Oct 11

Kathy SochorWritten by:
10/11/2007 2:08 PM

	REGION CONDITION 10/11/07
	LOCATION	COUNTY	STATUS
	CENTRAL
	Alum Creek	Delaware	Changing
	Mount Gilead	Morrow	Changing
	Blackhand Gorge	Licking	Changing
	Deer Creek	Pickaway	Changing
	NORTHEAST
	Cuyahoga Valley National Park	Cuyahoga Summit	Changing
	Punderson	Geauga	Changing
	Mohican	Ashland	Changing
	Malabar Farm	Richland	Changing
	Eagle Creek	Portage	Changing
	EAST
	Guilford Lake	Columbiana	Changing
	Salt Fork	Guernsey	Changing
	Blue Rock	Muskingum	Changing
	Beaver Creek	Columbiana	Changing
	SOUTHEAST
	Lake Hope	Vinton	Near Peak
	Hocking Hills	Hocking	Changing
	Jackson Lake	Jackson	Changing
	Burr Oak	Morgan	Changing
	Tar Hollow	Ross	Changing
	Lake Alma	Vinton Jackson	Changing
	Zaleski	Vinton	Near Peak
	SOUTHWEST
	Shawnee	Scioto	Changing
	Hueston Woods	Preble	Changing
	Paint Creek	Ross	Changing
	Caesar Creek	Warren	Changing
	WEST
	Sycamore	Montgomery	Changing
	John Bryan Clifton Gorge	Greene	Changing
	Indian Lake	Logan	Changing
	Buck Creek	Clark	Changing
	NORTHWEST
	Van Buren	Hancock	Near Peak
	Maumee	Fulton	Near Peak
	Harrison Lake	Fulton	Near Peak
	COLOR CONDITION KEY:
	CHANGING - Still mostly green with less than 25 percent color showing. NEAR PEAK - Significant color showing - anywhere from 30 to 60 percent. PEAK - Peak colors - as much as 85 percent color showing. FADING - Mostly colored, but colors fading and leaves falling to forest floor. Note that reported conditions are subject to rapid change with wind or rain.

October 11, 2007

OHIO FALL COLOR UPDATE #2 -- OCTOBER 11

EDITORS NOTE: This is the second in a series of updates, highlighting some of the best locations to enjoy Ohio's Fall Color season. Updated reports are available from ODNR each Thursday through early November.

COLUMBUS, OH – Ohio’s forests and fields continue to change color this week, with greens turning to yellow, and with rusts and golds appearing in most areas. Peak color is still two weeks away for most of the state – slightly later than originally predicted, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).

State parks and forests in northwest Ohio are reporting “near peak” color conditions – probably the result of more rainfall during August and early September.

“Moist conditions in the northwest part of the state have led to a more ‘normal’ Fall Color season in that area,” said Casey Munchel, of the ODNR Division of Forestry. “However, dry weather and unusually warm days and nights during late September and early October have dimmed the usually vibrant colors elsewhere.”

Among the tree species evolving in Ohio’s woodlands this week are green ash trees, which are coming on strong with yellow, and maples that are showing hints of orange and red. Dogwoods are showing their purples – adding rich contrast to the dominant golds and russets.

“Autumn may last a long time this year for most of us and provide many opportunities to get out and enjoy the season,” Munchel added.

Special seasonal hikes and events are slated for this weekend at Shawnee State Park in Scioto County, Hueston Woods State Park in Preble County, Mohican State Park in Ashland County, Malabar Farm State Park in Richland County, Van Buren State Park in Hancock County, Mary Jane Thurston State Park in Wood County, Harrison Lake State Park in Fulton County, and Guilford Lake State Park in Columbiana County.

Autumn color changes across Ohio and other seasonal information - as well as updates on activities and events - can be viewed at ohiodnr.com or at discoverohio.com. To help Ohioans and out-of-state visitors make the most of this popular outdoor season, weekly updates are also available from the best fall color viewing locations across the state by calling 1-800-BUCKEYE .

Ohio's 74 state parks, 20 state forests and 131 state nature preserves provide excellent locations to sample fall foliage. The chart shows reports from selected locations.

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