15

DIVISION OF NATURAL AREAS AND PRESERVES

Ric*rardE. loseley, Jr.

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Figttc 16.1.Walter A, PRESEITVATIONPROGRAMS Tucker,nat'itralisl ind dduti']isltttlor fro]tt DEVELOPSLOWLY a.a!L1n1ltus.dt:itot,,t[ t1&itly 50 VearF Ll1/ritlgfhe tiLl- Emlypreservation efforts began with 20fh Crtlhoy to passageof the Park District Law by the presat?in! aild ltrolccting nilutal n ftds i Ohio. GeneralAssemblyinl9lT. ThiBAct allowed PhatobqleJfri.vl.White -fhe specid districts to be created to conserve the as publishedin Wheaton Clrib Sulletin, naturalresourcesofthestate, Today'smany 1985. fine natural area parks in the Metropolitan Park Dstricts of the state resulted from this early legislation. In the late 1920's,garden dubs through- -rr out Ohio began urging pr€servation of the T I he narrative of the Division of state's natural communities. The Ohio Associa- Natural Areas and P(eservesis a story about tion of Garden Clubs. in particular, provided people and theif commitrftmt to preserve and leadership in educating votera about conserva- protect Ohio's unique natural areas and scenic tion and preservation legislation Their publica- rivers. Fortunately, since statehood a few tion, The Gadm PafL, edited by Walter A. Ohioans have always been concemed about the Tucker (Fig. 16.1) of Columbus, played a destruction of our forests, waters, and other significant role in passageof early conservation natural resources. From the naturalists of the legislation and in €stablishment of Ohio's State early 1800's to those pres€ntly involved, all Parks. He played a maior role in establishing have had two qualities in common-dedication the League of Ohio Nature Clubs, the Colun- and a senseof urgency, bw and Frariklin County Mehopolitan Park Figltrc16.4. Cedarllog Nnt itre PrcstrL)e i CInnpaii:n CLtLtrtly, n d.rdlcntedSlote Natu Prcst:trr !1tlfi1it1islered hl thc ()hio Iliitori.al The Divisions Saciety, l,touidcs hahilaf [or nlarv t'l17.otenedund udangtrcdspecies. Photo i]tt(.lnrlesC. King,Mnt,t 1970.

jrl. ar.rrr. Dr.E,Luct/ District, and the Ohio Chapter ol organized in 1958and acquired L)'nx Prairie in Adams B?ttlti , ja)!;,iurr:l L:aitltii a l ,irl.J,1,)l,rllji tir:,;i The Nature Conservancy, all of County in 19.59.Several other significant natural areas were (itit.1)iiit!1, andtitl\.11 fd iiiL which have over the years pre- acquired in the early 1960's.but by the mid-1960's, it was li1!i !isl nl titltii{tiitrl,siit tillrirrirr l!.lti served thousands of acres of obvious that private efforts alone could not Protect the natural lands. unique natural features of the state. In 1966,the Ohio The initial published list of Chapter of The Nature Conservancy called for the creation natu-ral areas in Ohio was issued rn of a State nature preserve system and fomed a committee to 1926having been developed by E. work toward this goal. This effort resulted in 1957 in a Lucy Braun (Fig. 16.2)of Cincin- resolution being adopted by the Ohio House of Representa- nati and Lynds Jones of Oberlin. tives which expressed concem over the loss of Ohio's Dr. Braun later became directly natura1 heritage and initiated a study by the trgislative involved in saving several natural Service Commissionto determine the need for natural areas areas in southem Ohio. In 1942, preservation by the State. tlrough the efforis of Edward S. Thomas (Fig. 15.3) of Columbus, THE NATURAL AREAS ACT l:iS!",i. i I)t. Uiitarr! in Champaign County i. Th0tfi4s. itn!ttlrrilii:ti! allrirj ,rrrliri-riiiil. ;rf,ri'iir?i was purchased by the State. This As a result of this study, Senator Clara Weisenbom of iiir' tr,)rii'rrirrr il ,r,rr: was tJrefust ar ea acquired with Dayton in 1959introduced SenateBill 113, the "Ohio Natu- r''t-irailr:n'rtrlii,,( i,.rrrr/j)]l the Natural Areas Aci l)1!i aittt;t'!ii)r lili' i;!t1i!' it State funds specifically for a nature ral Areas Bill." Upon enactment o{ L)ri(r i'; l(,'l.llii llf.ifsi sanctuary to assure protection oI effective on I June 1970,the State of Ohio entered into a new 1tliiltiLi!'itailtlrI i]1l)iiirt ,tLrtttiri:'i l:ti ;:!ltii fitntls. its unique fuatures for natural program which not only provided protection of unique historypurposes. Dr.Thomashad natural areas and features of the state, but also provided learned of a plan to &ain this special area and use it as a additional educational opportunities for Ohio's citizens and pasture. He convinced Governor John W. Bricker that Cedar visitors. Bog (Fig. 16.4) had greater intrinsic value as a nature pre- This Act authorized the Ohio Departm€nt of Natural serve than as a cow pasture; and thus, with the Govemor's Resourcesto administer a system of State Natute Preserves help, the area was acquired by the Ohio Department of and to acquire, dedicate, and accept the dedication of public Public Works, and the Ohio Historical Society was desig- and privately owned lands as State Nature Preserves. It nated as administrator. authorized the Departrnent to manage and Protect them for An important step toward organizing the efforts to educational and scientific use and for visitation by establish- preserve Ohio's vanishing natural areas began in 1958when Figure16.5.Dr.l. the Ohio Biological Suwey. under the leadership of Dr. Atthx r Herrick , batnnist Charles A. Dambach, sponsored a natural areas inventory of ondccologist ftotKent, nsenblednnci a,Ltlu:red the state. Dr. Arthur Herrick (Fig. 16.5) of Kent conducted J. theJarnous "Ilerrick's this inventory known as the "Natural Areas Proiect, which List"of ndLurel arcnsi Ohioi;L 1962. 1ti!h resulted in a report, "Summary of Data to Date," in 1962. tr:tisionsh 1965atd Revised in 1965,"Herrick's List" of natural areas provided a 1974. very important foundation for future preservation and legislation efforts in Ohio. Another revision was published in L974. The Ohio Chapter of The Nature Conserv:mcy was

'r98 1949n989

ing rules and regulations goveming their use. It also ment of a priority system for the acquisi$on of areas. This provided for a program of inventory planning and study of was a necessity in that the General Assernbly, nead y a year the Nature Preserves. This Act was considered noi only to earlier, and prior to establishment of the program. had be one of the shongest pieces of natural resources legislation aheady author ized $400,ffi0 in capital improvements funds in Ohio at the time of its passage,but also has been used by for natural areas acquisition. Unless ihe Departuient acted many other states as a guide in drafting similar legislation in within a year. these funds would be lost to the program. those states. Becauseof this urgmcy, the Council met again in six days to Furthermore, the Act created the Ohio Natural Areas discrrss acquisition priorities. With Dr. David Stansbery Council, a citizen advisory body, which reviews and makes being elected the first Chair, Richard Durrell as Vice Chair, recommendations on acquisition and dedication of State and JeanneHawkins as Secretary, the Council began its Nature Preserves. The Council advises the Department on work of establishing a firm foundation for the Natural Areas the establishment of criteria, inventories, registries, pians, Program. The Council's dedication to this fledgling effort and rules and regulations pef taining to these Preserves. It was teflected by the frequency of meetings-nine in the fust also makes recommendations on the extent and type of use ten months of the program. and visitation to be permitted within each Preserve. The As a result of priorities established at these eady Cor-urcilconsists of eight members, originally with the meetings, the Departrnent began acquisitions in late 1970. ODNR Director sewing as a nonvoting ex-officio member. With the initial appropriation of $400,000,the Department The other seven members are appointed by the Govemor acquired 14 properties totaling 632 acres on 6ix natural and serve four-year terms. The Nafural Areas Act requires areas, an auspicious beginning. the Governor to appoint one representative for natural The Departrnent established a Natural Areas and history museums, one for metropolitan park districts, one Scenic Rivers Planning Section in the Office o{ Program and for colleges and universities, and one for outdoot education Plarming to administer the program and to provide techni- programs in primary and secondary schools. AII members cal assistanceto the Natural Areas Council. Richard E. must be persons interested or active in natural area preser- Moseley, Jr., of the Division of Parks and Recreation. was vation, and no more than four may belong to the same appointed on 22 May 1970to be Coordinator of ttris new political pariy. Govemor fames A. Rhodes appointed the Section. fust Council during the interim petiod between passageof The Cor.rncilestablished a classification system for the bill and its effective date on 31 August 1970: Richard H. State Nature Preserveswhich is based primarily upon the Durre[ a geologist from the University of Cincinnati; quality of unique features present and the capacity of an feanne Hawkins, an atlarge member from Toledo; Paul E. area to be used without being degraded. Preserveswere Knoop, fr., Director of Aullwood Audubon Center near initially classified as Scientific, Inter pretive, or Scenic,with Dalton; William B. Price, an at-large member from Munay Scientific Nature Preserveshaving the most restrictive use City; Dr. David A. Rigney, an at-large member from and Scenic having the least restrictive use. A fourth classifi- Worthington; Dr. David H. Stansbery, Curator of Natural cation, Ecological Research,was added in 1975 to provide History at the Ohio State Museum; and Bertalan Szabo, opportunities for manipulative research. None of the four Chief Naturalist with Akron Mehopolitan Park District. types is to be used for mass-recreational activities such as The Council started its work quickly and held its first swimmin& boatin& camping, or organized sports. State meeting in Columbus on 15 September 1970iust two weeks Natur e Preservesar e better suited for more passive rece- following the effective date of the Act. This meeting was ational pursuits such as bird watching, hiking nature called by ODNR Director Morr who sewed as Acting Chair. hobbies. ar t, photography, and other similar activities which He established as an initial goal for the Council the develop- are compatible with preservation of the areas. state Nature Iig'rc 16.6.TliSl fi!c Nattrc Prr,(r,)e.. ntnl llr Stnk Sttttr, Riipr{ (i?rilnii.s) ir Oltio, Augrst 1989. Pottions of lhe Lif tlt,Maii Ril)erad Litf le lleawr Creekhn|als(r lleendesigrltlted is catptlfltllts of lhe tqtiotlrl systentoJ g:tntc rlters.

Preserves also proYide excellent opportunities for educational activities and for scientific research and study. The goal of the program was to establish throughout the state a system of Nature Preserves which possess excePtiona"lvalues or qualities that illus- trate or assist inter- pretation of the natural history of Ohio. Thesemaybe outstanding geologi- cal fuatures, stable ecological communi- ties, habitats of rare orendangered species. sites with relict flora and fauna, or areas of scenic grandeur. such o 10 20 30 rromret attributes are well 0 10 20 30 /gl 50 kitom6t€r3 exhibited within the pr esent system of 90 State Nature Preservesencompassing 15,985acres (Fig. Govemor's offica the scenic rivers concept became a reality 16.6). in the form of Amended Smate Bill 345. On 28 February 1968,Ohio became a Pioneer in river Pres€rvation with the passageof the Scenic Rivers Act, the nation's first scenic THE RIVERS SCENIC ACT rivers law and six months prior to Passageby Congress and Scenic Rivers There was also a movement afoot in dre late 1950's to enacknent of Public Law 90-542,the Wild and establish legislation to preserve Ohio's remaining scenic Act. designation of rivers. The movement was spearheaded by Glen Thompson, The purpose of establishing the official Scenic Rivers. as prescribed by Amended SenateBill 3415,i5 publisher of the Dayton loumal Herald, as chief spokesperson and by Little Miami, Incorpor ated, a river pres€rvation to identify and preserve vestiges of vanishing wild, scenic, to provide group in southwestern Ohio. Through this group and the and historic areas adjacent to our river systems

200 1949-1989

greater enjoyment beauty, and usefulness to Ohio's citizens. is mtered into the ODNR Drector's Joumal. and the river is This Act defined the scope of the program and specified included in the State System. Following designatiory a ten- pmcedures which are to be followed in establishing a Scenic member advisory council is appointed for each river. The Rivers Systemfor the Stateof Ohio. ArtWoldorfoftheOhio council is compris€d of representatives of local govem- Water Commission ptovided staff coordination and admin- ments, landowners/ conservation gr oups and individuals istrative services. ln 1970,the program was transferred to interested in river preservation. Natural Areas and Scenic Rivers Planning in the Office of The goal of the Ohio Scerfc Rivers Progtam is preserua- Program and Plaming. The Act was amended on 17 May tion, not recreation. ln other wordt the goal iE to protect the 1972 to provide for the additional designations of WiId natur al environment of a str eam from uses and activities Rivers and Recreational Rivers and to bring Ohio's program which would destroy its aesthetic and natur al atblbutes, into harmony with the federal program. These classifica- Preservation, however, involves more than acquisition of tions, in spite of the apparent literal meaning of the terms, noteworthy areas of natural significance along a river are intmded to differentiate between rivers which are corridor and their management as nature preserves or presently in various degrees of natural conditio4 rather wildlife refuges. Ii also involves preservation of agricultural than to represent patterns of intended use. lands within the river corridor. A key element of preserva- A "Wild River Area" is one which is generally inacces- tion, which is often overlooked, is the protection of property sible, except by trail and occasional road crossings. It is rights of landowner"s along the river. Without this element, essentially pr imitive in condition. A "Scenic Fjver Area" preservaiion of any river is nearly impossible. Thus, preser- includes those rivers, or sections of rivers, that have river vation of a river is related not only to acquisition of a small banks which are still largely primiiive. The shorelines are percentage of the significant natural features which remairl for the most part undeveloped, but the river is more acces- but also more importantly, to preservation of the river sible by roads. A Scenic River corridor is in good ecological corridor through local landowner and government coopera- conditiory but is not quite as primitive as a Wild River Area. Uon by instituting and maintaining appropriate land-use The "Recreational" dassification is designed to provide for practices. Concepts of river preservation are extremely the designation of river lmgths which may not passessthe complex, and in order to accomplish such a goal, involve. high degree of natural quality iypical of Wild or Scenic mmt and cooperation is necessary at the local, State, and River Areas, yet which wanarlt protection due to iheir federal levels. Tfuough utilization of ihese concepts, the historic or cultural attributes. The inJluence of humans is Departrnent has pre6erved 529 miles of river on ten streams mof e appaf ent on rivers of this type which are generally in the state (Fig. 16.6). Nearly 3145 acres of land have been even more accessiblethan Scenic Rivers. acquired by purchase or scenic easementsalong these Wild River classification under one of the three categories is and Scenic Rivers. determined after evaluation of a number of criteria, includ- ing stream length, vegetative cover, flora, fauna, water TFIEPROGRAMS TAKE ROOT quality, urbanization, present use, accessibility, and poten- tial {or receational development. The procedure for desig- During the early part of the administration of Gover- nating a river requires the Dir ector of ODNR to publish an nor john J. Gilligan, the Division of Planning was created by intention to declare an area as a Wild. Scenic,or Recreational ODNR Drector Nye. Both the Natural Areas and Scmic River in area newspapers. and to send written notice to all Rivers Programs were transferred to this new Division and local legislative authorities in the area and to the directors of established as the Natural Areas and Scenic Rivers Section. relevant deparhnents of State govemment. After thirty The Department through the advice and recommendations days, the declaration as a Wild, Scenic,or Recreational River of the Natural Areas Cor.rncil,established criteria for evalu-

n1 Figurclti./. TheLittle Mitmi Rirrctis ohia's first StiteScenic lliut, haris beekdesignted o,t 2i April1969.Apotfioaf it uas alsodesigntlell tl Nltiot]al ScctlicRiwr t)n 23Arlgust1973.Phtttolry AlainE.stalfa.

ating natural areas and designating State Nature Preserves, Departmen! several public and privately owned areas were inventoried existing State-owned lands to determine those dedicated as State Natur e Preservesduring this Period. The . which were worthy of such preservation, and established Columbus and Franklin County Metropolitan Park District policies regarding management of natural areas. Manage- dedicated the S4-acreWalter A. Tucker State Nature Pre- ment guidelines included policies for 1) administration and serve at Blacklick Woods Meho Park, the 319-acreEdward custody of the Preserves,2) development of master plans, 3) S. Thornas Preserve at Sharon Woods Metm Park, and 206 land management practices on Preservesand buffer areas, 4) acres at Highbanls Mebo Park. The Division of Parks and management of visitors and their uses of Preserves,5) Recreation dedicaied 200 acres at Hueston Woods State management of research, 6) publicity, and 4 facilities and Parlg 255 acres at Clifton Gorge in , 51 structures, acres of wetlands at and 786 acres at In 1973,Dtuector Nye, by Executive Order approved by Knox Woods (30 acres) was Governor Gilligan, created the Division of Foresfy and dedicated by the Kr:ox County Commissioners in 1973;and Preserves,which was assigned management of all pr oper- Mentor Marsh, a 621-acre tract o&'ned by the Cleveland ties purchased as State Nature Preserves.not contiguous to Museum of Natural History, became the first privately State lands managed by either the Dvision of Parks and owned area dedicated under the Natual Areas Act. Such Recreation or the Dvision of Wildlife. Those agencies dedications of land to ODNR would have been unlikely administered Preserves contiguous to their holdings. without a Natural Areas Act and a viable program to Management and development plars for ali State Natffe implement such legislation. Prcserves were iointly prepared by the Natural Areas Much of the early successof the Natual Areas Pro- Planning Section, arrd ihe Recreation Plarudng Section of the gram is attributable to the interest and concem for this Division of Plarming and the Division involved in inple- program demonstrated by Director Nye and the General menting the plans. Enforcement of rules and regulations Assembly. The latter had apPropriaied $13t10,000in capital pertaining to management and use of the Preservesbecame improvements funds and provided nearly $205,000in the responsibility of the managing agmcy for each area. operating furds since the Program's incepiion in 1970to The Department began its acquisition program for 1975. The operation of a successful public program does State Nature Preserveswith the purchase of Fowler Woods indeed rely upon the availability of funds to carry out what on 24 September 1971,and this l3&acre beech-maple has been mandated in the legislation. Without this neces- swamp forest in Richland County became Ohio's fust State sary finding support by the General Assembly, the Natural Nature Preserve purchased under the Natural Areas Act Areas Act would have been little more than iust a legislative (seeFigure 1.9 on page 5). The Department also acquired gesture. Little Rocky Hollow in 1971,and Caesar Creek Gorge, During this same period the ScenicRivers Program Cranberry Bog, Adams Lake Prairie, Seymour Woods, and began to grow in both numbers of rivers designated and Clear Fork Gorge in 1972. Six areas were acquired in 1973 citizen support for river preservation. The Little Miami including Eagle Creek, Blackhand Gorge, Shallenberger. River became Ohio's first State Scenic River (Fig. 16.7) on 23 Rockbridge. Gaharma Woods, and Sheick Hollow. Stage's April 1969whm 81 miles of this scerricstream was desig- Pond, kwin Prairie, and Desonier were acquired in 1974; nated by ODNR Dhector Mon, ln SePtember 1969,an while Christmas Rocks, Goll Woods, and Mentor Marsh additional 13 miles was designated making all of the stream wer e added to the system in 1975. During this five-year hom its headwaters in Clark County to its confluence with growth period, the D€parhnent acquircd 19 preserves the East Fork in Hamilton County a part of the program. In containing 3398acres and costing$1480,618. August 1973,the portion of the river between Clifton in Irr addition to this sustained acouisition effort bv the Greene County and Foster in Warren County was desig-

N2 -

Figuralb.S- llichtttdE. Moseley, Jt., first C)tiefof th. I)itisiotl of Nai:']7al Ar easn11i Preseti.ei, 1975 ta lhe ptesctti. 1949-1989

nated a scenic component of the national systeny and in was allowed to stand by the court. This fanuary 1980.the portion ff om Foster to the was stream was later redesignated Scenic in October 1980as designated a tecreational component of the national system. were portions of , its kibutary. in April The was incorporated into the Ohio Scenic 1982. Two additional rivers came into the system much Rivers Program on 5 fanuary 1970. The 65 miles designated later, the (49 miles) was designated in July induded that portion of the stream from 1979and 82 miles of Big and Little Darby Creeks were Route 30 in Upper Sandusky downstream to Roger Young designated Scenicin lune 1984. Memorial Park in Fremont. Thes€ two Scenic Riv€rs became the nucleus for the State System. The was designated on 24 August CREATION OF THE DIVISION 1973 and included 22 miles of stream from Delaware Dam in Initially, management of State Nature Preservesand Delaware County to Wilson Bridge Road at Worthin6on in Scmic Rivers created no critical problems. However, as Franklin Courty. in Columbiana acquisitions increased, management problems moved to the County became Ohio's first Wild River on 15 ]anuary 1974 forefront. It soon became apparent that existing strategies and it was designated a National Scmic Biver in October drastically needed to be altered for the Departm€nt to 1975. Approximately 20 miles received this designation maintain and protect adequately these urrique resources. with an additional 16miles being desigfrated as Scenic. Two The programs had matured sufficiently that a definite days later, the in Ashtabula and Lake Counties commitment was required to initiate sormd management was also declared a State Wild and ScenicRiver. The 33 and protection programs for all areas. In view of this miles of Scenic River included that portion of the stream situatiory ODNR Director Teater created by Executive Order from United States Route 322 to the covered bridge at a new Division of Natwal Areas and Preserveson 7 Febru- Harpersfield. The 23-mile Wild segment began at the aty 1975. This Executive Order was approved by Govemor covered bridge and traversed downstream to the Norfolk Rhodes and filed with the Secretary of State on 5 March and Westem Railroad bridge south of Painesville. 1975. Richard E. Moseley, (Fig. 16.8),Administrator of In 1974 approximately 25 miles of the upper portion of lr. the Natural Areas Plarming Section in the Division of the Cuyahoga Biver was designated a State Scenic River. Planning, became the first Chief of this new Dvision on 20 The was also designated that year and had 1975. Guy L. Denny. former Chief Naturaiist and the distinction of being the first stream to have a segment JuIy Executive Assistant in the Division of Parks and Receation, designated as a Recreational River. Approximately 53 miles was selectedby Moseley io be Assistant Chief of the new of river between Defiance and Perrysburg received this Division. designation while the 43 miles of stream from the Ohio- In order to provide the new Division with statutory state line to Defiance was declared Scenic. pennanence necessaryto carry out the long-range goals of The eighth and last stream designated during this t}te Natural Areas and ScenicRivers Programs, legislation period became perhaps the most controversial. On 1 July was introduced into the 1llth General Assembly in 1975,ODNR Director Teater declared the in fuly 1975. After lengthy hearings, Amended Substitute House Darke, Miami, and Montgomery Counties to be a Scenic and BiIl 972 was passed on 29 April 1975 and was signed into Recreational River. However, becauseof landor*'ner opposi- law by Governor Rhodes on 2 June 1926 (Fig. 16.9). This bill tion and the resulting court case,Falknor v Teatu, the Sceric basically did the following: portion of the river, nearly 77 miles, was dedesignated in July 1976. Only the ten-mile segment of Recreational River from Englewood Dam to the Stillwater's confluence with the 1) Createdthe Division of Natural Areasand Preserves. Figtitr16.9. Goztefiror lames A. Rhodes (senfed, Lntet) signs it1t0 lai|.,fhe NolutolArcds Acl o2 le 7971;crentitlg tlle The DiMsions Di|isiotl af Nitutal .Atcns nd Presenrs.Also i1 nt'ft\1dnice.f toht lcfI to ti!{ht ue ,"r Represe fl tdtioe Saurl Spcck, spttnsLnd thc bill , fronr Ncto Concrrd; Richad E. Moselcy, 'Ieatelr,. ODNR Ditecto r r , and Senator Williant H. Mrssey . sponsotof the bill, fr on1BdlnLliit.

2) Changed rhe name of the Division of For€sts and Pre- 6) lncrease the number and quality of ecologicaly siSnifi- serves to the Division of Forestry. cant Natual Aleas being Pleserved.

3) Created the position and duties of the Chief of the new 7) Increase the number of streams protected in the Scenic Divisi,on. Rivers System,

4) Allowed rules to be adopted to protect NaturalArca$ and 8) Develop rivertoffidor manatenent Plars for all Scenic ScenicRivers lands orvned ormanaged througheasement, Rivers. license, or lease by the Department.

5) Named the Division Chief instead of the ODNR Director Initial organizatio'n of the Division continued the as the ex-officio member of ihe Ohio Natural Areas Natural Ar eas Plarming and Scenic River s Planning Sections Courcil, as before the transfer fr om the Division of Plarming. In addition, Natunl Areas Management and Scenic Rivers 6) Creat€d theposition and authority of the PreserveOfficer TheffustAdministra- within the Division. Manag€mentkionswerecreatd. tors of these Sections were Steve Wamef in Natural Areas Plaruring; Edward Salabsky in Natural Areas Managemmt, The responsibility for establishing and managing W. Stuart Ler4risin Scenic Rivers Planning and Steve Natural Areas and Scenic Rivers for the Departmmt was Gmdwin in ScenicRivers Management. lhus given to the Division. Ali Nature Preserves and lands adiacent to Scenic Rivers which were administered by other Divisions were transferred to the new Division. REORGANIZATION IN 1977 In an effort to carry out the r€sponsibilities and obliga- This organizational pattem continued rmtil 197 whm tions in meeting its goals of preserving Ohio's natural the.Dvision was reorganized into five kions to integrate heritage, the Division formulated the following obiectives: totally the Natural Areas and Scenic Rivers Programs: Administratioru Staff Operations, Field Operations, Techni- 1) Establisha comprehensivestatewide inventory and reE- cal Services and Natural Heritage Program. istry of all ecologicallysignificant areas in the slate. The Adminiskation Section is responsible for the overall managdment of the Division and includea the Chief, 2) Develop an effectivepublic educationprogram to pro- Assisfant Chief, accountant, and secretaries. Staff OP€ra- moteanawareness, undersfanding, andappr€ciation for the Natural Arcasand ScenicRivers, tions (now lnown as Pr$ervation Services Section), headed by Steve Goodwi4 is responsible for all real estate activitieg 3) Establishan effectiveprotection proglam for all areas and engineering coordination. Field Operations is respon- adrrinisteredby the Division. sible for the day-to-day operations of all Nature Preserves and ScenicRiver accessareas including land management, 4) Developa baselinedata bank upon which soundScenic and interpretive ogxamminS; it was admin- River andPr$erve managementdecisions can be based. maintenance, Pr istered by fim McGregor and now by William Loebick, who 5) Esrabhsha program tfuough which all .Preserves and became Administlator in fuly 1980. The Technical Services Scmic River Areas can be developedfor use without Section (now known as the Scenic Rivers Section) is headed impairing their inherentnatural values.

M FixurcLt,)0. Lrti:t Knlhnt!rt SldieNoliitt: j)rria/ir(.ii /daksorr t:.\lt/ i! tlti' ln7'I.siirt iiic srlsf?rr i,ai]irer/ ii''- 1949-1989 ,1!lrtitiii:ie rcLl hv iii( !)i. rj j.,l r.l,\iilr/r"i ,4r'drs nitl Pit:st:ttijct.

by W. Stuart Lewis and basically is responsible for the Scenic Rivets Program and the technical serviees provided to local govemments and landowners along the Scenic Rivers. The Natural Heritage Program Section was origi- nally administered by Robert McCance and is responsible for the inventory and data managernent of ONo's rare and endangered species, unique geological formations. and estuary on the Lake Erie coastline. With financial support unusual plant and animal communities. It had been created from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in 1976by The Nature Conservancy under contract with of the United States Department of Commerce and an ODN& and in October 1977, 1t was transferred to the $8fi),000 appropriation from the General Assembly, the Division from The Nature Conservanry. The Natural Division acquired 562 acres costing $1,117,750, by far he Heritage Program was reor ganized in March 1989into tfuee most expensive preservation project in the first decade of work units-the Data Services Unit headed by Dr. Patricia the program. This Preserve later became a component of the fones, a Zoological Inventory Unit supervised by Dan Rice, National Estuarine ResearchReserve System on 5 September and a Botanical Inventory Unit headed by Allison Cusick_ A 1980,and has the distinction of being the only freshwater Researchand Moniioring Unit was aiso created as a part of estuary in the national system. this reorganization and is headed by Jmnifer Windus. Although only three Preserveswere acquired or In the Dvision's fust year, six new Nature Preserves dedicated during 1978,these areas were excellent additions were added to the State system, five by dedication and one including Culberson Woods. the largest forest on the as a combination gift/purchase. The latter, Lake Katharine, Illinoian-age tillplain remaining in the state; Crooked Run, a became the largest preserve in the system with 1470 acre6. It back'rrater area on the Ohio River well lmown for its migra- was initiated via a gift of 712 acres from JamesJ. tory waterfowl; and Bigelow Cemetery, a pioneer cemetery McKitterick, Edwin A. Jones,and D. Brooks lones. Their gift in Madison Cor:nty which is one of the last prairie remnants became the State match for a grant from the federal Land of the Darby Plains. The latter area, dedicated by the Pike and Water Conservation Fund which was used to putchase Township Trustees, has the distinction of being the smallest an additional 758 acres. Lake Katharine (Fig. 16.10),with its pr es€rve in the system, a hau aere. Although small, this large size and rugged tenain, quickly became a very popu- pioneer cemetery still contains a healthy colony of the lar Preserve. The five other Preserveswere Newberrlr prairie wildflower s and glass€s that once carpeted the Wildlile Sanctuary, Greenbelt Presewe, Spring Beauty Dell, Darby Plains prior to settlement. and Trillium Trails Preserve as dedicated by the Hamilton County Park Diskict, and Headlands Dunes at Headlands THE ENDANGERED PLANT LAW Beach State Park on Lake Erie as dedicated by the Division of Parks and Recreation. A significant legislative event in 1978had an influence In 1977,seven additional areas became State Nature on the Dvision and its operation. A.mended Substitute Preserves. Kyle Woods and Siegenthaler Esker were gifts House BilI 908. the Ohio Endangered Plant Laq was passed while Sharon Woods, Conkles Hollow, Hach{tis Natue on 25 April 1978and became effective on 23 August 1978. Preserve, and Cedar Bog were dedicated by their owners. This legislation resulted from the efforts of Mrs. Mary Ellen The most noteworthy acquisition was Old Woman Creek Philo, a retired elementary school teacher from Martins Sanctuary in Erie County. This proiect. which began in Ferryr,who received the support of Representative and Jantary 1977, iniH.ated a four-year acquisition program to former Speaker of the House, A.G. Lancione of Bellaire. Her pr eserve the largest remaining undisturbed freshwater goal was two fold-to dlange the State Flower from the red -

Figlre16.11. Aptlrliitl lf liie18 i$ LESS than line 14, subtract line l8 tomline l4 andenls thr Alrlouill YoU oYlE, Attach pnyment made af the 1989Ohio payabhlo,Tn$$JRER 0f STATT 0F0810. Phnlt ffite social sec!ty numhr on ched( ormoney order...... Itttlii:idtnl lncome Ttx il Inhresl 'llich proeide5 {t > E FqnfiL210 lun*$it|lledt 0iEninalld Ta{ is rnrchrd. hrullyl- P,ctunt 'lat Jot 20 linel8 i3 GREAIERthan line ll, subinctline 14 lrom line 18 and 3ntff tho owDaym€nl . . thc lrLcotne Refund 2l of hne20 FU wishl0 00MF l0 natureprelerv€s, scenic riyers. and cdang€{ed speoet CheckolfFrograt l fot thc n, $2tr t5tr tloEl otherE Chectbox and enter amount on lind 21...... Di|isiatl af Nnfurul Arels 22 ount0f lne 20Fu lvjrht0 D0lllT[to nongemeand endang€r€d |vildhls s0ecres: nnd Preserces(line 2l) n $5tr $l0Ei' otherE Checkbol and enht anount on lin€ 22 ...... atttl the l)itisiLlt af a ollin. 20 to be CRE0llEo t01990 lax liabilit...... CRUII> WiithJe (lhe I) . ot line20 lo beREFlrtoED T0 YoU It ItE llrcE 0uEt3 tlls llfir 3r.fi filrEr arD mr 8r rr&. rm |r E0mPllfltxl ts u$ ll t llJ m ftrutD ulr 3Elssllt0. camation to the white tdllium and to seek strict legislation On 1 August 1979,Governor Rhodes issued an Executive that would ban the picking and transplanting of certain Order which gave the Division of Natural Areas and Pre- wildflowers that were considered rare in Ohio. The legisla- sewes the authority to develoP and imPlement this Pro- tion to change the State Flower received substantial opposi- gram. tion and failed to pass. while the endangered plant bi[ A.G. The program initially required only voluntary cooP- Lancione's last, sailed through the House. A revised eratiorL but by 1983,the federal government required the version of the formet bill eventually passed and became law adoption of legal nrles to regulate the Program. On 28 in November 1988naming the large white trillium as the November 1983,the Dvision adopted these formal adminis- State Wildflower. trative rules which regulate the harvest seasonand provide Although the original bill listed specieswhich were to a mechanism for dealers legally to exPort Ohio Sinseng' The be protected, most of which were not rare, the final legisla- Dvision is also required to identify trends in collecting tion assigned to the Dvision of Natural Areas and Pre- pnessureand to conduct a research program to determine serves the authority to establish noi only the list of endan- the status and biology of the Plant in Ohio gered and threatened speciesbut also the rules governing Ginseng is big business in the state and provides the protection and taking of listed species for commercial supplemental income to hundreds of collectors throughout and scienffic purposes. Repres€ntative Lancione noted that Ohio. In the fhst eight years that the program has been one of the biggest advantages of this legislation was its administer ed by the Dvision, nearly 58,939pounds having value in educating the public about the need to protect an estimated value of $8,050.716have been exported from Ohio's natural heritage. Neady two years were required to the state. The goal of the Ohio Ginseng Management develop designation criteria for the list of endangered and Program is to achieve a sustained yield of ginseng so that threatened plant species,and the rules for implementing the harvesting efforts will not be detrimental to survival of the program. The fust list was formally adopted on 1 July 1980 species. If the Dvision achieves this goal and receives the and contained 207 endangered speciesand another 210 cooperation of both collectors and dealerc, then this wild listed as thleatened. crop will continue to be economically imPortant in Ohio's future. 'Itltl (;INSENCMANAGEMENT PROGRAM THE INCOME TAX REFUND CHECKOFF Becauseof its involvement with Ohio's endangered PROGRAM plants, the Division soon was assigned a new responsibility, the Ohio Ginseng Management Program. This program Perhaps no program has had mor e imPact on the resulted from an intemafional treaty which was developed Dvision tlnn the Income Tax Refund Checkoff Program at a meeting of 80 countdes in 1973. The Convention on which began when Amended House Bill 5 became law on 15 Iniemational Trade in Endangered Speciesof Wild Fauna July 1983. The signing of this bill by Govemor Richard F. and Flota (CITES) placed American ginsmg on the list of Celeste (seeFigure 3.22 on Page 30) was the culmination of plarts and anirnals to be protected by the Convention. As a over 25 months effort by RePres€ntative David Hartley of result, the United States agreed to monitor and regulate the Springfield (the prime sPonsor), the Division of Natural trade in American gtnseng, a plant which grows wild in Areas and Preserves,the Division of Wildlife, and numerous Ohio and is commercially harvested in this state. ln compli- coruewation organizations to s€ek Passageof this prece- ance with this treaty, the federal government required the dent-setting legislation. It created a system which Permits State of Ohio to develop a Ginsmg Management Program to Ohioans to contribute all or a portion of their State income monitor and regulate the hawest and trade of this species. tax refund either to the Nongame Wildlife Program of the

206 Fi{t.trc16.1.2.Bill Rei,l.et,z'ditn fear birdtr frottt Carroll, lctuls ltis t:xlrlist lo lht Ahi() Brel ifl'l.Biri Atltls 1949-1989 uoied in Willions Coltf tt. IJhttL)b1t Brnak MrL)ot1alLl,l,/fir1ggi.

Dvision of Wildlife or to the Nature Preservg Scenic Rivers, 2) Str€ambank Stabilization-The Dvision initiated three and Endangered SpeciesPrograms of the Dvision of demonstration $heambank stabilization proiects along the Stillwater Scenic River using natural materials to Natural Areas and Preserves(Fig. 16.11). prevent erosion and to eliminate the need for structural Although this was the first tax checkoff program for intrusions or costly channelization along our scenic Ohio, it was similar to those already established in more streams. than 20 other states. The legislation, however, was not permanent in that the General Assembly had a six-year 3) Statewide River Evaluation Program-This tlree-year program initiated a statewide scenic river inventory to sunset provision in the bill which provided them an oppor- determine waterways that potentially qualify for Scenic tunity to reevaluate the program in 1989. Due to the success River status and prctection. of the program, the General Assembly made the tax refund checkoff program permanent law in July 1987. 4) Natural Areas ResearchGrants Program-The Division for the first time plovided srnall researdr to en- One unique featue of the legislation was a statement trant$ courage students and faculty at Ohio colleges and uni- of legislative intent which is generally not a part of Ohio versities to study natual ecosystems on State Nature legislation. This bill specfically states, "Monies in the Preservesand ScenicRivers. Thisresearchprovidesdata special account are not intended to replace appropriations which assists the Dvision to understand, manage, and monitor the State Nature Preserves, Seenic Rivers, and for these purposes." This language was included to assure endangered speciesfor which theDivisionis responsible. that contributions would make it possible to achieve addi- The Division provided fi.urding for 21 researdr proiects tional preservation goals and projects rather than merely totaling $30,537in the first year of the program. replacing tax dollars which would have bem applied to these purposes. 5) Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas-ihis is a five-year project to inventory and map the distribution of all bird species Ohioans' fust opportunity to contribute was on their nesting in Ohio, It not only is an invaluable way to 1983 tax retums which were filed between January and monitor bhd populations and to detect environmental April 1984 and the first year was very successful for the charges,butalsois an excelleartpro.iectto involve birders from all over the state in the Division is activities. Data Dvision with $694,252being raised by contributions from collectedduringtlelife of theprojectwill provide accuate nearly 170,140individuals (seePlate 17). The Division of and updated information on endangered threatened" or Wildlife received nearly $487,1135from their portion of the potentially threatened speciesin Ohio. This information checkoff. Totally, the two Divisions received nearly $1.2 will also help the Division to idmtify fr€ile or unique habitats for possible futr.ue preservation. During the million from 18Q243contributors in year the first of the five-year study, over 500 volunteers (Fig. 16.12)partici- ProSram. pated in this prograrn and inventoried 760 randomly The Dvision announced in December 1984 its plans for selected sampling sites and 200 special areas scattered expending the tax refund checkoff revenues received the throughout all of Ohio's 88 counties. first year. Proposed projects included acquisition of five 6) Ohio Stream Monitoring Program-this pro- State Nature Preserves Quality and five Scenic River sites, new gram, which began on a small scale in 1982,was signfi- public use facilities at ten existing State Nature Preserves cantly expanded when funds from the tax refund check- and Scenic River Areas, and the initiation of several new off were allocated to the proiect. This program now involves more than ,l{)00volunteers from senior programs or expansion of existing programs within the citizen SrouPs, youth SrouPs, civic organizations, local agen- Dvision. Some of the new programs included: cies, schools, and families who monitor more than 160 stations onOhio's tenscenic rivers. Theprograminvolves 1) ScenicRiver TreePlanting-more than 38,000tree seed- asimplifiedapproach tosheam water qualityevaluation lings were planted atong the Olentangy,Little Miami, through the collectionatld analysisof aquatic insects and Stillwater, and Upper CuyahogaScenic Rivers h the other formsol aquatic lifewhichare key indicatorsof the spring of 1985. health and qualityof tlte stream. This technique is easily '16. Figurc ) j. Sunic Riarrrssln ft n0t1L..r Ma r k l)illeVlches sltml ll/ollilo,']/r\' frT/rri{lrfs lo sdtLtaltltildrt'u itr Olerttangrl Suttic Riuer. Ths Divisions

leamed and requires simple, low-co6t equipment maldng THE MONITORING AND RESEARCH it attractive to schools and other youth groups (Fig. PROGRAM 16.13). The goalsof theprogramare toinsease Ohioans' smsitivity to and awarene68 and appreciation of the One of the most valuable proiects made possible by the state's streams and their values. tax refund checkoff program is the Monitoring and Research Program which generatesecological data that can be used to Dur ing the first six years of the tax refund checkoff manage efutively not only selected speciesbut also biologi- pro$am, nearly $3.8 million has been contributed to the cal communities within the State Nature Preserve and Scenic Dvision; and with these funds, many new projects have River Systems. been accomplished that would not have been poesible Acquisition and/or dedication only begin the Protec- without such financial support. The Division has acquired tionprocess. Fromthetimeof acquisition,theDivisiott tm new State Natur€ Preserves (seePlate 18) and purchased becomes totally responsible for the care of the Preserve or nine parcels of land as additions to existing Preserves. A Scenic River ,Area for present as well as future generations total of 1108 acreewere added to the Nature Preserve to use and enioy. Becausenatural ecological systems are System in this acquisition. Lr addition, the Division ac- dynamic and ever changing, some biological comnunities quired six arcas totaling 477 acres along five Scenic Rivers. or species,for which the area was acquired, are favored; The purchase of all these lands cost $136'0"531which sometimes, however, these changes can be detrimental to r€presents about alopercent of the total tax dleckoff expen- tho6ecommunitiesand,/orsPecies.This isthereasonthatit ditures as of the fall of 1989. Tax refrmd dreckoff monies is vitally important to monitor such ecological changes by also supported the developmmt of tt5 visitor-use faciliti$, collecting data about speciesdynamics, natural succe$ion, 12 special projects, 87 research grant projects and 10 infor- visitor impact, extemal influences on the area, and the mation and education programs of the Dvision. effects of habitat manipulation (Fig. 16.14)' Informatio'n gained foon this program i9 esoentialto develop the knowl- edge and skills required to take the necessaryactions to protect the feature or features for which the area was acquired, By virhre of this program and other inJorrnatiorL the Division will be able to make wise decigions for the sound management of Ohio's Scenic Rivers and State Nature Preserves,and to ensure the long-term survival of our rare and endangered sPeciesand valuable natual communities. Futur e generations will be the benefactors!

- REFERENCES

Braurl E. Lucy and LyndElonff,,. 1926- [Natur al arcas inl Ohio. In Natuft list's Cide to thc .Ar tr nc45,ed- vktoJ E. Sheford, 354372 committee onthePres€rvationofNatutalConditiolts. theEcologicalSocietyol Amelica, f6rrrr' /ti./4. ])lntts re idnti.iitd, xtcn{tred,n.\tl rccerLleifrol squah: telet tjuilrils alLtfi.", '1 f Idttstc!in H@illad! Dite'i St'iteilja fl re H€r rick,J, Arthu. 1974. The natural ateaF Proiect. a surn.ulary of data to lnforftAtioe Chanot L ffiPp' lJrrscn:eitt Lakc(:otutly la i(.n fl rccwote hostli einfornntiort Jrtnt d.are. Ohio BiolosicalSlmey itl ud) ln drr)t:itJ t)tadg{r,,iprl sf,'df rr,q ir's. Cjfii u!l ing lhis sf utl! le|i f frnn 1979' Pr€fervingdreheritage. to rrlh! nrt' Bntista, Del.ong, nt'|"lSRnlr a Washingtofl. M6elev,RichardE.,I., andRalphE.Ramey. lutn Iall ln Ohiors Natu't'l Heitage, ed. ftddlael BLafferty, 30F313. Ohio Academy Pholnhv 1nilrr Wittrlrts, |'938. ltt lttlt of Science.Columbus, 324 Pp

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