In multiple phases since 2020, Western Reserve Land Conservancy has partnered with Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) to protect over 4,000 total acres in Coshocton County that were formerly owned by Ohio Franklin Realty, a subsidiary of American Electric Power (AEP). With its forests, wetlands, ponds, and streams, this perpetually protected acreage provides immense ecological value to the surrounding area.
The protected properties boast an impressive array of natural features. Over 400 acres of sprawling ponds and high-quality wetlands, over 50,000 linear feet of streams, ridge-ravine systems, and hardwood successional forests cover the property, creating a haven for more than 450 species of plants and animals.
Several rare and state-listed species call the area home, including state-listed birds, an Ohio endangered moss species, and two Ohio endangered bat species.
The 4,000-plus acres of now-protected land were mined until the mid-1900s. After mining activities ended and the area was reclaimed, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) managed it as a component of AEP’s public ReCreation Land—a program where the energy company provided public access to 60,000 acres of reclaimed land in eastern Ohio.
ODNR continues to manage the property in conjunction with MWCD, allowing passive outdoor recreation opportunities such as hiking, hunting, fishing, and mountain biking.
By permanently protecting land through this series of projects, the Land Conservancy has been able to contribute to a considerable natural corridor in Coshocton County. Not only does ODNR also own two large preserves within seven miles of the property—the 14,615-acre Woodbury Wildlife Area and the adjacent 844-acre SIMCO Wildlife Area—but the five phases of Land Conservancy projects have contributed to an approximately 9,600-acre corridor of protected land owned by MWCD in the county.
Creating these large areas of uninterrupted green space provides innumerable benefits to the region. Not only do natural corridors safeguard the region’s biodiversity, contribute to clean air and water, and protect natural refuges for wildlife, but they also provide much-needed space for surrounding communities to connect with the outdoors while supporting the local economy through tourism and hunting.
The Land Conservancy has collaborated closely with MWCD over the years, designing a land protection strategy which ensures perpetual conservation while allowing for adaptive land management to suit the demands of the future. All the land protected throughout this series of projects has since been transferred to MWCD, who will continue to protect and steward its natural resources.
The Land Conservancy secured funding for these projects through five separate successful applications to the Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Fund. As a result, the properties are protected in perpetuity by Declarations of Restrictions, which fulfill the requirements of the Clean Ohio program.