Prairie Restoration Program

From Xenia to London, the Ohio to Erie Trail was named the Prairie Grass Trail because it traverses an area that used to be a mosaic of forests and prairies in pre-settlement days. However, with the invention of the steel plow in 1803, settlers were able to farm the sticky prairie sod and now much of this land is developed.

Remnants of the original prairies can still be found where plowing could not occur, such as in pioneer
cemeteries, railroad right-of-ways, and fencerows. Hikers and bikers of the Prairie Grass Trail, the narrow swath once occupied by a busy railroad connecting Columbus with Cincinnati, can enjoy the glimpse of the past by seeing the variety of prairie plants and animal species that have persisted from this protection, such as Royal Catchfly, Queen of the Prairie, Prairie Coneflower, or tall grasses like Big Bluestem and Indiangrass.

When the railroad was active, frequent fires and routine maintenance of the right-of-way would keep out the trees and shrubs, which allowed the prairie plants to remain. However, when the railroad was abandoned, woody plants like Shrub Honeysuckle and invasive weed species, such as Garlic Mustard and Poison Hemlock, began to take over.

The re-opening of potential prairie remnant habitats along the Prairie Grass Trail began in the winter of 2005 under the advisement of Jack McDowell, an expert in prairie restoration, part-time Land Management Coordinator at Columbus Metro Parks, and fellow FMCPT board member. Areas along the trail were cleared of shrubs and trees by clippers and chainsaws, revealing the prairie plants.

We were also joined by John Silvius, Professor of Biology at Cedarville University, who conducted various projects along the corridor with his students. Projects included discussions with adjacent landowners to encourage conservation of the narrow, vulnerable prairie remnant corridor by creating a buffer zone between it and the agricultural activity which can introduce pesticides and weeds.

Attempts were made to maintain the cleared areas through the use of fire, but unfortunately there is only a small window of opportunity to safely burn in the spring to control weeds and revitalize the soil for growth. Spring rains over several years prevented the attempts to burn and the cleared areas were threatened again by re-growth of woody vegetation.

Thanks to the expertise of Jack McDowell, John Silvius, and Julia Cumming of the Madison Soil and Water Conservation District, the Friends of Madison County Parks and Trails have identified spots along the trail where certain wildflowers grow, including the endangered salmon-colored royal catchfly, a plant that is unique to this part of the world. Future burn attempts will target these growing areas, and each year gives us new experience on how we need to prepare the site for better burns moving forward.

To highlight the success of the restoration efforts, Jack McDowell began a series of popular Nature Rides on the Prairie Grass Trail in 2005. McDowell taught us about the local history of prairies, why the plants are unique, and how to manage the land so that these plants may continue to thrive. Jack passed away in 2012, but his dream to inspire others to preserve the Ohio prairie is not forgotten.

In 2013, the tradition was continued with a Prairie Appreciation Ride co-led by Julia Cumming, Program Administrator with Madison Soil and Water Conservation District, Hope Miller who was interning with the district, and John Silvius, professor emeritus of biology at Cedarville University.

Timeline and progress of the Prairie Restoration Program

07-27-04

Hello Friends.............. Jack McDowell from the West Jefferson Park District is conducting a Nature Walk this Saturday, July 31, 2004, starting at the Madison County Senior Center Trailhead at 10:00 am.

The purpose of this nature walk is to identify species of prairie grass and wildflowers along the trail corridor. We also want to look at areas where overgrowth, poison ivy, and other invasive plant life can be removed in order to give some of the native rare and endangered plants the chance to regenerate.

After the desireable plant life is identified and locations are "mapped out", we will develop a plan of action for this fall and winter to begin removal of the overgrowth. Jack will give us training on the proper methods for removal.

We plan on meeting at the trailhead at 10:00 am. At that time, Jack will decide on how we will proceed. Some may ride bicycles, some may walk, and other may drive vehicles on Rt 42 to meet up at the various crossroads along the trail corridor.

07-30-04

Madison Press article: Two events aim to draw crowd to trail
(Jack McDowell conducts the first "Nature Walk" on the Prairie Grass Trail.)

07-31-04

FMCPT Photo Gallery: Wildflowers on the Prairie Grass Trail

02-19-05

FMCPT Photo Gallery: Jack McDowell begins the Prairie Restoration Project, which is ongoing to this day.

07-30-05

FMCPT Photo Gallery: Jack McDowell conducted the first "Nature Ride" on the Prairie Grass Trail.

07-25-06

Madison Press article: Flowers in peak bloom along the Prairie Grass Trail

06-30-07

Madison Press article: Prairie Grass Bike Tour is on its way

07-22-08

Madison Press article: Citizens, government, and education work together to restore Ohio prairie lands

07-23-09

Hello Friends....... Our annual Wildflower Tour has blossomed! Madison, Clark, and Greene Counties have teamed up this year to offer an interesting learning experience while enjoying a leisurely paced bicycle ride. Madison County will kick off the rides this Saturday at the London trailhead at 8 am. The following Saturday the ride will be in Clark County, and the last wildflower tour will be August 8th in Greene County. All tours are free and you do not have to register. Just come and learn about some native rare wildflowers that you can enjoy at this time of year along the Prairie Grass Trail. Click here to view the Madison Messenger Community Calendar for more details.

07-22-10

Madison Messenger article: Pedaling past petals
(Jack McDowell conducts his final "Nature Ride" on the Prairie Grass Trail.)

07-20-12

FMCPT Photo Gallery: Jack McDowell Memorial Page

11-28-12

Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks: Parkscope Magazine recognizes Jack McDowell for his dedication toward prairie restoration and his conservation efforts in Columbus Metro Parks and beyond.

04-16-13

Madison Press article: Feel the burn

04-21-13

Madison Messenger article: Controlled burn aims to save wildflowers on trail

07-09-13

Madison Press article: Prairie appreciation bike ride scheduled

Resources

Click here to view an excellent collection of photos of remnant prairie species in our region, including instructions for a systematic way to identify plants you encounter. (Courtesy of John E. Silvius, Professor of Biology, Cedarville University)