TheSandusky River (Wyandot:saandusti;Shawnee:Potakihiipi[1]) is atributary toLake Erie in north-centralOhio in theUnited States. It is about 133 miles (214 km) long[2] and flows intoLake Erie at the southwest side ofSandusky Bay.
The Sandusky River, like theMaumee River to the west, is home to the annualwalleye run in the spring, specifically March–April. The river also receives a run ofwhite bass around the same time in the spring. The numbers of walleye that return to spawn upstream are not as great as those that return to the Maumee River. The Ballville Dam, built on the Sandusky River inFremont, Ohio, blocked migration for walleye and other fish. As fish can swim farther upstream in the Maumee, they have access to more spawning areas and have developed a larger population than in the Sandusky River.
Opponents of the dam projected that its removal would improve access for walleye and other migratory fish to areas upstream and lead to an increase in their population, as has happened on other rivers where dams have been removed. The Ballville Dam was no longer used for power generation or navigation improvements. The city of Fremont undertook a study to explore the options of tearing it down or repairing it. A 2014 study found that removal would have little adverse effect on city conditions and would strongly improve the fisheries. In 2016 voters approved taking down the dam.[3] (Note: The Balville dam was demolished in July 2018).
The river's name derives from theWyandot wordssaandusti, meaning "water (within water-pools)"[4] or fromandusti, meaning "cold water".[5] It was transliterated in various spellings by French and English colonists.
The Sandusky River begins at the juncture of Paramour Creek and Allen Run at the unincorporated community of Leesville inCrawford County west ofCrestline,[6] and initially flows westwardly, passing through the town ofBucyrus. InWyandot County, the river turns northward for the remainder of its course, flowing throughSeneca andSandusky counties and passing the towns ofUpper Sandusky,Tiffin andFremont before enteringSandusky Bay.
In 1970, the river's course between Upper Sandusky and Fremont was designated as a State Scenic River by thegovernment of Ohio.
The Little Sandusky River is a minor tributary of the Sandusky. It flows 14.0 miles (22.5 km)[2] northward from nearBrush Ridge in northernMarion County and joins the Sandusky in southernWyandot County.[7]
According to theGeographic Names Information System, the Sandusky River has also been known as:
41°28′15″N82°53′50″W / 41.4708°N 82.8973°W /41.4708; -82.8973
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