Pearl's Fen Update

boardwalk under construction 10-11-19

Work is proceeding on a new trail system and boardwalk at Pearl's Fen.  A contractor, hired by Greene County Parks & Trails is installing the boardwalk at this writing.  GCPT has installed a new hiking trail loop too and the contractor has installed two bridges over "Pearl's Run", the stream that begins in the fen at a large spring.  Eventually this trail could be extended to connect with the trail system of the adjacent Oakes Quarry Park.

bridge 1 completed

This project is funded with a Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation grant that the Park District received a few years ago.  The second phase of the project will be the removal of a large portion of the woody vegetation that has encroached on the fen, which used to be open.  This growth has been at the expense of the diversity of herbaceous plants that lives there.  It is hoped that this "haircut" will allow these rare plants to come back.

bridge 2 completed

My friend Dr. Jim Amon did some research at the site some twenty years ago.  He and his student documented that the fen is getting drier, apparently because the stream is cutting down and lowering the water table.  It may be necessary to follow their suggestion and install some small check dams on the creek to help raise the local water table back up.

Another piece of good news, GCPT is in the process of purchasing another house tract on Byron Rd. to improve the visibility and entrance to the site.  Also, a 7.5-acre parcel on the north side of the fen property is also being acquired and restored, with the help of a Clean Ohio grant.  This tract was going to be developed into houses but a conservation team including GCPT, BW Greenway Community Land Trust, and Beaver Creek Wetlands Association worked with the developer to set this buffer aside.