The 18.4-acre Brookville Preserve, located in Athens Township west of Athens, adjoins a stretch of rail grade owned by the Athens Conservancy, which is a potential link between the Moonville Rail-Trail and the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway. The forested tract was purchased with a Clean Ohio grant in order to preserve scenery along this future rail-trail and to protect a vernal pool that provides excellent habitat for several species of salamanders and other amphibians. We have named the wetland Brian’s Vernal Pool in appreciation of Brian Blair’s critical role in acquiring the property. He served as a conservation buyer, purchasing the land at an auction and holding it for the Athens Conservancy until we could raise the grant money to buy it.
Use iNaturalist to help document plants, mushrooms, insects, birds, mammals, and more in the Brookville Preserve!
Volunteer Preserve Steward: Amy Wolfe
