Trust me, if it wasn't there, developers would have had a hay day draining and destroying much of the area's wetlands for housing and urban development. If you are implying that Cedar Fair should be given a free pass that others don't get, then you are the one that is "wacko"....

I'm majoring in Environmental Science at UT and so I can tell you there are very important reasons for why the regulations such as the one you are talking about exist.

There is a reason why these wetlands are "everywhere." Because regulations such as theses were put in place to make sure they stay there. They wouldn't be there otherwise. The wetlands that exist now are a very tiny portion of what used to exist. Wetlands are important for flood, erosion, and pollution control. Not to mention it is habitat for many species of fish which spawn there as well as birds. The destruction of wetlands was a direct cause of the problems with algae and the end of commercial fishing in Lake Erie. Northern Ohio at one point was nothing but a giant marsh. Definately not a wacko idea.

But that's way off topic so I don't think we will see many changes in the lagoons for many years since it can be difficult since the process to do this would require a lot of paper/legal work in addition to the expense of building a man made wetland. Cedar Point would be much better off utilizing the lagoons to their advantage for future attractions.

I'm no nature geek but I have to believe that the lagoons serve several natural benefits. Flood control has to be the most obvious but I also think they have to help regulate the temperature of the peninsula. If it were all concrete and asphalt I think it would be very uncomfortable.

Here you go.
http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g399/ShippudenMan/lagoon_zps89614ba9.png
They aren't 100% drained, but this happens every off season.

Images are from thrillrider from TPR.

Why fill them in when they offer amazing views like this? Granted you have to be an employee to see this but I figure I would share these with you guys.

http://tinypic.com/r/2vt9ml5/6

http://tinypic.com/r/vr5uv7/6

It looks like a nature preserve! :)

It does indeed. Sure would look nicer with a paddlewheel boat in the scene. ;-)

(And 'aye, Cap'n Wiggum...I finally brought the rum.)

I suspect with the dinosaurs around, the notion of the "island" made from the lagoons will last a few seasons longer, at least.

You've finally got me rum, and I'm all the way out to sea? Best not drink it all, else you're in for a keelhauling.