Volume 39, Issue 2
Table of Contents
Calendar
Please sign up to volunteer or attend these walks or events. Visit beavercreekwetlands.org/event
April
Knollwood Garden Party Volunteer
Saturday, Apr 12, Shifts available
Trek Through the Wetlands
Saturday, Apr 12, 10:00am
Koogler Wetland/Prairie Reserve
Photographing Spring Birds
Saturday, Apr 19, 10:00am
Pearl’s Fen
Earth Day Cleanup at Amon Reserve
Monday, Apr 21, 11:00am – 1:00pm
James P. Amon Biodiversity Reserve (new lot)
Spotted Turtle Trail Phase 3 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Tuesday, Apr 22, 1:00pm (Rain date Apr 23)
James P. Amon Biodiversity Reserve (new lot)
Birding the Wetlands
Wednesday, Apr 23, 8:00am
James P. Amon Biodiversity Reserve
May
Juried Art Hike
Thursday, May 8, 10:00am – 11:00am
Koogler Wetland/Prairie Reserve
Visit bwgreenway.org/events
37th Anniversary Celebration
Saturday, May 12, 11:00am – 1:30pm
Hope Hotel, WPAFB
Birding the Wetlands
Wednesday, May 14, 8:00am
Pearl’s Fen
June
A Fork in the Trail
Monday, Jun 2, 10:00am – 1:30pm (Rain date Jun 9)
James P. Amon Biodiversity Reserve (new lot)
Native Plants: Nurturing Nature and Our Community
Saturday, Jun 14, 10:00am – 2:00pm
Coy Middle School, Beavercreek
Hello Spring
Look for the blue flag iris blooms in Siebenthaler Fen from May through June. (Photo by Mike Mushala)
Red admiral butterflies typically emerge in April and can be seen around our wetlands until fall. This one sips nectar from a marsh marigold, a spring bloom, at Siebenthaler Fen.(Photo by Mike Mushala)
These common green darner dragonflies can be seen throughout the Beaver Creek Wetland corridor including near the ponds at Oakes Quarry. They begin to emerge in April (Photo by Mike Abel)
President's Message
It’s spring, the annual season of renewal. In the wetlands, plants and insects are emerging from winter dormancy and renewing their active, colorful life cycles. Likewise, BCWA is renewing major work projects to encourage and enhance the wetland experience. We hope that spring also will bring renewal of your time spent wandering and appreciating Ohio’s natural heritage, along with renewal of your support, in all its forms, for BCWA. Enjoy the season!
– David Goldstein
Celebrate with BCWA
Spotted Turtle Trail Phase 3 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
James P. Amon Biodiversity Reserve
1:00pm
Discover Exciting Updates in Amon Reserve and Beerman Fen!
- Beerman Fen and Amon Reserve now feature brand-new, volunteer-built boardwalks, opening up previously inaccessible areas for your enjoyment.
- This summer, admire the vibrant flora in our new rain garden, conveniently located near the freshly paved parking lot off New Germany Trebein Road.
- The deck off the new parking lot overlooks the new housing habitat for purple martins. Bird lovers may observe diverse bird species from our new marsh-viewing bird blind.
- Enjoy dry, comfortable walks on newly installed gravel trails and bridges. A new prairie trail offers an immersive nature experience.
Join us to celebrate the expansion of the Spotted Turtle Trail. It’s a great way to celebrate Earth Day!
37th Anniversary Celebration and Annual Meeting
You’re invited to BCWA’s 37th Anniversary Celebration to commemorate a fantastic year and discover the exciting path ahead.
Saturday, May 10, 2025
Hope Hotel & Richard C. Holbrooke Conference Center
10823 Chidlaw Road
Dayton, Ohio 45433
11:00am Reception with cash bar
11:30am Lunch served
12:00pm Program and Keynote Speaker
Keynote Speaker: Former Governor Bob Taft
This year is the 25th anniversary of the Clean Ohio Fund. This vision of former Governor Bob Taft funds the preservation of Ohio’s natural and urban spaces to protect farmland, open spaces, and waterways, and improve outdoor recreation. The Beaver Creek Wetlands have benefited from eight grants awarding millions of dollars to preserve areas along the wetland corridor and build trails for recreation and access.
To purchase tickets, visit https://beavercreekwetlands.org/anniversary-celebration/. Early bird ticket price is $30 until April 22, 2025. Tickets increase to $35 beginning April 23, 2025. Reservations are required by Friday, May 2, 2025.
Making Strides in Water Quality Monitoring
BCWA extends great thanks to the 17 BCWA volunteers, two UD Students, and four team leaders who supported Water Quality Monitoring in Beaver and Little Beaver Creeks. Over time, the data collected will inform and support our advocacy efforts for creek and wetland health. By tracking data trends, we can identify and address potential negative impacts and inform future creek restoration and riparian (streamside) land management decisions.
Water Quality Team Leaders
Beaver Creek
Lisa Oakley, Community Park
Kevin Riley, Dave Nolin Wetland Reserve
Natasha Miller, Phillips Park
Little Beaver Creek
Gracie Norris, Beaver Creek Station
How Samples are Collected and Measured
We collect macroinvertebrates (aquatic insects and other creatures with no backbone) using both sein and dip nets to extract them from the creek. We then tally our findings using the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Stream Quality Monitoring (ODNR SQM) Score Sheet (see Table 1 for example). Macroinvertebrates found are categorized into three taxa based on pollution tolerance. A high diversity of all taxa, especially those in Taxa 1 and 2, indicates good water quality and stream health.
The assessment form does not require an exact count for each organism, rather it uses a letter code to signify abundance ranges (key shown at the top of the table). Then, the number of species found in each taxa is multiplied by the number at the bottom of the column. Totals from each column are added together to give the Cumulative Index Value (CIV) which summarizes these findings into a stream Quality Assessment Rating of Excellent, Good, Fair, or Poor.
The team leaders also use a hand-held, computerized, YSI ProDSS device (click for device details) to measure key water quality parameters (click to view EPA factsheets on Water Quality Parameters) like dissolved oxygen (DO), total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, pH and temperature. Any out-of-range ProDss readings trigger follow-up tests with nitrate and phosphate indicator strips.
Examining the Data
The Macroinvertebrate Cumulative Index Value (CIV) chart (see Figure, page 11) summarizes the results from the 2024 macroinvertebrate collections. The highest CIV (23) score was documented at Phillips Park in June. This excellent rating reflects a diverse macroinvertebrate community, including multiple sensitive species. The lowest recorded CIV (7) was at Dave Nolin Wetland Reserve in June, with limited diversity found. Follow up testing at this location did not present any concerning results. Therefore, the low CIV score was likely due to lack of rocky bottom substrate at the testing site, which can limit macroinvertebrate habitat, and does not seem to be caused by poor water quality. To improve collection results at Nolin Reserve in 2025, the team will apply methods for macroinvertebrate collection intended for muddy bottom creeks which uses a D-frame aquatic dip net focusing on woody snags, stream banks, and submerged aquatic vegetation. Little Beaver Creek sites varied between fair and excellent ratings, with diverse darter populations observed. Darters are bottom dwelling fish that require good habitat. They prefer rocky habitats like that in Little Beaver Creek. Due to low water levels during drought periods, Community Park could not be sampled in summer and fall. We will evaluate other access points in the northern section of Beaver Creek outside of Community Park that may be better suited for biannual monitoring.
The site average parameter table (Table 2) shows site specific variations in water quality parameter readings taken with the ProDSS and the macroinvertebrate CIVs over all sample seasons, with total site average shown on the bottom. There was one out of range reading taken at Community Park in Spring that prompted additional nutrient strip testing. Thankfully, the test strips did not indicate high levels of nitrates and phosphates, therefore it was determined the low DO measurement was likely due to low water level and high suspended solids, not a nutrient imbalance. Despite the low CIV score at Nolin Reserve, ProDSS readings were in the normal range (visit EPA factsheets to see each parameter’s normal range). The within normal Range ProDSS reading reassures the assertion that the low diversity found at Nolin Reserve was likely due to collection methods and lack of rocky bottom substrate at the testing site, which can limit macroinvertebrate habitat, and does not indicate poor water quality.
Looking Back and Ahead
Our dedicated water quality volunteers persevered through challenging conditions, including steep banks, low water levels, and muddy creek beds. They gained valuable field collection skills and deepened their understanding of water quality parameters. Grant funding from the Sture Fredrik Anliot Fund at the Clinton County Foundation allowed us to expand our equipment and paid rental fees to Fondriest Environmental for access to the ProDSS device.
In 2025, sampling frequency will reduce to spring and fall to align with the industry standard of a two collections per year, per site. We’re excited to continue refining our monitoring techniques and tracking macroinvertebrate populations and overall water quality in our creeks. We’re grateful to all who participated in 2024 and are thrilled that our four team leads will continue leading monitoring efforts in 2025. Look for new water quality monitoring volunteer events to be posted on our events page in late Spring and Early Fall.
– Shandah Brannen
Education and Administrative Coordinator
A Rain Garden for Your Yard
If you have a soggy area, ditch or a low spot on your property you can readily create a low-maintenance rain garden of native plants. Turning a problem area into a functioning garden slows rainwater runoff, filters pollutants, provides habitat for wildlife and adds beauty to your yard. Although ‘official’ rain gardens developed by landscape architects have technical requirements that govern their construction, the strategies and components of rain garden design can be applied in any yard. Rain garden plants often tolerate a wide range of conditions including clay soil, being underwater for periods of time, and even drought. Let's examine three components of native plant rain gardens and their benefits.
Native shrubs are perhaps the easiest option for creating high value wildlife habitat. Wild plum (Prunus americana), American hazelnut (Corylus americana), dogwoods (Cornus), and elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) all grow well in wet soils. These shrubs can be planted as a dense hedge that will meld together or individually. The native shrubs listed above grow 10-15ft tall, provide nectar or pollen to pollinators, and produce a nut or fruit that is relished by wildlife. Native shrubs and thickets also furnish important nesting habitat and cover for a variety of creatures. Wild plum and hazelnut are two of the most common plants discussed in Ohio pioneer accounts, as they once filled thousands and thousands of acres. Quail Ridge Specimen Trees and Ohio Native Plants LLC are both excellent sources for local ecotype Ohio shrubs and trees.
Native sedges are grass-like plants, many of which have special adaptations to wetland conditions. Sedges (Carex species) act as a green carpet in wet meadows and woodlands. We can use sedges in a similar way to slow down and soak up water in rain gardens. A popular technique is to plant a ‘sedge matrix’ of small sedge plugs with occasional wildflowers scattered around the planting. Three native sedges I recommend for rain gardens are Palm Sedge (Carex muskingumensis), Fox Sedge (Carex vulpinoidea), and Gray’s Sedge (Carex grayi).
Native wildflowers are often the star of rain gardens, and many options are available from local native plant nurseries such as The Milkweed Patch or Down Nature’s Path. I generally recommend using lower growing species towards the front or edges with larger species deeper in the back. Appropriate low growing wildflowers include downy woodmint (Blephilia hirsuta), beardtongue foxglove (Penstemon), blue mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum), dwarf crested iris (Iris cristata) and orange coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida). Try using vigorous native groundcovers like wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) or golden ragwort (Packera aurea) in gaps and along edges. The best method for low maintenance gardening and weed suppression is a dense planting that captures all available space. Taller wildflowers such as swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica), swamp rose mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos), and wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) work well further back in the planting. You can enhance your planting by including fall bloomers like asters or turtleheads.
Speaking of rain gardens, next time you’re on Wilmington Pike in Centerville, look for a rain garden with many sedges planted near a retention pond in front of Lowe’s. It’s truly incredible the number of birds, dragonflies, and other wildlife I see there throughout the year. I’d love to see more of them in public spaces.
– Austin Miller
Before you begin, research your town’s zoning restrictions or requirements for planting in your yard.
In Memoriam
Richard Swigart
Sept 20, 1944 – Feb 23, 2025
BCWA lost a long-time, dedicated volunteer and friend. Richard Swigart became active shortly after BCWA’s founding, serving on the Board of Trustees, helping with land management and taking photographs. His hand-made walking sticks, crafted from local, downed tree limbs, were donated to BCWA to sell. He volunteered on numerous land management projects. In later years, when no longer physically able to work on the Saturday crew, he still came and took countless photographs and talked enthusiastically to the many bike path users about the mission and work of BCWA. He always had amusing stories about his past, people he knew, but especially his extensive family. We all will miss Richard.
– Lois Gschwender
Photos by Dan Karr
Bill Mitsch
Bill gave us a nice talk at BCWA’s tenth anniversary meeting. At that time, he led the wetlands program at Ohio State and was the author of the best textbook on wetlands. I used his textbook and my friendship with him to assemble my course in Wetland Ecology at Wright State. Bill was active in wetland topics all over the planet and once served as president of the international Society of Wetland Scientists. He established the journal Ecological Engineering and was its editor in chief. Bill wrote a grant with some Ohio academics, including me, to provide BCWA with water monitoring equipment to continuously check on water quality in wetlands and rivers locally. That provided BCWA with essential data in our early years. He was a force for good science wherever he went. Bill died February 12, 2025, at 77 years of age. He will be missed by thousands of wetland scientists.
– Jim Amon
History of Amon Reserve and Beerman Fen
When BCWA first put together a map of all the lands we wished to protect, James P. Amon Biodiversity Reserve was a large parcel that seemed very attractive. We had many contacts with the landowner, but his objective was to sell to a developer and make a cool $1,000,000. The developer proceeded to plan a subdivision with lots that in some places extended to the marsh at the western edge of the lot. Several years went by before the landowner called me as I was cleaning up from a Thanksgiving family get-together. “Are the wetlands folks still interested in buying that swamp?” I said, “Sure.” He wanted that “million dollars,” but the developer said it was too much. BCWA didn’t have that much, so I immediately called Jeff Knoop at The Nature Conservancy, and he said he had some ideas.
I talked the owner into a bargain sale price of $650,000. Selling to us, a non-profit conservation organization, provided a tax break that nearly matched the after-tax proceeds he’d get from a $1 million sale to the developer, thus fulfilling his financial needs for the business deal. Still, that was far more than BCWA had, so we needed to find the money! I called Jeff again and said, “Now what?” Jeff contacted a potential donor who was willing to give $50,000 and The Nature Conservancy contributed $400,000! Our treasurer Doug Hull visited some banks and negotiated a fair loan for $200,000. We started a fundraiser called Gaining Ground lead by our amazing board president Susie Scott. We were on our way to our very first purchase! The campaign was a wonderful success, and the deal was completed on January 18, 2000. Fairborn Marsh, as it was originally called, was paid off in nine years. In October 2019, the BCWA board voted to change the name to James P. Amon Biodiversity Reserve.
To restore this farmland, we planted prairie and trees where they would flourish and, in the woods, we removed as much invasive bush honeysuckle as possible. As the new name says it is a “Biodiversity Reserve,” With the removal of invasive plants, the dormant seedbank reemerged with higher diversity than we might have expected. Diverse in that it has many habitats: upland prairie and forest, a fen at the bottom of the slope that runs almost the whole length of the property, and a marsh with one the few open water habitats in the whole corridor. A fantastic 52 acres! We made a trail and an observation deck so people could experience all the diversity we purchased. As part of the Spotted Turtle Trail Project, BCWA volunteers recently built a boardwalk meandering through the marsh and a new bird blind overlooking it for an immersive experience.
Similarly, a new boardwalk was built in Beerman Fen that skirts the western edge of its fen. This 11.3-acre parcel is located just north of Amon Reserve and contains a small fen, an area of braided streams, marsh and pools engineered by beaver activity, and portions with scattered trees forming a wet savanna. The fen portion is near the highest elevation of the parcel and was formed by springs emerging near the top of the slope, extending down to Beaver Creek. The fen forms a mound attached to that slope and at the bottom of the slope the water from Beaver Creek changes it to a marsh bordering Beaver Creek. Beaver activity has increased in the past 10 years or so and has created a complex of open water, small ever-changing streams with shrubs, reeds, sedges and grasses, including some rare species of plants. Downstream, along the creek the wet savanna extends almost to the Amon Reserve.
Beerman Fen was used, with owner permission, as a research area and a source of seeds for restoration projects before it was purchased in 2011. It was owned by a real-estate developer who was reluctant to sell the land. BCWA talked over such a sale with them for over ten years before they agreed to sell the wetlands and a buffer that would not inhibit development of the remaining portion along Commerce Center Boulevard. The purchase finally came about when we had some grant money quickly available, and the developer was in a tough marketing period. The City of Fairborn nicely cooperated, changing the use of the wet portion from commercial development to something allowing a natural area. Persistence paid off!
Looking to the future, BCWA has much to do to prevent the takeover of these biologically diverse areas by invasive plants like fast growing phragmites or honeysuckle. The fens’ proximity to development makes that pressure great. Protecting these small but rich sites from damage by foot traffic is important, so, please don’t attempt to walk on the fragile fen.
The Spotted Turtle Trail boardwalk, now finished through Amon Reserve and Beerman Fen, gives BCWA volunteers good access to maintain needed stewardship activities. So, volunteer with us to help keep these areas biologically diverse!
– Jim Amon
Trumpeter Swan Conservation Status
Good news! According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, the trumpeter swan was removed from Ohio’s threatened species list in 2024. In the 1990s, ODNR, The Wilds and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo were involved in efforts to restore the trumpeter swan population in the state. According to DOW, “Ohio’s trumpeter swan population stands at nearly 900, with swans nesting in 26 different counties.”
These large, native swans prefer marshes and lakes. Some populations live year-round in northern Ohio while other populations migrate. Although a rare siting in Greene County, birder Sean Hollowell has spotted them on three occasions, but not in the Beaver Creek Wetlands. With luck, we may see migrating trumpeter swans stopping in the Beaver Creek Wetlands this spring.
– Beth Edsall
Ohio Woodpeckers
All seven of Ohio’s woodpecker species can be found in the Beaver Creek Wetlands corridor.
Northern flickers are readily identified by their sharp call (kea!), white rump, and yellow wings in flight.
Pileated woodpeckers, our largest species, often are heard before seen. Their calls are loud and sharp, and their hammering is distinctly robust. They build large nest chambers in wood softened by carpenter ants, their primary food.
Table for One, Please
Whether it’s fish, berries or frogs, animals are sure to find a delicious meal in the Beaver Creek Wetlands!
This Great blue heron won’t release the fish it catches in the marsh at Amon Reserve
Photo by Mike Mushala
This mink, I think, was stuffed after its delicious fish dinner at Siebenthaler Fen
Photo by Mike Mushala
A hungry red-bellied woodpecker nibbles berries in Nolin Reserve
Photo by Mike Abel
You otter bet this otter at Siebenthaler Fen didn’t share its frog legs
Photo by Mike Mushala
The Power of Long-Term Land Protection
Ohio’s future relies on preserving its natural heritage. Land protection agreements, especially conservation easements, are vital tools for this. Easements allow landowners to voluntarily safeguard their land’s natural, agricultural, or scenic value, ensuring it remains undeveloped for future generations. These agreements respect private property rights, allowing landowners to maintain ownership and control while preserving their land’s character. They offer financial incentives, like tax benefits, making conservation accessible.
Protected areas provide essential ecosystem services: filtering water, purifying air, and mitigating natural disasters. Preserving farmland is crucial, as agriculture is Ohio’s top industry, and development threatens its productivity. Lands protected for outdoor recreation like hunting and fishing, contributes billions of dollars to the state’s economy and supports thousands of jobs. Access to green spaces enhances community well-being, boosting property values and fostering a stronger sense of community. Voluntary land protection agreements are beneficial for our community, Ohioans and the planet.
– Beth Edsall
Learn More: https://beavercreekwetlands.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Ohio-Land-Protection.pdf
1500 Trees and Shrubs
BCWA has expanded Dave Nolin Wetland Reserve with the recent acquisition of 22 acres of adjacent land. This parcel, formerly a farm field, is accessible from the South Deer Hollow Trail entrance to the Nolin Reserve.
As part of our restoration efforts, more than 1,500 native trees and shrubs were planted. This area is also slated for the development of an extensive rain garden and a dedicated parking lot, both of which are currently in the initial stages of construction.
BCWA is grateful to Siebenthaler’s Nursery for sourcing and planting the trees and to our members and donors, whose financial support is making all this possible. A sincere thanks to the dedication and expertise of our volunteers for developing the comprehensive restoration plans for this site.
Photo by Shandah Brannen
Wood duck at Beerman Fen
Photo by Mike Mushala
