blue creek metropark highlightsmetroparks.blackswaninteractive.com/media/3100/... · metroparks...
TRANSCRIPT
Please use this as a supplement to information provided on any maps of the site.
Messages for InterpretationSurrounded by lands rich with cultural and natural history, the unique character of Blue Creek Metropark represents a crossroads of land uses that continuously evolve. • BlueCreek’snaturalfeaturestellstoriesofglaciation,convergingeco-regionsandhabitatbiodiversity.
• ThechoicesoflanduseatBlueCreekMetropark overtimereflectchangingvaluesinsociety.
• Resourceconservation,communitypartnerships,andrecreationaretheprimaryforcesshapingMetroparksinitiatives at Blue Creek Metropark today.
What’s in the Name? BlueCreekflowsthroughthisMetroparkandisatributaryofSwanCreekandpartoftheMaumeeRiverwatershed.
Natural and Human HistoryBlue Creek Metropark is on the border of the Oak OpeningsRegionandtheMaumeeRiverfloodplain community.
Greenspaceandnaturalareasatthislarge,multi-usecomplexincludetwoquarries,severalrecreationfields,successionalwoodland,sustainablegardens,restoredwetlands,restoredtallgrassprairies,aMetroparksnativeplantnursery,andalimestoneglade(see“PlantLife”).
ExposedDevonianagelimestone(350-450million years old) at this Metropark is rich with fossils of sea creaturessuchasBrachiopods,Hornedcoral,TrilobitesandCrinoids(sealilies).Fossilscanbeobservedbestnearthelarge,NonaFranceQuarry,andalsonearthesmaller quarry pond and in some of the walls and stone barns of the historic prison area.
NearthequarriesaresomeofthebestexamplesofglacialstriationsinnorthwestOhio.These‘scratches’inthebedrockwerecreatedabout12,000yearsago,whenglacierspushedhardergraniteoverthelocallimestonebedrock.
In addition to Blue Creek, Mosquito Creek is also a tributarywithinthispark’sboundaries.
TwoconstructedwetlandsatBlueCreekMetroparkhelpcreatemorewell-balancedecosystems.Oneincorporatesdikes,outlets,valvesandmeasuringapparatustoreducesediment,maximizeoxygenandmaintaintherightwaterfordeterringnonnativespecies.
Nearthewetlandisditchthatwasrecentlyrestoredusingatwo-stageapproachthatincludeslandbenchesor‘floodplains’toslowwaterflowandimproveecologywithin the channel.
Blue Creek Metropark Highlights
Intheearly1800’s,thisareawaspartofareserva-tionforNativeAmericantribessuchasChippewaandOttawa,butbythe1840’s,mostofitbecameprivatelyowned farmland.
Inthe1900’s,partofthisMetroparkwasthesiteofa310acre-self-sustainingprisoncountyworkhouse.Pur-chasedin1918bytheCityofToledo,itoperateduntil1991.Duringoperation,rockwasquarried,stonewallsandbarnsconstructed,cowsandhogsraised,atreenursery maintained, and crops such as tobacco, corn, wheat,hayandoatsgrown.In2000,LucasCountyandMetroparkspurchasedtheToledoworkhousesite.
Theformerworkhousecomplexincludedajail(removedin2014),awarden’shouse,animpressivehistoric1930barn, an 8 foot stone wall enclosure, several small stone barns,andamorerecentjailannexthatnowservesasMetroparks native plant nursery headquarters.
Metroparks native plant nursery operates out of Blue Creek Metropark. Yearly thousands of native plants ofover50speciesandadozenOhiorarespeciesarepropagated,harvestedandusedtoenhancenativebiodiversitythroughoutMetroparksatlarge.
PartnersinlanduseatBlueCreekMetropark currentlyincludeNature’sNurseryCenterforWildlifeRehabilitation,LucasSoilandWaterDistrict,andthe VillageofWhitehouse.
Nature’sNurseryusestheformerprisonwarden’shouseasitsheadquarters,andalsomaintainsalargeraptor
Green heronBarn swallow
Praying mantisAmerican kestrel
Mammals include: Short-tailedweasel Foxsquirrel Groundhog Redfox Coyote,Raccoon Muskrat Stripedskunk White-taileddeer
Birds of wetland areas include: Canadagoose Greenheron Greatblueheron Red-wingedblackbird Sandpiper species Osprey Mallard Woodduck
Other birds here include: Eastern bluebird Eastern meadowlark Dickcissel Cedarwaxwing Graycatbird Songsparrow Barnswallow Rough-wingedswallow Americankestrel Red-tailedhawk
Stayingonthetrailsprotectsparkvisitorsandpetsfrom:Poisonivy AmericandogticksChiggers StingingnettleMosquitoes
Protectionalsoincludescoveringupwithlightweightclothingandusinginsecticidewhennecessary.
TherearenovenomoussnakesorPoisonOakhere.
Prairie dock
rehabilitationflightcagenearBlueCreek’spavedparkinglot.Parkvisitorsshouldavoidtheseareastobestprotecttherehabilitatingwildlife.
LucasSoilandWaterDistrictmaintainsdemonstrationsfarmfieldsandgardensonsomeofproperty.
SubstantialacreageonthenorthsideofBlueCreekMetroparkisleasedtotheVillageofWhitehouse.Thislandincludesthepubliclibraryproperty,thelargeNonaFranceQuarryandmultiplerecreationfields.
Plant LifePlantlifeatthisMetroparkincludesawidevarietyofwetland,prairie,andfallowfarmfieldspecies.
One unique ecosystem that occurs here is called lime-stoneglade.Itsconsistencyofsandy,shallowsoilontopof limestone bedrock supports many rare and unusual plants.Thegladehasbeenenhancedsignificantlythroughinvasivespeciescontrol,andishometoatleastsevenplantsthatarestate-listedasrareinOhio.
Plantsofthelimestonegladeinclude(*=state-listed):Tallcinquefoil* Hairypinweed*Rocksandwort* CanadaandplainsChinquapinoakfrostweeds*Fragrantsumac HairywoodmintNoddingwildonion VioletbushcloverStiffgoldenrod HairybeardtongueSmallskullcap PasturerosePrairiethimbleweed* Paleumbrellasedge*
PlantsinBlueCreek’sgrasslandsandfieldsinclude: Bigbluestem Indiangrass Switchgrass Prairiedock Commonmilkweed Canadagoldenrod Catnip Common mullein NewEnglandaster Commonwhiteaster
Wetlandandcreek-sideplantsinclude: Tallanemone Stingingnettle Commonboneset Joe-pyeweed Bur cucumber Buttonbush GrayandRedosier Sandbarwillow dogwoods
WildlifeInsects include: PrayingMantis Pearlcrescent Monarch Bronze copper Blackswallowtail Eastern-tailedblue Easternpondhawk Widowskimmer Green darner Bluet species
Reptilesandamphibiansinclude: Northernleopardfrog Graytreefrog Americantoad Greenfrog Midlandpaintedturtle Snappingturtle Common water snake
Bronze copper
New England aster
Glacial striations