Kansas, OH, September 12, 2024 – Respected regional land trust, the Black Swamp Conservancy, has donated the 160-acre Clary Boulee McDonald Nature Preserve to the Seneca County Park District (Seneca Parks). Transfer of ownership of the nature preserve to Seneca Parks was completed during the second week of September following the completion of the restoration work done on the property. The Clary Boulee McDonald Nature Preserve, located in Kansas Ohio, is the largest restoration project Black Swamp Conservancy has undertaken to date. This strategic, 100-acre restoration effort was funded by two grants from H2Ohio and One Tree Planted and was completed in partnership with EnviroScience Engineering, RiverReach Construction and Seneca Parks.
This site was chosen as a restoration project due to its proximity to Wolf Creek and the neighboring farm fields. By restoring natural habitats and wetlands along the creek, the Black Swamp Conservancy and Seneca Parks are aiming to improve nutrient filtration from the roads and farm fields around it, “Having these natural habitats and wetlands along the creek will help naturally filter excess nutrients that may be carried by runoff. By capturing excess nutrients in the restored wetlands, the water entering the creek is much cleaner than it was before.” says Melanie Coulter, Conservation Manager for the Black Swamp Conservancy. Excessive nutrients being transferred in waterways like Wolf Creek are part of the reason harmful algal blooms blossom on Lake Erie in the summer.
“This project is even more special,” says Coulter, “because the restoration is adjacent to a large swath of forested habitat in the floodplain along Wolf Creek. This project added a huge expansion of the existing forest along both sides of the creek, creating crucial corridors for wildlife movement.” Wildlife corridors increase the survival of native species by increasing food sources, providing cover and decreasing the number of wildlife and human conflicts. “The larger patches of habitat we can create and protect, the more robust and diverse our native wildlife populations will be.”
Now under ownership of Seneca Parks, this preserve is not set to be open to the public until 2025. Currently, there are plans to have a trail system through the west side of the park for public use once open, with future goals to implement a trail system on the east side of the park. Seneca Parks will also be working with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) to coordinate hunting on the property through a lottery system, with plans for the first hunting season to be open during 2025-2026. “Public hunting areas are an important consideration included in the Park’s comprehensive plan. This site will provide local residents with another opportunity for hunting,” said Sarah Betts, Executive Director for the Seneca Parks.
“The Conservancy is pleased to have worked with Seneca Parks on this project,” said Rob Krain, executive director of the Black Swamp Conservancy. “By doing our part, we are working together to protect natural habitats, create spaces for outdoor recreation and sustainable land-use, as well as working to address the water quality issues of Northwest Ohio.”
If you are interested in seeing this project come to life, the Clary Boulee McDonald Nature Preserve restoration is featured in a short-film documentary, Flowing Forward. Directed by local filmmakers, Christy Frank and Alex Goetz of Running Wild Media, this documentary captures the significance of this land moving conservation project as it relates to the history and mission of the Black Swamp Conservancy. To watch Flowing Forward, visit https://blackswamp.org/flowingforward.
