Athens Conservancy Current Projects

Athens Conservancy Preserves

Blair Preserve: 75 acres

Bluebell Preserve: 65 acres

The Plains Preserve: 13 acres

Baker Easement: 264 acres

Tucker Run Preserve: 50 acres

 

The Conservancy is currently working on several projects:

• Top of Tucker Run Project: The Conservancy has taken out its first mortgage! We now owe $65,000 on this new 50-acre preserve adjacent to Strouds Run State Park, and we need your help paying it off! This project is actually part of the Dow Lake Watershed Project, below.
• Purchase Plus++ Program: You can now make donations to the Conservancy when shopping! Several area businesses are now taking donations at the register. You can just donate your change from your purchase, or more! Participating businesses are: Athens Bicycle, the Farmacy, Village Bakery and Cafe, Della Zona, the Catalyst Cafe, Bella Vino, Avalanche Pizza, and Five Springs Farm Nursery.
• Moonville Rail-Trail: The Conservancy is working with the Moonville Rail-Trail, Inc., to connect that trail with the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway. We have already purchased about two miles of right-of-way towards this connection.
• Strouds Ridge Preserve Project: The Conservancy has worked with the City of Athens in furthering this project, which has already included three properties, of which Hawk Woods (Riddle State Nature Preserve) was one.
• Dow Lake Watershed Project: The Conservancy is seeking to protect more of the watershed of Dow Lake at Strouds Run State Park in order to preserve and improve water quality in the lake. We currently hold a 75-acre preserve, the Blair Preserve, in the watershed. We've also created a backpacking campsite on that preserve, with financial assistance from Athens Foundation.
• Landowner Management Options: The Conservancy is working on a program to assist landowners who want to better manage their land. We currently hold three conservation easements. See our page at Landowner Management Options.
• Hockhocking Adena Bikeway: The Conservancy is seeking to protect more land along the Hockhocking-Adena Bike Path to insure its scenic value. We have created the 65-acre Bluebell Preserve, and hope to protect more of the corridor. We are also working to help connect this bikeway to a larger network of bikeways that will provide continuous access to Columbus, Ohio, and Washington, DC. We recently purchased about thirteen miles of the former B&O Railroad grade towards this goal. We also have created a thirteen-acre nature preserve, The Plains Preserve, that is providing right-of-way for a bikeway spur to Athens High School and the community.
• Events: The Conservancy sponsors various events. Please see our calendar page.
• Invasive Exotics Control Program: The Conservancy is cooperating with the Forest Stewardship Club, which includes the Rural Action Forestry Program and with the Ohio University Department of Environmental and Plant Biology to control invasive weeds in our area. Please see our Invasive Exotics page.