JACKSON, Ohio — Nearly 360 acres of ecologically significant land in Jackson County have been permanently protected through a new conservation effort by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), preserving one of southeastern Ohio’s richest habitats for rare plants and wildlife.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Natural Areas and Preserves (DNAP) recently acquired 357 acres of property, expanding Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve by 193 acres while also creating the new White’s Gulch State Nature Preserve, a 164-acre protected area.
The land was purchased using $740,000 in grants from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s Wetland Resource Restoration Sponsor Program, which focuses on preserving important wetlands, streams, and natural habitats.
Governor Mike DeWine said the acquisition will protect the area’s unique ecosystem for future generations.
“Protecting places like the Lake Katharine ecosystem ensures future generations can experience its natural beauty,” DeWine said. “By preserving this additional land, we are protecting more wildlife, plants, wetlands, and streams while expanding opportunities for visitors to enjoy the area.”
Rare Plants and Unique Habitats
Located just over a mile west of Lake Katharine, White’s Gulch has been studied by scientists for more than a century because of its exceptional biodiversity. The preserve is home to 24 state-listed plant species, making it one of the highest concentrations of rare plants in southeastern Ohio.
Among its most notable features is one of Ohio’s largest populations of the state-endangered bigleaf magnolia, with some trees growing more than 50 feet tall—a rarity for the species.
The preserve’s landscape includes hemlock-hardwood forests, mixed mesophytic forests, oak-hickory woodlands, towering sandstone cliffs, wetlands, and high-quality streams.
ODNR Director Mary Mertz called Lake Katharine one of the state’s most treasured natural areas.
“Lake Katharine is a jewel in our state nature preserve system,” Mertz said. “The new White’s Gulch preserve allows us to extend protections to the region and continue its legacy.”
Expanding Lake Katharine
With the latest acquisition, Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve now encompasses 2,213 acres, making it the largest preserve directly managed by the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves.
The newly protected land includes mature forests, sandstone cliffs, marshes, shrub swamps, swamp forests, and nearly 1,400 feet of high-quality streams. Biologists have also documented eight state-listed plant species on the newly acquired parcel.
Since botanical surveys began, researchers have identified 498 native plant species within Lake Katharine, including 30 species of ferns.
DNAP Chief Jeff Johnson said the acquisitions preserve some of Ohio’s finest natural landscapes.
“These acquisitions preserve amazing geologic, biological, and botanical features, some of the best examples in the state of Ohio,” Johnson said. “The division continues its mission of preserving Ohio’s natural heritage while providing opportunities for Ohioans to enjoy these special places.”
Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve features more than seven miles of hiking trails, allowing visitors to experience its scenic cliffs, forests, wetlands, and diverse plant life firsthand.
