Keystone Furnace Wetlands Preserve
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The Keystone Furnace Wetlands Preserve is an approximately 700-acre, extremely diverse area of upland mixed mesophytic forests, very high-quality and diverse wetlands, extensive riparian corridor, and open grasslands. The Preserve has an abundant assortment of tree species from oaks, hickory, maples, paw-paw, persimmon, sourwood, sassafras, poplar, Virginia pine, dogwood, and redbud, among others.
The area east of SR327 has a remarkable diversity of wetland types, including open water, forested, scrub-shrub, and emergent wetlands. These are Category 3 wetlands, Ohio's highest designation, with an ORAM score of 92.5 (out of 100). The riparian corridor of Dickason Run dissects the area running north to south alongside an abandoned railroad bed. Vernal pools along the lowlands create areas of seasonal flooded timber and seeps where mosses, lichens, and skunk-cabbage can be found. The southern portion of the Preserve contains the remnants of a shallow quarry pond and high wall that creates a very unique, highly acidic bog-like wetland area where sphagnum moss and 6 State-Listed plant species have been identified. These include Blunt-leaved milkweed, Flat-spiked sedge, Carex retroflexa Sedge, Sampson’s Root, Warty Panic Grass, Tennessee Pond Weed, and a newly identified species in Ohio, Willenow’s Croton. Unique carnivorous plants such as Jack-pitcher plants have also been identified.
On the far east end of the preserve is an area recovering from a 2005 clear-cut timber harvest (prior to OVCC's ownership) creating a thick early successional forest habitat. This upland area presents yet another varied habitat area within the Keystone Furnace Wetland Preserve. Along SR327 and surrounding an old dairy farm, there is a large category 1 emergent wetland that abounds with cattails as well as other small wetland woody plants including a large concentration of silky dogwood. This lower-quality wetland represents a future restoration opportunity. East of Dickason Run is an area of open water wetlands as well as thick shrub. To the north of the open water wetland is an area of poor soil nutrients that create a concentrated area of persimmon, sumac, dogwood, and crabapple. This area also used to be a former orchard and it has occasional ephemeral springs emanating from the hillside.
Planned restoration efforts include planting native, blight resistant 100% American Chestnuts obtained from the American Chestnut Cooperators’ Foundation in association with Virginia Tech. These were planted in the fall of 2011. Additional revegetation with native butternut, hazelnuts, and paw-paws have also been conducted in areas determined to be suitable for those species. Areas overcome with invasive species (primarily multiflora rose, honeysuckle and autumn olive) were mechanically removed and spot treated with herbicides to deter their immediate return. Those areas have had paw-paw seeds and hazelnut seedlings spread to provide those seasonally wet soils with a head start on native plant revegetation. These and other areas will have to be treated for reoccurring invasive species on an annual basis.
Confirmed sightings of bobcats and several species of salamanders, including the state-endangered mud salamander have been identified on the premises, as well as over a dozen state-listed plant species. With the recent start of our pollinator program where feral caught honeybees have been introduced to this area, it has thrived and has also attracted many butterflies due to the increase in the density of native flora. In the summer and fall Monarch butterflies abound in the grassland fields as they prepare for their southward migration. Meadowlarks, Swallowtails, and Brushfoots have been viewed collecting nectar from the vegetation in the open areas. This area has a rich history associated with the nearby Keystone Furnace iron ore smelter, providing iron ore, charcoal and even sandstone block for its operations and nearby homesteads.
We are pleased to be able to protect and, in areas, restore this unique wetland and upland area in Southeastern Ohio. OVCC would like to thank some of the funding sources and partners that have made this project so successful. They include the Ohio Public Works Commission and the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund; the Columbia Ohio Expansion Migratory Bird Account and The Conservation Fund; and the Water Resources Restoration Sponsorship Program and Ohio EPA DEFA and the City of Marietta. OVCC would also like to thank Rick Gardner and the ODNR Division of Natural Areas and Preserves, the Jackson County Commissioners and the Bloomfield Township Trustees.
The Keystone Furnace Wetlands Preserve is an approximately 700-acre, extremely diverse area of upland mixed mesophytic forests, very high-quality and diverse wetlands, extensive riparian corridor, and open grasslands. The Preserve has an abundant assortment of tree species from oaks, hickory, maples, paw-paw, persimmon, sourwood, sassafras, poplar, Virginia pine, dogwood, and redbud, among others.
The area east of SR327 has a remarkable diversity of wetland types, including open water, forested, scrub-shrub, and emergent wetlands. These are Category 3 wetlands, Ohio's highest designation, with an ORAM score of 92.5 (out of 100). The riparian corridor of Dickason Run dissects the area running north to south alongside an abandoned railroad bed. Vernal pools along the lowlands create areas of seasonal flooded timber and seeps where mosses, lichens, and skunk-cabbage can be found. The southern portion of the Preserve contains the remnants of a shallow quarry pond and high wall that creates a very unique, highly acidic bog-like wetland area where sphagnum moss and 6 State-Listed plant species have been identified. These include Blunt-leaved milkweed, Flat-spiked sedge, Carex retroflexa Sedge, Sampson’s Root, Warty Panic Grass, Tennessee Pond Weed, and a newly identified species in Ohio, Willenow’s Croton. Unique carnivorous plants such as Jack-pitcher plants have also been identified.
On the far east end of the preserve is an area recovering from a 2005 clear-cut timber harvest (prior to OVCC's ownership) creating a thick early successional forest habitat. This upland area presents yet another varied habitat area within the Keystone Furnace Wetland Preserve. Along SR327 and surrounding an old dairy farm, there is a large category 1 emergent wetland that abounds with cattails as well as other small wetland woody plants including a large concentration of silky dogwood. This lower-quality wetland represents a future restoration opportunity. East of Dickason Run is an area of open water wetlands as well as thick shrub. To the north of the open water wetland is an area of poor soil nutrients that create a concentrated area of persimmon, sumac, dogwood, and crabapple. This area also used to be a former orchard and it has occasional ephemeral springs emanating from the hillside.
Planned restoration efforts include planting native, blight resistant 100% American Chestnuts obtained from the American Chestnut Cooperators’ Foundation in association with Virginia Tech. These were planted in the fall of 2011. Additional revegetation with native butternut, hazelnuts, and paw-paws have also been conducted in areas determined to be suitable for those species. Areas overcome with invasive species (primarily multiflora rose, honeysuckle and autumn olive) were mechanically removed and spot treated with herbicides to deter their immediate return. Those areas have had paw-paw seeds and hazelnut seedlings spread to provide those seasonally wet soils with a head start on native plant revegetation. These and other areas will have to be treated for reoccurring invasive species on an annual basis.
Confirmed sightings of bobcats and several species of salamanders, including the state-endangered mud salamander have been identified on the premises, as well as over a dozen state-listed plant species. With the recent start of our pollinator program where feral caught honeybees have been introduced to this area, it has thrived and has also attracted many butterflies due to the increase in the density of native flora. In the summer and fall Monarch butterflies abound in the grassland fields as they prepare for their southward migration. Meadowlarks, Swallowtails, and Brushfoots have been viewed collecting nectar from the vegetation in the open areas. This area has a rich history associated with the nearby Keystone Furnace iron ore smelter, providing iron ore, charcoal and even sandstone block for its operations and nearby homesteads.
We are pleased to be able to protect and, in areas, restore this unique wetland and upland area in Southeastern Ohio. OVCC would like to thank some of the funding sources and partners that have made this project so successful. They include the Ohio Public Works Commission and the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund; the Columbia Ohio Expansion Migratory Bird Account and The Conservation Fund; and the Water Resources Restoration Sponsorship Program and Ohio EPA DEFA and the City of Marietta. OVCC would also like to thank Rick Gardner and the ODNR Division of Natural Areas and Preserves, the Jackson County Commissioners and the Bloomfield Township Trustees.
