This IBA includes the flood control reservoir (William H. Harsha Lake), associated recreation facilities, and non-developed parklands. It lies within the Little Miami River Basin. The drainage patterns and topography have been determined by glaciation. Associated habitats include mature deciduous forest, swamp forests, wet meadow, steep ravines, early successional forests, shrub/scrub, and old fields.

Several high-priority birds regularly use this site for breeding, migration, and/or wintering. It holds large numbers of waterfowl when lakes further north become frozen. This lake rarely freezes. It holds large numbers of gulls for roosting. It may have the highest concentration of Pied-billed Grebes in the state in winter and also regularly holds significant numbers of loons (e.g. Pied-billed Grebe 40 max. daily; Common Loon 200 max. daily). It holds large numbers of gulls for roosting. It may have the highest concentration of Pied-billed Grebes in the state in winter. Both migratory and breeding land birds use the park, which functions as a vagrant trap (i.e. Sooty Tern, Western Grebe, Little Gull, jaeger spp.)