145th nature preserve named in Ohio

Whitehouse, Ohio — The Ohio DNR (ODNR) joined Metroparks Toledo to dedicate Blue Creek Limestone Glade as Ohio’s 145th state nature preserve. The new preserve harbors several globally rare habitats for plants and wildlife.

The new preserve features a unique remnant of an “oak openings” sand barren habitat where rare species, such as hairy pinweed and Canada and Plains frostweeds, thrive in the sandy landscape.

The site also protects an oak savanna and prairie known as a limestone glade, which has nearly disappeared from northwest Ohio’s landscape. Chinquapin oaks dating to the time of the American Civil War are scattered across a limestone bedrock with a glade, or prairie opening, featuring one of the state’s rarest plants – tall woody beauty.

“We are proud to end the year by continuing to expand the number of Ohio’s significant habitats and rare species permanently protected as new state nature preserves,” said ODNR Director Mary Mertz. “These areas are pillars for conservation, as well as beautiful places for the people of Ohio to enjoy.”

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Blue Creek Limestone Glade State Nature Preserve is land that is owned and managed by Metroparks Toledo as part of Blue Creek Metropark in Lucas County. ODNR Director Mertz joined Metroparks Toledo Director Dave Zenk to sign the articles of dedication for the new preserve during the Metroparks Toledo board meeting.

“Our staff has known for a while that the glade was something special, and now it is officially recognized as one of Ohio’s natural gems,” said Zenk. “This is a testament to our team, a great working relationship with ODNR, and the citizens of Lucas County who have a long history of supporting conservation of our natural resources.”

After the ceremony, guests travelled to Blue Creek Limestone Glade for a ribbon cutting and naturalist-led walk through the 11-acre site.