The RookeryFALL 2019 THERE IS NO SLOWING With your help, Black Swamp There is no slowing down in sight … Conservancy is making a difference in northwest Ohio.This year the The Conservancy is now partnering DOWN Conservancy completed thirteen with the Ohio Department of Natural new conservation projects, protecting Resources on four new restoration projects another 1,840 acres of land in our under the H2Ohio Initiative that are community – forever. intended to support a cleaner Lake Erie and will be underway shortly. We have Among these newly protected properties also secured grant funding through the in sight are three new nature preserves, which Clean Ohio Greenspace Program to stretch from the Lake Erie shoreline to protect three new sites in 2020 – two that the upper reaches of the Maumee River will be new public nature preserves and Watershed on the Little Auglaize and another that will expand upon an already St. Joseph’s rivers. These spaces harbor beloved community space. rare and endangered species, protect water quality and offer opportunities Thank you for your support of Black for public recreation – including hiking Swamp Conservancy and for helping to and canoeing. make this important work possible in our community. We couldn’t do it The Conservancy also completed two without you. large scale habitat restoration projects in the past year. At Carter Historic Farm near Bowling Green, we restored 20 acres of wetlands that serve as a With warm regards, publicly accessible demonstration project showcasing the importance of wetlands to clean water in our region. We’ve also continued on our previous work at Forrest Woods Nature Preserve by restoring another 48 acres of floodplain back Rob Krain to function. Executive Director H2Ohio Black Swamp Conservancy has been at We submitted several shovel-ready the table on this initiative since early in projects for consideration, four of which its development, and in April 2019, we the State has selected for implementation were invited to join conservation leaders under the H2Ohio program located on from around the state in Columbus. We the Sandusky, Maumee and St. Joseph update met with Gov. DeWine, Lt. Gov. Husted, Rivers. We’re now working with ODNR’s the Directors of Agriculture, EPA and staff to develop work plans and budgets Department of Natural Resources, and the for these exciting projects, which include Simply put, water is life. Lake Erie Commission to discuss H2Ohio the acquisition of a new property for use and the ways we can work together to as a nature preserve, as well as floodplain, Yet, communities throughout the state improve Ohio’s important waters. stream and wetland restorations have long-faced water quality issues throughout the western Lake Erie Basin. caused by nutrient pollution, failing septic tanks, and lead contamination. “Water is the driving force of all nature.” H2Ohio, a new environmental program – Leonardo DaVinci recently established by the state, aims to change all that. The centerpiece of That conversation continued over the this program is a fund – approximately summer when the Conservancy’s staff We look forward to sharing more details $900 million – that will help address toured agency officials through some of with you soon! You can learn more about critical water quality needs and support the stream and wetland restoration projects the H2Ohio program online at innovative solutions to some of the state’s we’ve completed and new sites where we’re H2Ohio.gov. most pressing water challenges over the hoping to accomplish similar projects over next 10 years. the next few years. Protecting More Than Land Red Horse Bend Forest Woods Nature Preserve Nature Preserve Downy Carrion Grove Sandwort River Redhorse Cuspidate Dodder Bobolink Ovate or Blunt Spike-rush Black-billed Cuckoo Bell Woods Cattle Egret Sharp-shinned Hawk Three-Birds Orchid Regal Fritillary Grasshopper Sparrow Raven-foot Sedge Vesper Sparrow Daubel Marsh Leafy Blue Flag Iris Cerulean Warbler Blanding's Turtle Lake-cress Prothonotary Warbler Sandhill Crane Red-headed Woodpecker Meadowbrook Marsh Blanding's Turtle Four-toed Salamander Black-crowned Night Heron Silver-bordered Fritillary Early Buttercup Deer’s-tongue Arrowhead Middle Bass Island Preserve Lake Erie Watersnake Black-crowned Night Heron Threehorn Wartyback Freshwater Mussel Blanchard River Melanistic Eastern Garter Snake Sharp-shinned Hawk Nature Preserve Clubshell Mussel Kidneyshell Freshwater Mussel Black-billed Cuckoo Rayed Bean Mussel Round Pigtoe Freshwater Mussel Deertoe Freshwater Mussel Northern Harrier Purple Wartyback Freshwater Mussel Clubshell Mussel Sugar Ridge Prairie Rayed Bean Mussel Northern Harrier Northern Bobwhite Purple Lilliput Mussel Canada Milk Vetch Grasshopper Sparrow Rock Elm Rattlesnake Master Badger Round Pigtoe Mussel Northern Crayfish St. Joseph Wetland River Preserve Federally Endangered Ohio Potentially Copper-belly Watersnake Eastern Cricket Frog or Threatened Threatened Ohio Endangered Ohio Species of Concern Blue Spotted Salamander Ohio Threatened RARE, THREATENED AND ENDANGERED Protecting More Than Land SPECIES ON CONSERVANCY PROPERTIES Notes from the Field Melanie Coulter, Stewardship Specialist This Notes From the Field is coming from very far afield… North Carolina! I’m in Raleigh at the Land Trust Alliance’s annual conference, RALLY. The Land Trust Alliance provides resources and services (and accreditation!) to land trusts like Black Swamp Conservancy. At RALLY, we get to meet and talk to staff from other land trusts across the country, and it’s so inspiring to experience how we are part of a huge Black Swamp Conservancy protects more community of more than 1,400 land This trend gives me hope that we can slow than 19,000 acres on 145 properties in trusts, collectively protecting more than down declines in wildlife abundance by Northwest Ohio. fifty million acres across the country. committing to large-scale restoration and protection of other habitats, too. Black The diverse habitats we protect are I love learning about how other Land Swamp Conservancy has worked to protect also home to more than 60 rare, Trusts work and hearing about how and restore wetlands and streams and threatened and endangered species they come up with innovative solutions woods all over northwest Ohio, and we’re of flora and fauna, a few of which to problems that we have in common. working hard to do more. are highlighted on the chart on the At this year’s RALLY, I’m focusing on opposite page. workshops and presentations about Water Quality and Climate Change. Land Trusts Biodiversity is in crisis worldwide, and everywhere are major players working habitat loss is the biggest threat to the to solve these crucial issues since Land plants, animals and other biota that make Protection and Habitat Restoration are Thank you! up life on this planet. In Ohio, more than critical to Water Protection and Stay Swampy my friends, 90% of our pre-European settlement Climate Resilience. wetlands have been destroyed, including most of western Lake Erie’s extensive Sometimes, learning about the damage wetlands and the Great Black Swamp. to and threats facing our natural world can be disheartening. But being at a The Conservancy works in partnership conference of professionals working with federal, state and local agencies to toward the common goal of land mitigate factors that contribute to habitat protection quickly spins my feelings to loss threatening biodiversity in this hopefulness and determination to work on region. These efforts include management local solutions. of invasive species, pollution control, protection from development, For example, compared to 1970 the USA and reforestation. now has 3 billion fewer birds. Declines have happened in all habitats EXCEPT WETLANDS. Wetland bird abundance has actually INCREASED since 1970. Why is that? Because we’ve spent billions of dollars and poured gallons of blood, sweat and tears into wetland restoration and protection efforts over the last 50 years. A Year Of GROWTH & LEARNING This past spring, What are some notable things that What was the most difficult thing Michael Schiewer of have happened in your business this you had to deal with this year? Well, Herbaceous, ltd. – the year? The business has really expanded. like everyone, the rain and the late spring. first participant in our Having more land means that we can offer But also, going from 1/21st of an acre to Food & Farm Initiative more product and greater variety. The 2/3 of an acre was a huge expansion. It – began operations on story behind the herbs is really appealing requires a whole new level of planning, Conservancy land. As the winds begin to our clients as well. They like being able and learning the land was a challenge. to chill and herb beds are put to rest for to tell their customers that their products That’s probably the biggest thing – the winter, we spoke with Mike about his are made with herbs grown organically at learning the land that we’re on now; how experiences this season. a nature preserve – how often do you hear it acts and what it wants us to do. that? Then, just a lot of learning. It’s only How did you become involved my third year, so there are always new What was unexpected about your with the Food & Farm Initiative? things to figure out. season? The amount of water that the Through the community; I met Rob [the land holds. I mean, it is a swamp, but we Conservancy’s director] at an event last Do you have a favorite plant that hadn’t really thought about it that way. fall, where I had given a presentation. I you’ve grown this season? It’s not a bad thing, just a hurdle that we was looking for land because my former The lemon verbena. It has an amazing need to learn to work around. We already rental was no longer an option and I fragrance and the leaves have such a have plans to turn the wettest corner into wasn’t sure whether I could continue my bright color in the field.