2019 WINTER STEWARDSHIP PROJECT SCHEDULE
We have several stewardship projects planned for 2019, most of which are on weekdays again this year. We will include a short field trip on each project to see some of the preserve we are working at. DNAP may provide a vehicle from their Columbus office for projects which are a longer drive from Columbus, more than 90 minutes.
Download the 2019 WINTER Stewardship Project List HERE.
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Questions: Contact us HERE.
Registration: Please let us know you are joining us, sign up HERE. Volunteer Forms: If you are joining us for volunteer stewardship training or for one or more stewardship projects, please complete our Volunteer forms found HERE. Volunteer Hours: At the completion of a project, please enter your time (Including travel time to and from the site) HERE. |
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Tuesday, January 15, 2019 Woody Species Control at Brinkhaven Oak Barrens 10 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Township Road 13, Brinkhaven (Gann) (Holmes County) Brinkhaven Oak Barrens was designated as a state natural landmark in 2005 for being the best example in north central Ohio of what famous Ohio ecologist, Paul Sears called “oak |
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openings.” The 114-acre preserve owned by the private non-profit organization, Killbuck Watershed Land Trust, protects two oak barrens containing 6 state-listed plants, including the threatened thyme-leaved pinweed. ONAPA has been assisting the KWLT with habitat management to restore the two oak openings. We will be working in the southern opening, cutting and treating woody stems. Trained KWLT and ONAPA volunteers will conduct the herbicide application.
Directions: From Brinkhaven (Gann) on U.S. Rt. 62, drive about 4 ¼ miles east on U.S. Route 62 to Holmes Co. Rd. 25. Drive about ¾ mile north to an intersection and turn left (west) on to Township Road 13. Drive for about 1.2 miles and the parking lot will be on the right. The parking lot is about 500 feet beyond the old railroad overpass, on the right (hard to see as it is a grass parking lot with no signage).
What to bring: Bring lunch, water, hiking boots, gloves, and hand tools such as hand saws and loppers (if you wish). ONAPA and KWLT will provide tools and herbicide, and conduct herbicide application.
RSVP: If you would like to attend or have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
Directions: From Brinkhaven (Gann) on U.S. Rt. 62, drive about 4 ¼ miles east on U.S. Route 62 to Holmes Co. Rd. 25. Drive about ¾ mile north to an intersection and turn left (west) on to Township Road 13. Drive for about 1.2 miles and the parking lot will be on the right. The parking lot is about 500 feet beyond the old railroad overpass, on the right (hard to see as it is a grass parking lot with no signage).
What to bring: Bring lunch, water, hiking boots, gloves, and hand tools such as hand saws and loppers (if you wish). ONAPA and KWLT will provide tools and herbicide, and conduct herbicide application.
RSVP: If you would like to attend or have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
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Tuesday, January 22, 2019
Hemlock Wooly Adelgid Surveys at Crane Hollow State Nature Preserve 10:30am – 3:00pm Gibisonville (Hocking County) Crane Hollow is a privately-owned dedicated state nature preserve in the Hocking Hills. It is over 2,000 acres in size and access is by permit only. It is managed by Crane Hollow, Inc., a private non-profit corporation; ONAPA will be partnering with them for this survey. Hemlock wooly adelgid (HWA) was found in the preserve in 2018 on a few trees and today we will be conducting additional surveys for HWA to document the extent of the infestation. HWA is a small, destructive, non-native insect from Asia which sucks sap from hemlocks. Winter months are the best time to conduct these surveys; we will be closely inspecting low-hanging hemlock branches to look for evidence of HWA, most noticeable as white wooly masses on the underside of the branches. Be prepared for extensive, rugged hiking. Directions: Be sure to register for this project and directions to the preserve will be sent to you in advance. What to bring: Bring lunch, water, hiking boots, trekking poles, gloves, hand lens (if you have one), and warm clothing. |
RSVP: If you would like to attend or have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
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Thursday, January 31, 2019
Hemlock Wooly Adelgid Surveys at Little Rocky Hollow SNP 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Gibisonville (Hocking County) |
One of several nature preserves in the Pine Creek watershed, Little Rocky Hollow is a 259-acre preserve in a hardwood-hemlock ravine system. Spectacular rock formations of Mississippian age Black Hand sandstone tower over the stream valley supporting an enormous collection of ferns, lichens, mosses and liverworts. The valley floor supports yellow and black birch, tulip, sycamore and eastern hemlock, while the uplands include various oaks, hickories and native Virginia pine. This preserve requires a permit for access.
Hemlock wooly adelgid (HWA) has not been found in the preserve and today we will be conducting surveys for HWA. HWA is a small, destructive, non-native insect from Asia which sucks sap from hemlocks. Winter months are the best time to conduct these surveys; we will be closely inspecting low-hanging hemlock branches to look for evidence of HWA, most noticeable as white wooly masses on the underside of the branches. Be prepared for extensive, rugged hiking.
Directions: We will be meeting at the small, gravel parking lot on Kreashbaum Road, which can be accessed from SR 678. Be sure to register for this project and more detailed directions to the preserve will be sent to you in advance.
What to bring: Bring lunch, water, hiking boots, trekking poles, hand lens (if you have one), gloves, and warm clothing.
RSVP: If you would like to attend or have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE .
Hemlock wooly adelgid (HWA) has not been found in the preserve and today we will be conducting surveys for HWA. HWA is a small, destructive, non-native insect from Asia which sucks sap from hemlocks. Winter months are the best time to conduct these surveys; we will be closely inspecting low-hanging hemlock branches to look for evidence of HWA, most noticeable as white wooly masses on the underside of the branches. Be prepared for extensive, rugged hiking.
Directions: We will be meeting at the small, gravel parking lot on Kreashbaum Road, which can be accessed from SR 678. Be sure to register for this project and more detailed directions to the preserve will be sent to you in advance.
What to bring: Bring lunch, water, hiking boots, trekking poles, hand lens (if you have one), gloves, and warm clothing.
RSVP: If you would like to attend or have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE .
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Thursday, February 7, 2019 Woody Species Control at Meilke Road Savanna Wildlife Area 10:30 am – 3:30 pm 630 North Meilke Road, Holland (Lucas County) |
Meilke Road Savanna was acquired by the Division of Wildlife (DOW) as oak savanna habitat specifically for Karner blue butterflies and other rare butterflies in the Oak Openings. While it is a small wildlife area, only 22 acres in size, it has tremendous plant and animal diversity. The Division also has a management agreement with Spencer Township for another 15 acres of oak savanna adjacent to the wildlife area. Regular management including prescribed burning and woody species removal is necessary to maintain the open oak savanna and barrens habitat. In the spring, large populations of wild lupine, the only host plant for the Federal threatened Karner blue butterfly, once known to be abundant in the Oak Openings, bloom.
For this stewardship project, we will cutting and treating woody sprouts in the savanna to maintain open habitat necessary for rare plants and butterflies.
Directions: Located on the north side of Hill Avenue, west of Crissey Road, and east of Meilke Road in Holland, just west of Toledo; parking is on Hill Avenue; Hill Avenue can be accessed from Crissey Road.
What to bring: Bring lunch, water, hiking boots, gloves, and hand tools such as hand saws and loppers (if you wish). ONAPA will also provide loppers. Herbicide application will be done by DOW staff and trained ONAPA volunteers.
RSVP: If you would like to attend or have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas & Preserves Association
HERE.
For this stewardship project, we will cutting and treating woody sprouts in the savanna to maintain open habitat necessary for rare plants and butterflies.
Directions: Located on the north side of Hill Avenue, west of Crissey Road, and east of Meilke Road in Holland, just west of Toledo; parking is on Hill Avenue; Hill Avenue can be accessed from Crissey Road.
What to bring: Bring lunch, water, hiking boots, gloves, and hand tools such as hand saws and loppers (if you wish). ONAPA will also provide loppers. Herbicide application will be done by DOW staff and trained ONAPA volunteers.
RSVP: If you would like to attend or have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas & Preserves Association
HERE.
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Tuesday, February 19, 2019 Hemlock Wooly Adelgid Surveys at Lake Katharine SNP |
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10:30 am – 3:30 pm
1703 Lake Katharine Road, Jackson
(Jackson County)
Lake Katharine is a magnificent forested nature preserve of over 2,000 acres in Jackson County. It has a beautiful lake and over 6 miles of hiking trails, surrounded by spring wildflowers and many rare plants, including the bigleaf magnolia. Hemlock wooly adelgid (HWA) was found in the preserve in 2013 and today we will be assisting preserve manager, Josh Deemer conduct additional surveys for HWA to document the extent of the 20+-acre infestation. HWA is a small, destructive, non-native insect from Asia which sucks sap from hemlocks. Winter months are the best time to conduct these surveys; we will be closely inspecting low-hanging hemlock branches to look for evidence of HWA, most noticeable as white wooly masses on the underside of the branches. Be prepared for extensive, rugged hiking.
Directions: Meet at the main parking lot near the maintenance building. The parking lot can be reached by taking State Street west out of Jackson about 2 miles, then turning right on County Road 85 (Lake Katharine Road) and proceeding 2 miles to the main parking lot.
What to bring: Lunch, water, hiking boots, trekking poles, hand lens (if you have one), gloves.
RSVP: If you would like to attend or have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
1703 Lake Katharine Road, Jackson
(Jackson County)
Lake Katharine is a magnificent forested nature preserve of over 2,000 acres in Jackson County. It has a beautiful lake and over 6 miles of hiking trails, surrounded by spring wildflowers and many rare plants, including the bigleaf magnolia. Hemlock wooly adelgid (HWA) was found in the preserve in 2013 and today we will be assisting preserve manager, Josh Deemer conduct additional surveys for HWA to document the extent of the 20+-acre infestation. HWA is a small, destructive, non-native insect from Asia which sucks sap from hemlocks. Winter months are the best time to conduct these surveys; we will be closely inspecting low-hanging hemlock branches to look for evidence of HWA, most noticeable as white wooly masses on the underside of the branches. Be prepared for extensive, rugged hiking.
Directions: Meet at the main parking lot near the maintenance building. The parking lot can be reached by taking State Street west out of Jackson about 2 miles, then turning right on County Road 85 (Lake Katharine Road) and proceeding 2 miles to the main parking lot.
What to bring: Lunch, water, hiking boots, trekking poles, hand lens (if you have one), gloves.
RSVP: If you would like to attend or have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
Thursday, February 28, 2019
Woody Species Control at Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area
Woody Species Control at Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area
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10:00am – 3:30pm
Franklin Street (CR 320), Holmesville (Holmes County) This 5,671-acre wildlife area is situated in northeastern Ohio in portions of Wayne and Holmes counties. The area extends north from Holmesville to three miles south of Wooster, and lies between State Route 83 on the east and State Route 226 on the west. The area is in a shallow, U-shaped glacial outwash valley. Approximately half of the wildlife area consists of marsh and swamp that is flooded during some portion of the year. This wetland complex is Ohio’s largest remaining marshland outside of the Lake Erie region. We will be working at one of the sites for Eastern prairie fringed orchid (PFO) which occurs at Killbuck Marsh. |
We will be cutting woody species, primarily dogwood, alder, and willow, hauling brush out of the sedge meadow, andtreating the cut stems with herbicide. Herbicide treatment will be done by DOW staff or trained ONAPA volunteers. ONAPA will provide loppers and handsaws.
Directions: This PFO site is located just outside of Holmesville on CR 320. From Holmesville on SR 83, proceed west on CR 320 to the Conservation Club located on the left side of the road. We will park at the conservation club’s parking lot and work in the meadow across the road.
What to bring: Lunch, water, muck or rubber boots, gloves.
RSVP: If you would like to attend or have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
Directions: This PFO site is located just outside of Holmesville on CR 320. From Holmesville on SR 83, proceed west on CR 320 to the Conservation Club located on the left side of the road. We will park at the conservation club’s parking lot and work in the meadow across the road.
What to bring: Lunch, water, muck or rubber boots, gloves.
RSVP: If you would like to attend or have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
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Thursday, March 7, 2019 Bush Honeysuckle Control at Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve 11:30am – 3:30pm 5185 Corduroy Road (Lake County) |
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Mentor Marsh is a 646-acre preserve co-managed by the Division of Natural Areas & Preserves and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1966, it occupies an ancient abandoned channel of the Grand River which became a marsh. A beech-sugar maple forest occupies the higher elevations bordering the marsh. At the eastern edge of the preserve, there is a mixed oak swamp forest, a forest type destroyed in most parts of the Lake Erie region. The most extensive plant community type is an emergent wetland which was dominated by giant reed-grass or Phragmites. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History has implemented a large-scale restoration project to control the Phragmites and restore native plant diversity. The preserve provides habitat for a diversity of wildlife and plant species.
For this project, we will be cutting and treating large bush honeysuckles to create access to an area of Phragmites which will be treated for control. We will use loppers and handsaws to cut the bush honeysuckle shrubs.
Directions: Meet at the parking lot at the north end of the Zimmerman trail off Headlands Road (south of Shipman Pond). Mentor Marsh can be reached by following State Route 44 North; the preserve is located west of SR 44 and south of Headlands Dune SNP. Turn left (west) on Headlands Road from SR 44 to access the parking lot where we will be meeting.
What to bring: Lunch, water, hiking boots, and gloves. ONAPA and CMNH will provide tools. Herbicide treatment will be done by DNAP or CMNH staff or trained ONAPA volunteers.
RSVP: If you would like to attend or have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
For this project, we will be cutting and treating large bush honeysuckles to create access to an area of Phragmites which will be treated for control. We will use loppers and handsaws to cut the bush honeysuckle shrubs.
Directions: Meet at the parking lot at the north end of the Zimmerman trail off Headlands Road (south of Shipman Pond). Mentor Marsh can be reached by following State Route 44 North; the preserve is located west of SR 44 and south of Headlands Dune SNP. Turn left (west) on Headlands Road from SR 44 to access the parking lot where we will be meeting.
What to bring: Lunch, water, hiking boots, and gloves. ONAPA and CMNH will provide tools. Herbicide treatment will be done by DNAP or CMNH staff or trained ONAPA volunteers.
RSVP: If you would like to attend or have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
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Tuesday, March 12, 2019
Woody Species Control at Mallard Club Wildlife Area 10:30am – 3:30pm Cedar Point Road, Oregon (Lucas County) The 402-acre Mallard Club Marsh Wildlife Area is bounded on the west by Maumee Bay State Park, the north by Maumee Bay, the north and east by Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge, and the south by Cedar Point Road. The area is managed to provide optimum wetland vegetation for a variety of wetland wildlife species. Water levels throughout the marsh range from a few inches to three feet. We will be working at one of the sites for Eastern prairie fringed orchid (PFO) which occurs at Mallard Club WA. |
We will be working at one of the sites for Eastern prairie fringed orchid (PFO) which occurs at Mallard Club WA. We will be cutting woody species, primarily dogwood, cottonwood, and willow, hauling brush out of the sedge meadows, and treating the cut stems with herbicide. Herbicide treatment will be done by DOW staff or trained ONAPA volunteers. ONAPA will provide loppers and handsaws.
Directions: We will meet at the parking lot on Cedar Point Road closest to the entrance to Cedar Point NWR. Cedar Point Road can be accessed from SR 2 by driving north on Cousino or Decant Roads.
What to bring: Lunch, water, muck or rubber boots/hiking boots, and gloves. ONAPA will provide tools. Herbicide treatment will be done by DOW staff or trained ONAPA volunteers.
RSVP: If you would like to attend or have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
Directions: We will meet at the parking lot on Cedar Point Road closest to the entrance to Cedar Point NWR. Cedar Point Road can be accessed from SR 2 by driving north on Cousino or Decant Roads.
What to bring: Lunch, water, muck or rubber boots/hiking boots, and gloves. ONAPA will provide tools. Herbicide treatment will be done by DOW staff or trained ONAPA volunteers.
RSVP: If you would like to attend or have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
Thursday, March 21
Woody Species Control at Medway Prairie Fringed Orchid Site
Woody Species Control at Medway Prairie Fringed Orchid Site
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Union Road, Medway
Clark County
This site is a small wetland, primarily an alkaline wet sedge meadow surrounded by farm fields, and is owned by the City of Dayton’s Water Department as a wellfield. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and DNAP have been cooperating with the City of Dayton by verbal agreement since a significant population of the Eastern prairie fringed orchid was reported at this site in 1993. Regular habitat management is necessary to maintain the open sedge meadow, which has been declining for several years due to woody species encroachment. ONAPA will be cooperating with USFWS and DNAP on this project to cut and treat woody species in the area where most of the orchids are located.
Directions: From Columbus, proceed west on I-70. Take exit 26B to exit onto Spangler Road north towards Medway. After crossing the Mad River, turn right on to Union Road. The site, owned by the City of Dayton, Water Department, is on the right. Parking will be along the roadside.
What to Bring: Lunch, water, hat, muck/knee boots, insect repellent. DNAP, USFWS, and ONAPA will provide tools and conduct herbicide application.
RSVP: If you would like to attend or have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas & Preserves
Association HERE.
Union Road, Medway
Clark County
This site is a small wetland, primarily an alkaline wet sedge meadow surrounded by farm fields, and is owned by the City of Dayton’s Water Department as a wellfield. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and DNAP have been cooperating with the City of Dayton by verbal agreement since a significant population of the Eastern prairie fringed orchid was reported at this site in 1993. Regular habitat management is necessary to maintain the open sedge meadow, which has been declining for several years due to woody species encroachment. ONAPA will be cooperating with USFWS and DNAP on this project to cut and treat woody species in the area where most of the orchids are located.
Directions: From Columbus, proceed west on I-70. Take exit 26B to exit onto Spangler Road north towards Medway. After crossing the Mad River, turn right on to Union Road. The site, owned by the City of Dayton, Water Department, is on the right. Parking will be along the roadside.
What to Bring: Lunch, water, hat, muck/knee boots, insect repellent. DNAP, USFWS, and ONAPA will provide tools and conduct herbicide application.
RSVP: If you would like to attend or have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas & Preserves
Association HERE.