LOUDONVILLE — The Gorge Overlook area has always offered spectacular scenery at Mohican State Park.
Thanks to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the spot will take on added significance. The gorge is the largest site of the ODNR’s planting project for the American Chestnut Tree. More than 400 seedlings were recently planted at there as part of an effort to restore and re-establish the native plants.
“The Chestnut is a very important tree that was starting to be forgotten,” said Stephen Rift, of the Division of Forestry. “It’s a very charismatic tree that flowers in late spring and early summer. The fruit is guaranteed to be there in the fall.”
The ODNR also planted 325 seedlings at Scioto Trail State Forestfire Tower, just south of Chillicothe, and 275 more at the Waterloo Wildlife Area, about 10 miles west of Athens. These areas were selected for the reforestation project in partnership with The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF), according the ODNR.
“We are happy to be a part of helping to return the American chestnut tolandscapes across Ohio and the region,” stated Robert Boyles, ODNR deputy director and state forester. “The American Chestnut was such an important component of our country’s Eastern hardwood forest, and that is why great efforts are being made to resurrect this great tree to our woodlands.”
ODNR staff from the divisions of Forestry, Ohio State Parks and Wildlife conducted the plantings, with volunteer assistance from the Mohican Trails Club at Mohican State Park. Approximately 1,000 seedlings were divided among the three sites.
Rift said the gorge was selected in part because of its accessibility to the public.
“That’s just a nice area for reforestation. It’s a high-profile area, too,” Rift noted. “It’s an open spot that’s highly visible and a good source for wildlife.”
Tree shelter tubes were installed on the young trees to provide a greenhouse-like atmosphere and offer protection from wildlife browsing. Rift said the shelters, which are 4- to 5-feet tall, promote growth and increase seedling survival.
“There will be some mortality, but there’s no way of knowing exactly how many seedlings will survive,” Rift said. “If it’s a large portion, we will replant in 2017.”
The year-old seedlings were donated by TACF. The foundation is dedicated to the restoration of the American chestnut through scientific breeding and cooperative research. These seedlings, known as “Restoration Chestnuts,” were bred at TACF’s Meadowview Research Farms in Virginia and were grown at the Clements State Tree Nursery in West Virginia.
“The American chestnut was a stately, fast-growing native species that reached more than 80 feet in height. It bears fruit in about 5 to 80 years, and until its decline in population, provided important food for bear, deer, turkey, squirrels and other wildlife,” the ODNR stated in a press release. “The lumber was lightweight and highly valued for the grain, ease of working and rot resistance.
“Sprouts from native tree stumps can grow to 30 feet before they die back from the Chestnut blight, which is still present.”
