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Land Conservancy preserves part of Oberlin Great South Woods

October 8, 2015

Western Reserve Land Conservancy has acquired a 63-acre portion of what is known as Oberlin Great South Woods with the intent of creating a nature preserve on the property.

The Land Conservancy used a Clean Ohio Conservation Fund grant to acquire the property from West Park Ltd. The parcel, which has forests, wetlands and a sedge meadow, will be used for passive outdoor recreation, including walking, jogging, birdwatching, picnicking and nature study.

Several rare species of birds, reptiles and amphibians have been sighted on this property. Oberlin Great South Woods has been targeted for conservation for more than a decade and was listed by the former Firelands Land Conservancy as one of its top three priorities in 2006, when it joined seven other land trusts in a merger that created Western Reserve Land Conservancy.

The property is in the Black River watershed and will continue to provide educational opportunities, including the study of unique habitats like vernal pools, high quality mid-successional maple-hickory-oak forest and successional fields. These habitats provide shelter, food, and nesting areas for birds, amphibians, small and large mammals and other wildlife. The vegetated and forested buffers along the drainages help control runoff, prevent erosion and mitigate flooding to downstream properties.

“Preserving this part of the Oberlin Great South Woods is significant for many reasons,” said Andy McDowell, vice president of western field operations for the Land Conservancy. “First, it contains great habitat and will help protect many rare plant and animal species. Additionally, it will help control stormwater runoff, which has been an issue in that area for some time. Last, but not least, the land between Hamilton Road and state Route 20 will eventually see increased development pressure. This project helps to set aside critical natural areas and open space before too much development takes place.”

Western Reserve Land Conservancy has initiated discussion about long-term ownership of the property with Lorain County Metro Parks.

Earlier this year, Oberlin City Council approved a resolution of support for this project and the Clean Ohio application. In addition, funding from the Oberlin College Green EDGE (Ecological Design and General Efficiency) Fund, a student board, helped make the project possible.

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