New State Nature Preserve Declared in Ross County
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UPDATED 2pm 1/12/25
(Ross County) — The Ohio Department of Natural Resources intends to declare a newly-acquired 179.7-acre tract in Ross County as a state nature preserve. The property features a rock shelter, an array of geologic formations, as well as a wealth of rare plants and animals, including endangered bats.
Karina Cheung of ODNR’s Media Relations informed Litter Media that the tract is located in Ross County’s Jefferson Township.
“We are excited to offer permanent protection for this excellent assortment of habitats and land features found across this property,” said ODNR Division of Natural Areas and Preserves Chief Jeff Johnson. “Used by early indigenous people such as the Adena and Late Woodland cultures, state nature preserve status of the site will preserve its significant natural, ecological, and cultural importance.”
The site is comprised of three parcels of mostly forested land and sandstone rock outcrops, which includes a rock shelter. The geologic formations offer historic significance as they provided shelter for ancient peoples and later became a local attraction for Ohioans in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
The rock outcroppings also offer important natural habitat for several bat species including the federally endangered northern long-eared, eastern red, hoary, little brown, and tri-colored. With recent declines in bat populations, protecting the property will ensure that critical bat habitat is also preserved.
According to David Planton, whose family used to own the property, “It is located on Limerick Road and will be a protected nature preserve due to the Native American heritage sites and endangered plants and bats…it will be available by permit only.”
The new ODNR property protects the endangered Curtiss’ milkwort, a native flowering plant.
The property also harbors the state-endangered Curtiss’ milkwort; it is only the second known location for this Ohio native flowering plant. Other interesting plants found on the property include trees like the American chestnut, sedges (grass like plants) such as the flat-spiked sedge and few-flowered nut-rush, as well as the round-leaved catchfly which is a wildflower.
The majority of funding used to acquire the land was provided by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to mitigate impacts to forested lands associated with road projects, which was approved by the Ohio Controlling Board on November 18, 2024.
Additional expenses related to the purchase were provided by generous donations to the Natural Areas and Preserves tax checkoff fund from Ohioans who earmarked a portion of their annual income tax refund for the protection of rare species and endangered habitats. People looking to contribute to valuable projects like this can learn more about donating this tax season, by visiting ohiodnr.gov/donate/naturalareas.
