Crescent-News.com - Forrest gets state's nature designation

By LISA NICELY

nicely@crescent-news.com

ANTWERP -- There's a new state nature preserve in Paulding County.

The Forrest Woods Nature Preserve, located along the Marie DeLarme Creek in Crane Township, has achieved Ohio state nature preserve status. The preserve is owned by the Black Swamp Conservancy (BSC), a nonprofit organization that works to preserve land in northwest Ohio.

"The designation as a state nature preserve provides an extra level of protection," said Kevin Joyce, executive director of the BSC. "We have to consult with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) with any significant changes in the property. It also gives us access to expertise and knowledge ODNR has to manage the property."

The conservancy will continue to maintain the property, once part of the Great Black Swamp, under the state designation.

Nancy Strayer, assistance chief of natural areas and preserves for ODNR, said the Great Black Swamp area has been well recognized for years as a place to be preserved. She also said the preserve is the only dedicated one in Paulding County.

"It was on our protection priorities wish list for 20 some years," she said. "We're thrilled it now has this permanent protection. The department is excited to see this site protected. It's an absolutely fantastic woods. The creek has changed so many times over the years that there are old oxbows where the creek used to be. It's a great place for herons, four-toed salamander and other animals."

The 193-acre preserve is referred to as "one of the finest remaining flood plain forest associations in northwestern Ohio," according to the articles of dedication that ODNR filed at the Paulding County recorder's office for the state preserve designation.

"Forrest Woods Nature Preserve is a remnant of the Great Black Swamp that our conservancy is named after so we are especially pleased to preserve this beautiful property for the public benefit of Ohio residents and visitors," said Joyce.

It is hoped the designation also will encourage more residents to be aware of the preserve, said Tony Burkley, chairman of the Paulding County commissioners.

"Hopefully, more people in the area will be able to take advantage of it if it is a state nature preserve," said Burkley. "They have an opportunity to see what wildlife is in existence there."

The reserve is home to several potentially-threatened and endangered plant and animal species. It has been reported there are at least 14 species of rare animals known in the preserve. These include the Blanding's turtle and the four-toed salamander. There are also plants such as the leafy blue flag, lake crest and several types of sedge. Audubon Ohio has also recognized the preserve as a breeding site for the yellow-billed cuckoo, red-headed woodpecker, eastern meadowlark and prothomotary warbler.

Joyce said that the dedication of the property was a team effort. ODNR has worked with the conservancy to obtain several grants including from the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund to help purchase land parcels for the preserve. Joyce also thanked the families who sold land to first establish the preserve.

"Three families -- the Forrests, Shaffers and Harpers -- made a great contribution by selling their property to us for less than market value," Joyce said. "We'd like to thank all of our partners for their contribution to this important conservation project."

Joyce said the conservancy is constantly looking to expand the Forrest Woods Nature Preserve.

"We are always looking for the opportunity to expand the preserve," said Joyce. "It's just a matter of finding the money from different sources to acquire more parcels."

Under the state preserve designation, Forrest Woods will continue to be run under the conservancy's rules and regulations. The BSC has asked that individuals have written permission before entering the property.

"At times during the year we have hunting on the property so we have to watch public access at that time," said Joyce. "Other time it is wet and we have to be careful with the wildflowers."

Authorized hunting was a deed condition for tracts in the preserve and can be used if game species pose a "significant threat" to the ecological conditions of the preserve, according to the articles of dedication for the preserve.

Anyone interested in obtaining a permit should contact the Black Swamp Conservancy at 419-872-5263 or bsc@blackswamp.org. The conservancy is based in Perrysburg.