COLUMBUS, OH - Wahkeena Preserve in Fairfield County became Ohio’s 129th state nature preserve today during a ceremony attended by representatives from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and the Ohio Historical Society (OHS).
Owned and managed by the OHS, the preserve has served as an environmental education center since 1957 and is a popular open-air classroom for both nature enthusiasts and local schools. The new preserve is adjacent to the 69-acre Rhododendron Cove State Nature Preserve.
"The designation of Wahkeena as a state nature preserve ensures the ongoing protection of this habitat and recognizes the statewide significance of the site," said William K. Laidlaw, Jr., executive director of the OHS.
The site’s 150 acres feature a lake, ponds and Black Hand sandstone cliffs forested with tulip trees and oaks. Rhododendrons, mountain laurel, ferns and orchids are among the preserve’s showiest plant species. About 30 fern species and eight native orchids can be found there.
“With its wide variety of ferns and native wildflowers and the geological significance of the area, Wahkeena is a worthy addition to Ohio’s state nature preserve system,” said ODNR Director Sam Speck.
Wahkeena Preserve is one of 60 sites operated by the OHS and joins Cedar Bog in Champaign County and Davis Memorial in Adams County as Ohio Historical Society sites with the state nature preserve designation.
Ohio’s 129 state nature preserves protect many of the state’s most precious natural features, including dozens of rare and endangered plants and animals. While all are open to the public, 42 require a special written permit that is available on the Internet at ohiodnr.com . For information about access to Wahkeena, call 740-746-8695 or visit http://www.ohiohistory.org/places/wahkeena