Arbutus Run Preserve
Entire Preserve Project Cost: $1,059,684
Current balance yet to raise: $1,059,684
The Arc of Appalachia is working on a significant 231-acre legacy project on the north side of the 5,470-acre Clear Creek Metro Park and dedicated State Nature Preserve. The project involves five adjacent parcels, all owned by related family members. Of the five parcels, two have already been generously donated to the Arc of Appalachia, one parcel is pending donation, and the remaining two we are now seeking grant funding to purchase this fall. If acquired, these tracts will complete the protection of nearly all of the upper watershed of Neotoma Valley remaining in private ownership. SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE INFORMATION.
All photos provided by John Watts.
Protecting the headwaters of a historically and scientifically significant site
Arbutus Run is mostly wooded with a mix of various oak, oak-hickory, and mixed mesophytic mature forests with complete canopies. Within this forested, steep-sloped landscape are numerous rock outcrops of Black Hand Sandstone and an impressive rock shelter that add to the aesthetics of the property and provide unique habitats for a variety of plants. The site also contains two forested primary headwater streams that flow directly south into Clear Creek Metro Park. The most notable of these two streams, Arbutus Run proper, exits the pursued property and enters Clear Creek Metro Park, where it sculpts Neotoma Valley - a historically significant valley where Ohio’s first Allegheny Woodrat was discovered in 1923.
The scientific name of the Allegheny Woodrat, Neotoma floridana, was adopted as the name for the valley by its late owner; noted 20th century naturalist, entomologist, and conservationist Edward S. Thomas. Other finds over the years included Ohio’s first Mountain Chorus Frog (Pseudacris brachyphona) and numerous records of breeding Bachman’s Sparrows and Bewick’s Wrens (now extripated from Ohio), to list a few. It is likely that Neotoma Valley is one of the most studied natural areas in Ohio, perhaps second only to the Lake Erie Marshes and Shoreline. The Metro Parks acquired Neotoma Valley after Dr. Thomas’ death in 1976 and today it is part of Clear Creek Metro Park and the dedicated State Nature Preserve.
This 231-acre acquisition project will expand the nearly 6,000-acre protected forest block in the Clear Creek watershed. Clear Creek Metro Park, and adjacent protected lands such as Arbutus Run, support over 2,000 species of plants and animals, nearly 60 species of which are included on Ohio’s Endangered, Threatened, and Rare plant and animal lists. Approximately 100 species of birds annually nest in the Clear Creek Valley. Many of these species are listed species of concern in Ohio. Other notable species such as the Tiger Spiketail dragonfly, Buck Moth, and Four-toed Salamander have recently been discovered on Arbutus Run or nearby the pursued acquisition.