News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2003

MOST SHAWNEE AND DEAN STATE FOREST ROADS AND TRAILS
REMAIN BLOCKED BY ICE-DAMAGED TREES
The Nature Conservancy and Ohio Horsemen’s Council assisting with trail clearing

COLUMBUS, OH - Thousands of downed trees from a February ice storm continue to block more than 50 miles of roads in Ohio’s largest state forest, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). State foresters expect most roads in Shawnee State Forest, as well as six miles of road in nearby Dean State Forest, to re-open by May 1. Nearly 200 miles of recreational trails in the two state forests are closed due to fallen trees.

Six contract logging crews continue to open roads through the 65,000-acre Shawnee State Forest in Adams and Scioto counties. Another contract crew is clearing obstructions from roads in the 2,800-acre Dean State Forest in Lawrence County. State forest officials are urging the public to avoid unnecessary use of forest roads until obstructions are removed.

While state forest roads provide access primarily for forest maintenance and fire control, many are also used by local residents for cross-country travel and access to private properties within the state forests.

All hiking and bridle trails within both forests remain closed.

With more than 75 miles of backpack/hiking trails and 60 miles of bridle trails, Shawnee State Forest is a popular location for hikers and trail riders. Dean State Forest’s 15 miles of hiking/bridle trails are also popular outdoor areas.

The Ohio Chapter of The Nature Conservancy is currently asking members and volunteers to assist with several trail clearing workdays already planned for March, April and June. TNC volunteers, along with members of the Scioto County Chapter of the Ohio Horsemen's Council, will clear trails with light damage, while the heavily damaged trails will require professional logging crews because of the number and size of downed trees.

Planned trail improvement workdays for The Nature Conservancy include March 28, April 9, April 19 and the weekend of June 28 and 29. Interested parties may contact Julie Boreman 614-717-2770 for further information.

“We are grateful for the swift response of the contract logging crews in re-opening roads in both Shawnee and Dean state forests,” said John Dorka, chief of the ODNR Division of Forestry. “Also, all the efforts by The Nature Conservancy and the Ohio Horsemen’s Council to clear blocked areas will help us speed up re-opening these popular state forest trails.”

Anyone planning future visits to either forest should call ahead or check for updates on the Internet at ohiodnr.com for road and trail accessibility.