2015 YEAR IN REVIEW
ONAPA Sponsorships
- Ohio Botanical Symposium in March
- The Biggest Week in American Birding in May
- Midwest Native Plant Society Meeting in July
- 2015 Flora-Quest Event at Malabar Farm in August
- Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s 12th Annual Conservation Symposium in September
- ONAPA and The Cincinnati Wild Flower Preservation Society each donated $500 to ODNR for a botanical inventory of Travertine Fen State Nature Preserve.
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Displayed at the Following Events
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Member Field Trips
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ONAPA Partners with OIPC on Small Grants Program
Early in 2015, we learned at the Ohio Invaive Plants Council’s (OIPC) Annual Meeting that OIPC has had an ongoing small grants program in place since 2013 to fund college students who conduct relevant research on invasive plants in Ohio. They have a great program in place with outreach to major Ohio colleges and universities, as well as an excellent grant proposal review panel composed of biology professors and land managers. However, OIPC has limited funds and could only allocate $1,000 each year for their grants program. ONAPA had the funding, but no program structure; OIPC had the program structure, but only enough funding for 1 or 2 projects annually. Invasive plants are a major threat to our nature preserves and are therefore a major focus for ONAPA
Accordingly, the presidents of both the ONAPA and OIPC boards discussed the possibility of joining forces to better address the problem of understanding and controlling invasive plants in Ohio. Both agreed it would be an excellent move. At the February 27, 2015 ONAPA Board Meeting, a motion was passed unanimously to approve using the $3,000 in the small grants program for this partnership with OIPC to sup-port research on invasive plants in 2015. Dr. Raymond Heithaus, Chair of the ONAPA Scientific Advisory Committee, is coordinating this new joint small grants program with Dr. Jean Burns from Case Western Reserve University, coordinator of OIPC’s small grants program. Proposals must be submitted to OIPC by November 1st. In addition to ONAPA, the Cincinnati Wildflower Preservation Society is contributing $1,000 to OIPC this year for the program, giving a total of $5,000 available to college students and others with important research projects on invasive plants. Interested parties can obtain more information on the OIPC website at www.oipc.info.
Early in 2015, we learned at the Ohio Invaive Plants Council’s (OIPC) Annual Meeting that OIPC has had an ongoing small grants program in place since 2013 to fund college students who conduct relevant research on invasive plants in Ohio. They have a great program in place with outreach to major Ohio colleges and universities, as well as an excellent grant proposal review panel composed of biology professors and land managers. However, OIPC has limited funds and could only allocate $1,000 each year for their grants program. ONAPA had the funding, but no program structure; OIPC had the program structure, but only enough funding for 1 or 2 projects annually. Invasive plants are a major threat to our nature preserves and are therefore a major focus for ONAPA
Accordingly, the presidents of both the ONAPA and OIPC boards discussed the possibility of joining forces to better address the problem of understanding and controlling invasive plants in Ohio. Both agreed it would be an excellent move. At the February 27, 2015 ONAPA Board Meeting, a motion was passed unanimously to approve using the $3,000 in the small grants program for this partnership with OIPC to sup-port research on invasive plants in 2015. Dr. Raymond Heithaus, Chair of the ONAPA Scientific Advisory Committee, is coordinating this new joint small grants program with Dr. Jean Burns from Case Western Reserve University, coordinator of OIPC’s small grants program. Proposals must be submitted to OIPC by November 1st. In addition to ONAPA, the Cincinnati Wildflower Preservation Society is contributing $1,000 to OIPC this year for the program, giving a total of $5,000 available to college students and others with important research projects on invasive plants. Interested parties can obtain more information on the OIPC website at www.oipc.info.
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Ohio State Fair Prairie Display In 2011, ONAPA Volunteers assumed responsibility for the year-around maintenance of the ODNR State Fair Prairie Display in order to free up Natural Areas staff. This prairie garden requires year-round maintenance to look its best during the state fair, and continues to be an on-going work project for ONAPA. If you are interested in helping, let us know. |
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Invasive plant specimens
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Volunteer Training We held two volunteer training sessions in 2015. The spring session was held on May 16th at the Gorman Nature center. Our fall session was held in conjunction with our annual banquet/meeting on September 19th at Dawes Arboretum. The agenda included an overview of ONAPA presented by Guy Denny, a DNAP overview presented by Jeff Johnson, and review of the stewardship project program by Jennifer Windus and Jan Kennedy. Volunteer forms and logistics was reviewed by Karen Jennings. |
Pulling garlic mustard at Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve.
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Stewardship Projects
March 28th - Milford Center Prairie, woody species removal April 18th - Lake Katharine, garlic mustard control May 9th - Milford Center Prairie, teasel control June 13-Daughmer Savanna, teasel control (contact: Guy Denny) June 20th - Chaparral & Adams Lake Prairie, sweet-clover control July 25th - Springville Marsh State Nature Preserve Narrow-leaved Cattail Removal Project September 12th - Myersville Fen State Nature Preserve Woody Species Control Project October 3rd - Lake Katharine, woody species control October 31st - Brinkhaven Oak Barrens Woody Removal Project November 7th - Miller Preserve, woody species control November 14th - Myersville Fen State Nature Preserve Woody Species Control Project November 17th - Chaparral Prairie State Nature Preserve Woody Invasive Control Project |
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Preserve Monitoring ONAPA volunteers visited 23 preserves and handed in 50 reports. |
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Member Michigan Trip
In July, ONAPA conducted its very first several day-long out-of-state field trip. Our adventure took 20 intrepid participants north to explore the peatlands, bogs and fens, of Hiawatha National Forest within the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Bogs and fens are very rare and special ecosystems in Ohio where they occur as living relicts of the last Ice Age. Many are designated state nature preserves. In northern Michigan, we are far enough north that they are a fairly common component of the Boreal Forest landscape. Here we can explore them in order to get a better understanding of and appreciation for the few remaining ones we have in Ohio.
In addition to exploring the peatlands within Hiawatha National Forest, we also visited Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore along Lake Superior and Seney National Wildlife Refuge. Allison Cusick, retired Chief Botanist for DNAP and now a resident of Pittsburgh, came along as a participant, but actually help lead the trip.
In July, ONAPA conducted its very first several day-long out-of-state field trip. Our adventure took 20 intrepid participants north to explore the peatlands, bogs and fens, of Hiawatha National Forest within the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Bogs and fens are very rare and special ecosystems in Ohio where they occur as living relicts of the last Ice Age. Many are designated state nature preserves. In northern Michigan, we are far enough north that they are a fairly common component of the Boreal Forest landscape. Here we can explore them in order to get a better understanding of and appreciation for the few remaining ones we have in Ohio.
In addition to exploring the peatlands within Hiawatha National Forest, we also visited Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore along Lake Superior and Seney National Wildlife Refuge. Allison Cusick, retired Chief Botanist for DNAP and now a resident of Pittsburgh, came along as a participant, but actually help lead the trip.
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Lakeside Daisy Preservation
ONAPA volunteers also partnered with other organizations. For the last three years, ONAPA volunteers have assisted the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service with monitoring populations of the federally threatened Eastern prairie fringed orchid in Ohio. During this same period, ONAPA volunteers also assisted the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service with efforts to establish new populations of the federally threatened Lakeside Daisy, moving plants and seeds from the active LaFarge Quarry on Marblehead Peninsula to abandoned quarries in the state park on Kelleys Island where they will receive permanent protection. |
Lakeside Daisy
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Chaparral Prairie State Nature Preserve Extension
The ONAPA Board of Directors approved a $3000 grant to help the Arc of Appalachia acquire a 60 acre addition to Chaparral Prairie State Nature Preserve in Adams County. This project was a collabo-ration with ODNR’s Natural Areas and Preserves program which pledged 25% toward the acquisition cost and agreed to accept management of the new tract. The Arc also received a Clean Ohio Grant to aid in the purchase. Our association’s funds help fill the gap in monies needed to complete the purchase which was closed on January 22, 2015.
Chaparral Prairie State Nature Preserve is home to 2 Endangered, 5 Threatened, and 6 Potentially Threatened species, most no-tably the largest population of Rattlesnake-master (Eryngium yuccifolium) in the state. Plan to visit this new addition on August 1, 2015 when the Arc of Appala-chia is having its celebration of this new addition. You will be treated to a prairie filled with Rose-pink Gentian, Partridge-pea, Black-eyed Susan, and thousands of wands of Dense Blazing-star. The cere-mony is planned for 10:00 A.M. with hikes following led by some of Ohio’s finest naturalists. Come and enjoy this celebration!
The ONAPA Board of Directors approved a $3000 grant to help the Arc of Appalachia acquire a 60 acre addition to Chaparral Prairie State Nature Preserve in Adams County. This project was a collabo-ration with ODNR’s Natural Areas and Preserves program which pledged 25% toward the acquisition cost and agreed to accept management of the new tract. The Arc also received a Clean Ohio Grant to aid in the purchase. Our association’s funds help fill the gap in monies needed to complete the purchase which was closed on January 22, 2015.
Chaparral Prairie State Nature Preserve is home to 2 Endangered, 5 Threatened, and 6 Potentially Threatened species, most no-tably the largest population of Rattlesnake-master (Eryngium yuccifolium) in the state. Plan to visit this new addition on August 1, 2015 when the Arc of Appala-chia is having its celebration of this new addition. You will be treated to a prairie filled with Rose-pink Gentian, Partridge-pea, Black-eyed Susan, and thousands of wands of Dense Blazing-star. The cere-mony is planned for 10:00 A.M. with hikes following led by some of Ohio’s finest naturalists. Come and enjoy this celebration!
State Representative Mark Romanchuck, Cheryl Harner, Guy Denny, and State Representative David Hall.
Legislative Outreach
In Septemberof 2015, ONAPA held its very first legislative reception to acquaint and familiarize Ohio legislators with ONAPA and the work we do. The event was held in Columbus and had a very good turnout. We were especially pleased that Senate President Keith Faber, Senate Majority Whip Larry Obhof, and senators Bob Patterson, and Frank LaRose were among those in attendance. The event was cohosted by former ODNR directors Joe Sommer and Fran Buchholzer who are also members of ONAPA.
As part of our legislative outreach, ONAPA joined forces with Flora-Quest at Malabar Farm to jointly recognize State Representative David Hall (House District 70) and State Representative Mark Romanchuk (House District 2) for their support of conservation efforts that both Flora-Quest and ONAPA support.
In Septemberof 2015, ONAPA held its very first legislative reception to acquaint and familiarize Ohio legislators with ONAPA and the work we do. The event was held in Columbus and had a very good turnout. We were especially pleased that Senate President Keith Faber, Senate Majority Whip Larry Obhof, and senators Bob Patterson, and Frank LaRose were among those in attendance. The event was cohosted by former ODNR directors Joe Sommer and Fran Buchholzer who are also members of ONAPA.
As part of our legislative outreach, ONAPA joined forces with Flora-Quest at Malabar Farm to jointly recognize State Representative David Hall (House District 70) and State Representative Mark Romanchuk (House District 2) for their support of conservation efforts that both Flora-Quest and ONAPA support.
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Annual Meeting and Banquet
The Ohio Natural Areas & Preserves Association (ONAPA) had its third Annual Banquet and Meeting at Dawes Arboretum in Newark on September 19th and 20th. It was another very successful event with more than 80 people attending, including Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and his wife, Fran. The program included a morning indoor session with 4 speakers – Guy Denny, Jeff Johnson, Karen Jennings, and Jennifer Windus. Saturday afternoon field trips included Blackhand Gorge with Dick Moseley, Flint Ridge with Bill Weaver and Tim Snyder, and Dawes wetland plantsand restoration with David Brandenburg. There was a silent auction and social with a wine tasting by the local Sand Hollow Winery, featuring 6 different wines. The evening dinner was catered by Creative Catering in Hebron and the evening keynote speaker was Ian Adams speaking about “Natural Ohio:A Photographic Celebration”. Ian impressed the audience with his amazing photographs of natural areas in Ohio, focusing on excerpts from his new book. The silent auction had a fantastic selection this year and successfully raised more than $1,800 for ONAPA. Sunday morning field trips included Blackhand Gorge with Dick Moseley, Flint Ridge with Bill Weaver and Tim Snyder, and Dawes natural areas restoration with Shana Byrd. The weather was excellent for the weekend and ONAPA was pleased to see so many friends of Ohio’s natural areas attend, most of whom were already ONAPA members! Dawes Arboretum was a wonderful host and ONAPA is so grateful for their cooperation and partnership. |
Cheryl Johncox and Jennifer Windus
Silent auction items
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