2025 STEWARDSHIP PROJECT REPORTS
Killbuck Marsh stewardship
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Tackling woody invasives at Resthaven
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December a productive month in the field
As we wind down the year, the ONAPA stewardship crew had four more projects in December: Clifton Gorge on the 9th, Resthaven Wildlife Area December 11, Daughmer Savanna December 16, and Honey Run Highlands Park December 18. These were all productive projects, removing and treating invading woody species. We worked on bush honeysuckle along the lower trail at Clifton Gorge. At Resthaven WA, we opened a small remnant prairie on Oxbow Road. At Daughmer Savanna, we continued to work on woodies in the understory, and cleaned up some downed trees and large branches. Columbus Metro Parks staff and volunteers helped that day and we had a super group of 21 people. We helped Knox County Park District staff at Honey Run Highlands to remove large autumn-olives in a grassland unit, in preparation for a spring burn. |
Randy Haar handles the chainsaw at Resthaven
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Jackson Bog
Myersville Fen
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Jackson Bog
Myersville Fen
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Stewardship crew gets a reprieve in August from heat and humidity
The ONAPA stewardship team was happy to have some cooler weather in August for the seven projects we accomplished. After hot and humid weather in June and July, this was a welcome relief. We worked at Jackson Bog, Myersville Fen, Daughmer Savanna, Wolf Run Park, Milford Center Prairie, Brinkhaven Barrens, and Beck Fen on a combination of woody species, purple loosestrife, cattails, giant ragweed, and Japanese stiltgrass.
The ONAPA stewardship team was happy to have some cooler weather in August for the seven projects we accomplished. After hot and humid weather in June and July, this was a welcome relief. We worked at Jackson Bog, Myersville Fen, Daughmer Savanna, Wolf Run Park, Milford Center Prairie, Brinkhaven Barrens, and Beck Fen on a combination of woody species, purple loosestrife, cattails, giant ragweed, and Japanese stiltgrass.
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Woody species no match for stewardship participants in July
July was another hot, humid, and busy month for the ONAPA stewardship crew, with everyone showing impressive fortitude and commitment. We had 8 projects at the following preserves and other natural areas: July 1 - Prairie fringed orchid surveys at Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area July 10 - Woody species removal at Travertine Fen July 15 - Woody species removal at Honey Run Highlands Park (prairie burn units) July 17 - Cattail removal at Zimmerman Prairie July 22 - Clearing around running buffalo clover at Warder-Perkins Preserve July 24 - Control of woody species, Canada thistle, & common teasel at Daughmer Savanna July 29 - Woody species removal at Kitty Todd Preserve July 31 - Woody species removal in fen meadows at Cedar Bog. We could not accomplish all the great work we do in Ohio's natural areas without our wonderful volunteers -- thank you. |
Travertine Fen
Warder-Perkins
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Daughmer Savanna
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Kitty Todd
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June projects start off with our two new Stewardship Assistants
June was another busy month for the ONAPA stewardship team, including our two new stewardship assistants, Annalora and Camryn, and hardy volunteers. We endured some hot and humid days during our annual prairie fringed orchid surveys (photo), but we accomplished three days of surveys with great results. We had nine days of stewardship and rare plant surveys including projects at Fowler Woods, Brinkhaven Oak Barrens, |
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Johnson Woods, and Clifton Gorge. We also had a training day at Gorman Nature Center for the new stewardship assistants and a few volunteers. Besides the orchid surveys, we were working on removal of butterweed, Japanese stiltgrass, garlic mustard, and Dame's rocket. We were happy to gain some new volunteers this month too!
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Two new Stewardship Assistants join us this summer
We are excited to share we have two new stewardship assistants this season, Annalora Nguyen and Camryn Ford. Annalora started in April and Camryn started in June. If you volunteer on our stewardship projects, you have probably met them already. Both will be working with ONAPA two to three days a week for at least six months. Annalora (on the right in photo) graduated from Ohio University in 2022 with a BS in Biology. She lives in Columbus and has been working at Krema Nut Company. She also volunteers with the Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed (FLOW) in Columbus. She started volunteering with ONAPA last year, then applied to be a stewardship assistant. We are happy to have her with us! |
Camryn Ford (on the left in photo) graduated from The Ohio State University in May of this year with a BS in Ecology and Evolution. and also lives in Columbus. While taking courses at OSU, she also worked as an intern in the Office of Environmental Services for ODOT and as an undergraduate lab research assistant at the OSU Museum of Biological Diversity. She has a great background for this position with strong interests in plants and reptiles.
We had 18 applicants for the stewardship assistant positions this spring and conducted four interviews. Annalora and Camryn both have strong backgrounds for the stewardship team, are hard working, and very motivated to get more experience in the field and with our partners. You will meet them if you join us on a stewardship project or enjoy the field trip to Denny's Prairie July 26.
We had 18 applicants for the stewardship assistant positions this spring and conducted four interviews. Annalora and Camryn both have strong backgrounds for the stewardship team, are hard working, and very motivated to get more experience in the field and with our partners. You will meet them if you join us on a stewardship project or enjoy the field trip to Denny's Prairie July 26.
May stewardship projects and field trip to Lakeside Daisy preserve highlight ONAPA work
Our stewardship team busy with a few stewardship projects and several days of rare plant monitoring on Lakeside daisy, running buffalo clover at Boch Hollow (photo), and prairie valerian. We spent a day at Milford Center Prairie removing common teasel and other invasives in the right-of-way prairie. We worked with DNAP and USFWS staff for three days on Kelleys Island to conduct a complete survey of the Lakeside daisy population. We also collected Lakeside daisy seed at Holcim Quarry for restoration at the preserve. Two projects at Greenbelt Preserve and Irwin Prairie were cancelled due to rainy weather.
Lakeside daisies were also the highlight of the May 10 field trip on a great day with 11 people visiting the Lakeside Daisy State Nature Preserve, both the original and new portions of the preserve. We talked about this federally listed plant and our recovery efforts, associated plants in the preserve, the geology and alvars, as well as the glacial grooves.
Our stewardship team busy with a few stewardship projects and several days of rare plant monitoring on Lakeside daisy, running buffalo clover at Boch Hollow (photo), and prairie valerian. We spent a day at Milford Center Prairie removing common teasel and other invasives in the right-of-way prairie. We worked with DNAP and USFWS staff for three days on Kelleys Island to conduct a complete survey of the Lakeside daisy population. We also collected Lakeside daisy seed at Holcim Quarry for restoration at the preserve. Two projects at Greenbelt Preserve and Irwin Prairie were cancelled due to rainy weather.
Lakeside daisies were also the highlight of the May 10 field trip on a great day with 11 people visiting the Lakeside Daisy State Nature Preserve, both the original and new portions of the preserve. We talked about this federally listed plant and our recovery efforts, associated plants in the preserve, the geology and alvars, as well as the glacial grooves.
Invasive herbaceous plants primary targets of April stewardship
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ONAPA was busy in April working on garlic mustard and Dame's rocket in several preserves. Fortunately garlic mustard was found in reduced numbers at each preserve, so we hope our efforts are slowly eliminating the populations. We had 6 projects at the following preserves:
- April 1 - Crane Hollow (photos by Jennifer Windus), clean-up in the pine plantation
- April 9 - Bonnett Pond Bog, garlic mustard & Dame's rocket in the woods
- April 16 - Rhododendron Cove, garlic mustard
- April 19 - Howard Collier Preserve, garlic mustard
- April 23 - Clifton Gorge, garlic mustard & Dame's rocket
- April 30 - Lake Katharine, garlic mustard
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Seven stewardship projects completed in February and March
The ONAPA stewardship team kept busy in February and March with seven projects total. The weather cooperated for most of the projects, and we were able to accomplish some excellent habitat management. In February, we worked at Singer Lake, Travertine Fen, Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area, and Cedar Bog, with large volunteer groups at both Travertine Fen and Cedar Bog. In March, we worked at Medway prairie fringed orchid site, Daughmer Savanna, and Wolf Run Regional Park. At all these natural areas, we cut and treated woody species. We were also able to conduct prescribed burns on hree days in March.
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Three stewardship projects completed in January with no cancellations due to weather
Lakeside Daisy SNP
Bonnett Pond Bog
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Lakeside Daisy SNP
Brinkhaven Oak Barrens
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Despite some cold and snowy days in January, ONAPA started off the new year with three stewardship projects and did not have to cancel any of them. We appreciated the hardy volunteers and DNAP staff that joined us as we accomplished good work on these preserves all three days:
- Lakeside Daisy Preserve (January 14) - red cedar removal with six people
- Brinkhaven Oak Barrens (January 23) - woody species removal in the north barrens with five people (photo)
- Bonnett Pond Bog (January 28) - woody species removal in the bog meadow with nine people