2022 APRIL-MAY STEWARDSHIP PROJECT SCHEDULE
We will be following state health department guidelines during the pandemic.
We will include a short field trip on each project to see some of the preserve we are working at. When registering to volunteer, please allow at least 24 hours prior to the project as weather may impact conditions and we make every effort to inform our volunteers of changes.
PLAN AHEAD: 2022 APRIL-MAY STEWARDSHIP PROJECT SCHEDULE HERE.
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.
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, April 19, 2022
Garlic Mustard Control at Miller Preserve 10:30 am - 3:30 pm
13657 Barrett Mill Rd, Bainbridge Highland County |
This 86-acre preserve is located within the striking geologic feature known as the Rocky Fork Gorge. Rocky Fork Creek has cut down through the dolomite bedrock for thousands of years, forming the steep bluffs characteristic of this area. Dolomite cliffs and slump blocks produce tremendous spring wildflower displays in April and May. Several unusual and rare plants occur here, such as barren strawberry, arbor vitae, Walter’s violet, American columbo, shooting-star, and sullivantia. There is a natural arch and bridge visible from trail.
We will be pulling and hauling garlic mustard in several areas where spring wildflowers have the best displays. Garlic mustard will be bagged and carried out of the preserve.
Directions: Located in Highland County, proceed from Rainsboro on U.S. Route 50, then south on Barrett Mill Road for 2.1 miles. The preserve entrance is on the left. When the gate is closed, park to the side and walk ½ mile back to the trail head; do not block gate. The gate should be open for this project, so you can drive back to a small parking lot.
What to bring: Lunch, water, hiking boots, and gloves.
RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
We will be pulling and hauling garlic mustard in several areas where spring wildflowers have the best displays. Garlic mustard will be bagged and carried out of the preserve.
Directions: Located in Highland County, proceed from Rainsboro on U.S. Route 50, then south on Barrett Mill Road for 2.1 miles. The preserve entrance is on the left. When the gate is closed, park to the side and walk ½ mile back to the trail head; do not block gate. The gate should be open for this project, so you can drive back to a small parking lot.
What to bring: Lunch, water, hiking boots, and gloves.
RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
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Thursday, April 21, 2022
Garlic Mustard Scouting & Control at Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve 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. Garlic mustard is one of the invasive plants that needs to be controlled to preserve wildflower diversity, particularly in the bottomlands. We will be pulling and hauling garlic mustard in several areas in the bottomlands. 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, and gloves. RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE. |
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Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Garlic Mustard Control at Rhododendron Cove State Nature Preserve 10:30 am – 3:30 pm 2730 Pump Station Rd SE, Lancaster Fairfield County This 75-acre preserve is within the Sugar Grove Region of the Hocking Hills. A relatively strenuous hike to the top of the dry ridgeline affords a view of the Hocking River Valley to the east. This dry ridge forms a horseshoe shape, supporting a significant chestnut oak community with Virginia and pitch pine, sourwood and a well-developed heath layer of mountain laurel, blueberry, and deerberry.
The cooler north-facing slopes below the cliff lines form an environment better suited to eastern hemlock, black birch and a state-listed member of the heath family – the great rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum). This is likely the home of the largest native population of this native rhododendron in Ohio. We will be pulling and hauling garlic mustard in several areas where spring wildflowers still have the best displays. Directions: The preserve is located south of Lancaster and northwest of the village of Sugar Grove. A small gravel |
parking lot is located on the north side of Pump Station Road, approximately 0.1 miles west of Old Logan Road.
From Columbus, take Route 33 east towards Lancaster, follow Route 33 around Lancaster and exit at Tarkiln Road. At the bottom of the exit ramp, go straight through the intersection as this is Old Logan Road SE. In a little less than 2 miles, turn right onto Pump Station Road (sign for Wahkeena Nature Preserve), go approximately a couple hundred yards, and the gravel parking area is on the right. What to bring: Lunch, water, hiking boots, and gloves. RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE. |
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RESCHEDULED APRIL 28, 2022
Invasive Plants Control at Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. 2381 State Route 343, Yellow Springs Greene County This 268-acre preserve protects one of the most spectacular dolomite and limestone gorges in the state. Registered as a National Natural Landmark in 1968, Clifton Gorge encompasses a 2-mile stretch of the Little Miami State & National Scenic River, just east of John Bryan State Park. The gorge protects one of the best examples of post-glacial and inter-glacial canyon cutting. The Silurian limestone and dolomite bedrock supports an abundance of plant life, including at least 347 species of wildflowers and 105 species of trees and shrubs. The cool north-facing slopes provide much needed moist, shady habitat for northern relics such as hemlock, Canada yew, arborvitae, red baneberry and mountain maple. The limestone bedrock here provides an ideal habitat for bush honeysuckle, and other invasive shrubs. This stewardship project will focus on removal of these shrubs in sensitive areas. We will be working on the south side of the river which is the Scientific side and usually requires an access permit to visit. We will be removing garlic mustard and Dame's rocket. We will also be scouting for Japanese stiltgrass. Hiking on the Scientific side of the preserve may be difficult as there are no trails & it is very rocky, including some mild climbing down rocks to reach some areas. |
Directions: Park at the main Clifton Gorge parking lot, just west of Clifton on State Route 343.
What to Bring: Bring lunch, water and gloves. Herbicide treatment will be done by DNAP staff or trained ONAPA volunteers. RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE. Online registration is important for our planning. |
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CANCELLED
Invasive Plants Control at Davey Woods 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. 7661 Lonesome Road, St. Paris Champaign County This mature forest woodland has numerous large tuliptrees, sugar maple, ash and oak as well as an excellent array of spring
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wildflowers. It is one of the best woodlots remaining in this part of Ohio: about 90 acres are old-growth forest. Named in honor of the Davey Tree Expert Company which, through The Nature Conservancy, provided half the funding to acquire this site in 1989. The terrain is hilly for this part of Ohio.
For this project, we will be removing garlic mustard and Dame's rocket from the woods in plastic bags.
Directions: The preserve is located near the town of St. Paris, about nine miles northeast of your turn on Zimmerman Road off U.S. Rt 36.
What to bring: Bring lunch, work gloves, hiking boots, tick spray or repellent, and a hiking stick if desired.
RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
For this project, we will be removing garlic mustard and Dame's rocket from the woods in plastic bags.
Directions: The preserve is located near the town of St. Paris, about nine miles northeast of your turn on Zimmerman Road off U.S. Rt 36.
What to bring: Bring lunch, work gloves, hiking boots, tick spray or repellent, and a hiking stick if desired.
RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
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CANCELLED
Tuesday, May 3, 2022 Garlic Mustard Control at Clear Fork Gorge State Nature Preserve 10:30 am - 3:30 pm
Mohican Park Road # 51, Perrysville, OH Ashland County |
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The 29-acre Clear Fork Gorge State Nature Preserve is situated along the north bluff of the Clear Fork of the Mohican State Scenic River. The white pine-hemlock forest community here, although only 8 acres in extent, is one of the best remaining woodlands like this in the state.
Huge native white pines and eastern hemlocks grow on the steep sides of the gorge wall. In addition to rare nesting warblers, one of the most interesting species observed here is the round-leaved orchid.
We will walking through the preserve in search of garlic mustard in an effort to eradicate it from this preserve which is surrounded by state forest and state park land. Hiking will be on steep, rugged terrain.
Directions: Proceed to the fire tower in Mohican State Forest on Park Road 51 and park at the fire tower. We will leave from this parking lot and hike into the preserve.
What to bring: Lunch, water, hiking boots, and gloves.
RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
Huge native white pines and eastern hemlocks grow on the steep sides of the gorge wall. In addition to rare nesting warblers, one of the most interesting species observed here is the round-leaved orchid.
We will walking through the preserve in search of garlic mustard in an effort to eradicate it from this preserve which is surrounded by state forest and state park land. Hiking will be on steep, rugged terrain.
Directions: Proceed to the fire tower in Mohican State Forest on Park Road 51 and park at the fire tower. We will leave from this parking lot and hike into the preserve.
What to bring: Lunch, water, hiking boots, and gloves.
RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
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Tuesday, May 10, 2022
Invasive Plants Control at Davey Woods 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. 7661 Lonesome Road, St. Paris Champaign County This mature forest woodland has numerous large tuliptrees, sugar maple, ash and oak as well as an excellent array of spring
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wildflowers. It is one of the best woodlots remaining in this part of Ohio: about 90 acres are old-growth forest. Named in honor of the Davey Tree Expert Company which, through The Nature Conservancy, provided half the funding to acquire this site in 1989. The terrain is hilly for this part of Ohio.
For this project, we will be removing garlic mustard and Dame's rocket from the woods in plastic bags. This project may be rescheduled to a different preserve, depending on the results from the April 28 project at this location.
Directions: The preserve is located near the town of St. Paris, about nine miles northeast of your turn on Zimmerman Road off U.S. Rt 36.
What to bring: Bring lunch, work gloves, hiking boots, tick spray or repellent, and a hiking stick if desired.
RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
For this project, we will be removing garlic mustard and Dame's rocket from the woods in plastic bags. This project may be rescheduled to a different preserve, depending on the results from the April 28 project at this location.
Directions: The preserve is located near the town of St. Paris, about nine miles northeast of your turn on Zimmerman Road off U.S. Rt 36.
What to bring: Bring lunch, work gloves, hiking boots, tick spray or repellent, and a hiking stick if desired.
RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
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Wednesday, May 11, 2022 Invasive Plants Scouting and Control at Hueston Woods 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Hueston Woods State Park, Main Loop Road College Corner, OH Butler County |
Hueston Woods is a tiny remnant of the beech-maple forest that once stretched in a broad band from southwestern Ohio to its northeastern corner. This forest type is dominated by the ghostly gray trunks of beech trees along with varying proportions of sugar maple, red and white oaks, and white ash. The quantity and variety of species vary according to the wetness and slope of the ground and other environmental factors. In Hueston Woods, beech trees form nearly 44 percent of the canopy, sugar maples make up 28 percent, and white ash 19 percent. During the spring, the forest floor is blanketed with a luxuriant display of wildflowers including Dutchman's breeches, squirrel corn, large-flowered and sessile trilliums, may-apple, bloodroot and several species of violets and buttercups. Unfortunately, garlic mustard and Japanese stiltgrass now threaten the native wildflower populations.
For this project, we will be scouting for garlic mustard, Dame's rocket and Japanese stiltgrass. When found, we will be pulling and removing it from the woods in plastic bags.
Directions: Follow directions to Hueston Woods State Park, which is located north of Oxford and southwest of Camden in Butler County (SW Ohio). Once you enter the state park, the preserve is located in the park, off the Main Loop Road. We will meet at the Blue Heron parking lot, which is the closest to the archery range (one of three parking lots in the preserve).
What to bring: Bring lunch, work gloves, hiking boots, tick spray or repellent, and a hiking stick if desired.
RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
For this project, we will be scouting for garlic mustard, Dame's rocket and Japanese stiltgrass. When found, we will be pulling and removing it from the woods in plastic bags.
Directions: Follow directions to Hueston Woods State Park, which is located north of Oxford and southwest of Camden in Butler County (SW Ohio). Once you enter the state park, the preserve is located in the park, off the Main Loop Road. We will meet at the Blue Heron parking lot, which is the closest to the archery range (one of three parking lots in the preserve).
What to bring: Bring lunch, work gloves, hiking boots, tick spray or repellent, and a hiking stick if desired.
RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
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Thursday, May 12, 2022
Pulling Invasive Plants at Fowler Woods State Nature Preserve 10:30 am - 3:30 pm 7815 Olivesburg-Fitchville Rd, Greenwich Richland County Fowler Woods is an excellent example of a beech-maple community, grading into swamp forest on the lower ground. Several low areas are water-covered most of the year and occupied by large buttonbush swamps. The numerous buttonbush swamps and woodland pools scattered throughout Fowler Woods support a wide diversity of breeding amphibians during the spring and early summer months. This nature preserve is one of the best sites in Ohio for viewing spring wildflowers. The woodlands support a variety of nesting birds including red-headed woodpecker, ovenbird, redstart and scarlet tanager. The 187-acre preserve has a brand new 1-1/4 mile loop boardwalk trail that begins at the parking lot.
We will be pulling invasive plants that are high priority for control: garlic mustard and butterweed. Directions: The preserve is approximately 13 miles north of Mansfield. From the north or south, take State Route 13 to Noble Road, go east on Noble Road for approximately |
1 -1/4 miles to Olivesburg-Fitchville Road, then south to the preserve's parking lot, which is located on the west side of the road.
What to bring: Lunch, water, hiking boots, and gloves. RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE. |
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NEW DATE: Thursday, May 19, 2022
Garlic Mustard & Dame's Rocket Control at Augusta-Anne Olsen State Nature Preserve 10:30 am - 3:30 pm 4934 West River Road, Wakeman Huron County This very scenic preserve contains a large section of the Vermilion River Gorge. In addition to an abundance of spring wildflowers, this preserve supports a locally significant oak-maple forest and mixed floodplain community. Vermilion River Preserve was a gift from Reverend and Mrs. William Olsen of Port Clinton in 1985. There are over 3 miles of hiking trails at this preserve.
We will be working through the wooded portions of the preserve to hand pull garlic mustard and Dame's rocket. There are also large populations of lesser celandine at the |
the preserve, but we will focus on garlic mustard since hand pulling is not effective for lesser celandine.
Directions: The preserve is located on West River Road, just north of Wakeman. West River Road can be easily assessed from US Route 20 on the north side of Wakeman. We will meet in the parking lot. What to bring: Lunch, water, waterproof or rubber boots or hiking boots, gloves. RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE. |
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Thursday, November 29, 2022
Woody species control at Irwin Prairie 10:30 am – 3:30 pm 9987 West Bancroft Street, Holland Lucas County The core of this preserve is a treeless, wet sedge meadow dominated by several species of sedges, rushes and wetland grasses. It is the finest remaining sedge meadow in the state. The preserve is actually comprised of a mosaic of distinctive
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plant communities based on variations in water table levels. We will be cutting and treating invasive woody species in the sedge meadow.
Directions: Meet at the parking lot located at on Bancroft Road, about five miles north of the Toledo airport.
What to bring: Bring lunch, work gloves, long-sleeved shirt and pants, hiking boots, a long-handled shovel, tick spray or repellent, and hand pruners.
RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
Directions: Meet at the parking lot located at on Bancroft Road, about five miles north of the Toledo airport.
What to bring: Bring lunch, work gloves, long-sleeved shirt and pants, hiking boots, a long-handled shovel, tick spray or repellent, and hand pruners.
RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
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Tuesday, May 31 , 2022
Invasive Plant Control at Milford Center Prairie 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Connor Road, Milford Center Madison County Milford Center Prairie is a very significant prairie remnant of the Darby Plains owned by Dayton Power & Light, but managed in cooperation with DNAP. It is approximately 1.5 miles in length beneath the power lines with more than 50 different species of prairie plants, including rare species such as royal catchfly.
We will be controlling herbaceous plants: giant ragweed, teasel, Canada thistle and sweet-clover. Directions: Meet at the parking area located on Connor Road, just north off of State Route 4, west of Milford Center. We will park in the pull-off area on Connor Road near the power line crossing and walk down the DP&L power line ROW for the project.
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Directions: Meet at the parking area located on Connor Road, just north off of State Route 4, west of Milford Center. We will park in the pull-off area on Connor Road near the power line crossing and walk down the DP&L power line ROW for the project.
What to Bring: Lunch, water, hat, boots, tick spray or repellents, gloves, and a digging tool.
RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
What to Bring: Lunch, water, hat, boots, tick spray or repellents, gloves, and a digging tool.
RSVP: If you would like to attend, please REGISTER. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.