2026 STEWARDSHIP PROJECT REPORTS​
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April stewardship: prescribed burns added to regular projects

April was a busy month for ONAPA stewardship!  Between eight prescribed burns and six stewardship projects, our volunteers and one stewardship assistant, Annalora were busy.  Along with a team of partners, we accomplished eight prescribed burns at:
  • Crall Woods & Blackfork Bottoms Parks, Ashland Co. Park District
  • Daughmer Savanna & Salem Prairie, Crawford Co. Park District
  • Gorman Nature Center, Richland Co. Park District
  • Honey Run Highlands & Wolf Run Regional Parks, Knox Co. Park District
  • North Kingsville Sand Barrens, Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Our stewardship projects were focused on garlic mustard control at Shallenberger Preserve, Brinkhaven Barrens, Christmas Rocks, Olsen Preserve, Knox Woods Preserve, and Salem Prairie.  The stewardship project at Salem Prairie was after the prescribed burn and was an effort to cut and treat the woody species, primarily autumn-olive, in the burned part of the prairie.  It will likely look spectacular this summer.
Picture
Bonnett Pond Bog
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W. Pearl King Savanna
For February, we were able to accomplish six projects, so it was a productive month:
  • February 4 - Bonnett Pond Bog - worked on the bog mat as the pond was frozen thanks to long-term frigid temperatures
  • February 11 - Daughmer Savanna
  • February 17 - Pearl King Savanna with Columbus Metro Parks - large group of almost 40 people, many staff and volunteers from Columbus Metro Parks
  • February 19 - North Kingsville Sand Barrens with Cleveland Museum of Natural History - cleared more trees and burned brush piles to open more units for prescribed burning in the spring
  • February 25 - Kitty Todd with The Nature Conservancy - worked on fire breaks for two burn units
  • February 26 - Wolf Run Regional Park with Knox Co Park District - cut and treated woody species in a grassland unit to be burned this spring

ONAPA is preparing to help several other partners with prescribed burns this spring including at Daughmer Savanna, North Kingsville Sand Barrens, Ashland County Park District, Knox County Park District, Crawford County Park District, and Richland CountyvPark District.  These burns will be conducted in March and April. (Photos by Jennifer WIndus)
Picture
Bonnett Pond Bog
Only two projects to start 2026

​Due to the holiday break, we did not start our stewardship projects until January 15 at Lakeside Daisy Preserve. We had a good turnout of 10 people on a snowy day and lots 
 of cedars were removed. At the second project - Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area - we removed woody species from one of the prairie fringed orchid sites. Brinkhaven Barrens, cancelled January 28 because of snow depth, was rescheduled for February 12. ​