21 Years of Conservation in Central & Southern Ohio
Our Conservation Achievement
Latest News
On a beautiful snowy winter day representatives of AOA hiked into the deep woods of Bison Hollow for a special event. ODNR Division of Natural Areas and Preserves held a signing ceremony with Director Mertz for the recently announced designation of core portions of AOA’s Bison Hollow Preserve as Ohio’s newest State Nature Preserve (SNP). Bison Hollow joins Kleinmaier SNP as AOA’s currently designated State Preserves.
Bison Hollow is one of the jewels of the distinctive Hocking Hills landscapes. It is covered in deep older growth hardwood forests with large stands of hemlock that provide homes for many native species that are becoming increasingly threatened or rare. The high Blackhand sandstone bluffs, gorges, rock shelters and caves, numerous waterfalls and relatively rare high-quality Coldwater habitat streams, are very worthy of conservation and protection from degradation.
Upcoming Events
The Last Total Solar Eclipse in Ohio in our Lifetimes
Experience the Awe and Wonder of Totality, Witness this Rare Celestial Event Join AOA’s Eclipse Party and observe this awe-inspiring celestial event at our Trella Romine Prairie Preserve. …
The Last Total Solar Eclipse in Ohio in our Lifetimes Read More »
Find out more »AOA News and Conservation Victories
Year in Review
Our 2023 Year in Review has just been published and mailed. Check out the complete document at this link.
HWA Monitoring Hikes
AOA’s stewardship team plans to shake off the Winter cold by surveying some of our Hocking Valley Preserves for the invasive pest Hemlock Wooly Adelgid (HWA). We would love for you to join us for our hikes in February and March, 2024.
Monitoring this pest is the best way to catch an infestation before it spreads. We can cover much more ground with additional volunteer help. Our goal this season is to visit sites that have not been monitored before and develop a treatment plan for any HWA found.
Monitoring will involve hiking over moderate to difficult terrain in wet and cold conditions. Please dress accordingly, including sturdy hiking boots and cold weather clothing. We recommend packing a lunch and water.
Please RSVP for the hikes by completing this simple Google Form if you plan to attend any of the monitoring dates shown on the form below.
HWA & Volunteer Event Sign Up: https://forms.gle/gVtozcXECPy8se6x9
We will provide the location and time of each hike & further information to those signing up. Thank you for continuing to support AOA.
Conservation Victories
AOA has closed on 7 new properties in 2023! These exciting new properties include:
Cedar Run-Stinson: 70.57 acres in Champaign County adjacent to Cedar Bog.
Big Darby Creek-Smith Lakes: 76.6 acres in Union County adjacent to Big Darby Creek.
Bison Hollow-Jones: 42.75 acres in Vinton County adjacent to AOA’s Bison Hollow Preserve in the Ash Cave vicinity.
Adelphi Bluff: 35.816 acres near the Salt Creek Narrows in Pickaway County near Laurelville, Ohio.
Menchhofer (Nixon). A spectacular, 86-acre bluff-lined gorge with two high falls in the Queer Creek Conservation Corridor of Hocking Hills.
Bison Hollow-Medford-Ocker: 175 acres in Vinton County adjacent to AOA’s Bison Hollow Preserve in the Ash Cave Vicinity.
Hinkle Gorge Preserve: A unique 10-acre sandstone gorge along Helber Run in Northern Hocking County donated by the Hinkle family.