Aug. 28, 2002 - Biology researchers, educators and students from The University of Akron will have long-term access to old-growth forest, wetlands, ponds and bog environments through the signing today of a formal agreement with Bath Township for the ongoing use of the Bath Nature Preserve.
The agreement was signed by University and township representatives at a noon ceremony at the preserve, which is located at Hametown and Ira roads in Bath Township.
The 404-acre preserve is home to ecological systems that support a variety of native flora and fauna that are fast disappearing elsewhere in the region. In addition to wetlands and a tamarack bog, the land also includes open grasslands, and stands of beech and white oak trees estimated to be more than 200 years old.
The goals of the new agreement are to protect and preserve the environments and ecological systems within its boundaries; provide a center for long-term environmental research; support the research and education goals of The University of Akron and its partners; and interact with the local community to promote a better understanding of, and appreciation for, environmental resources.
The agreement will have a dramatic effect on the work of UA's Department of Biology, according to department chair Dr. Jerry Stinner.
We have wanted a field station for 20 years, he says. We are an urban university, and it can be difficult for urban researchers to get out into the field. This agreement means that our department biologists and students can work in the field for the long term. This is an ideal situation for us.
The preserve will allow UA biology researchers to study vital environmental issues such as wetlands restoration and preservation, and water treatment, says Dr. Peter Niewiarowski, an associate biology professor at UA.
Ohio has lost 90 percent of its wetlands, he explains. The experiments being conducted at the preserve are methods to restore and preserve these lost resources. This is a topic that many communities are interested in.
It has been said that the ecological concerns of the 21st century will be about clean, fresh water, adds Dr. Lauchlan Fraser, an assistant biology professor at the University. In many parts of the world it is a critical issue.
Bath Township acquired the preserve lands in 1997 following the death of Raymond Firestone, whose family originally owned more than 1,500 acres in the area. Paul Martin, a longtime benefactor of The University of Akron, initiated talks between UA and the township. The Aug. 28 agreement signing formalizes a long-term relationship to transform the property into an urban nature preserve and field station.
The future field station will be devoted primarily to the study of terrestrial and freshwater field habitats, and will facilitate the interdisciplinary study of the biology, geology, geography and anthropology of the region.
The field station will advance educational goals such as a Teacher Professional Development Program for K-12 educators in the Akron and Revere public school systems; a Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program to allow students early access to primary research experiences; and regional science days to educate the public.
In April, the University also acquired Steiner Woods, a 23-acre property adjoining the Bath Nature Preserve, through a donation from the Trust for Public Lands. The acquisition adds access to a bog and pond for ongoing research and educational activities. Steiner Woods also is the site of a long-term amphibian population monitoring project conducted by UA's biology department.
Bath Township officials feel that the community is very fortunate to have the formalized agreement with the University, says township Trustee Elaina Goodrich.
This unique parcel of land, a focal point for the Bath community, provides the township and the University with a long-term opportunity for enhancing both the natural landscape and educational resources without jeopardizing the environmental integrity of the preserve, she says.
We look forward to this partnership growing as the field station becomes a reality, Niewiarowski concludes.