Nature Preserves & Rivers Fund Benefit Area Sites

Article Presented By Scioto Valley Dumpsters, LTD.

(Columbus) – Ohioans can make a difference in preserving the best of the state’s natural resources by simply checking a box on their tax return. Donations to the Nature Preserves and Scenic Rivers Fund support the conservation and preservation work of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Natural Areas and Preserves.  
 
“With every dollar donated to the Nature Preserves and Scenic Rivers Fund on Ohio tax returns, Ohioans are demonstrating their commitment to supporting fragile landscapes and endangered species,” said Chief Jeff Johnson, ODNR Division of Natural Areas and Preserves. “These donations have been used to control invasive species, build new trails and other visitor facilities, protect unique ecosystems, and provide match funds for grants that can turn $1 into as much as $5 for habitat protection.”
 

Donations from Ohioans supported the installation of a 1.8 mile accessible trail at Stage’s Nature Preserve in Pickaway County.

 
Southeast Ohio is home to a host of state nature preserves and natural areas including Boch Hollow, Christmas Rocks, Conkles Hollow, Lake Katharine, Scioto Brush Creek, and Stage’s Pond. The Raccoon Creek State Scenic River, Ohio’s most recently designated stream, also flows through the region. These public lands and waterways harbor endangered ecosystems and rare species in need of protection.
 
In 2023, with support from income tax donations, the division installed 1.8 miles of accessible trails at Stage’s Pond State Nature Preserve in Pickaway County. Several loop trails offer visitors of all abilities a chance to easily enjoy the array of songbirds and waterfowl, as they utilize the open fields, glacial lakes, old growth forests, and wildflowers in all seasons.
 

Controlling invasive species in natural areas is critical for the protection of Ohio’s rare and endangered wildflowers, like bottle gentian.

 
In the last two years, more than 1,100 acres of invasive species have been cleared from state nature preserves in southeast Ohio. For example, with invasives cleared from some areas at Kessler Swamp State Nature Preserve in Fairfield County, native species, such as bottle gentian and swamp lousewort, are now able to flourish.
 
For more information on the ODNR Division of Natural Areas and Preserves or how to donate to Ohio State Nature Preserves and Scenic Rivers, visit the natural areas and scenic rivers donation webpage. Learn how to make a donation through your income tax refund by visiting ODNR’s tax donation website.