Killbuck Watershed Land Trust

10/01/2026

We don’t just protect farmland and wetlands. Did you know that KWLT has partnered with The City of Wooster and Friends of Wooster Memorial Park to preserve 425 acres of Wooster Memorial Park in perpetuity?

October is an excellent month to visit the park. We took advantage of this past weekend's weather to hike the Spangler Trail…what’s your favorite trail?

09/24/2026

National FFA is continuing to grow and setting new membership records. As of last year, they stood 1,042,245 strong. Ohio FFA membership accounts for nearly 31,000 of that total. Passion for farming is alive and growing, and we are working to ensure there is enough land for them to farm.

The National FFA Organization has surpassed one million members for the 2024–2025 year, reaching 1,042,245 students across 9,407 chapters.

09/16/2026

Last evening at our quarterly board meeting, we had the honor of signing 2 new conservation easements, protecting a total of 177 acres of farmland in Coshocton County. Kathy (Garber) Steinebrey and her brothers Adrian & Art Garber are 3 of the siblings raised on the generational farm, which has been in the family since it was deeded by President John Quincy Adams 200 years ago. As we gathered to listen to stories about the land, what it means to their family and how pleased their parents would be to know their farm will be protected, we shared a sense of pride and celebration that it will never be developed. A legacy, preserved in perpetuity.

09/14/2026

https://www.killbuckwatershedlandtrust.org/donate

09/11/2026

KWLT and Holmes Soil & Water Conservation District were excited to introduce students from Ohio Northern University to the Killbuck Swamp Preserve this week. ONU has a field station in southern Tuscarawas County - The Preserve is now a space they can visit during their time in this part of the state. With expert guidance by Randy, this group was given the opportunity to examine upland, riparian and wetland flora and fauna, discuss the recreation and community impacts of restoration work, and chat about opportunities for careers that support conservation. We hope these students come back to watch how these spaces change and mature throughout the seasons and in the future!

09/04/2026

Wetlands are vital in improving water quality, especially of lakes and rivers downstream. When Killbuck Creek rises and floods Bowfin Bottoms (pictured), the flood water is retained in newly created wetland pools. By retaining the water for an extended period of time, the sediment in the water can settle to the ground and the nutrients in the water, such as excess phosphorus, are filtered out of the water before the water makes its way back into Killbuck Creek and eventually into the Walhonding River.

09/02/2026

A KWLT supporter gifted our office this quote from beloved author, poet and Kentucky farmer, Wendell Berry. His legacy of advocating for small, family farms and safeguarding the land is near and dear to our hearts.

08/31/2026

KWLT recently had the pleasure of participating in "Rooted in Stewardship: Wayne County's Local Food Systems in Action," a tour that examined strategies for building more resilient food and agricultural systems. We toured some beautifully diverse areas in Wayne County and talked with a great group of people who are growing food and taking care of the land.

Thanks to The Ohio State University's Environmental Professionals Network & Northeast Ohio Ag Innovation Center for having us.

08/27/2026

Checking in on the new boardwalk construction today at Turtle Pond, one of the wetlands in the Killbuck Swamp Preserve. This addition will enable both local residents and visitors to safely enjoy the beautiful scenery and Killbuck wildlife away from road traffic. There will also be interpretive signage for those curious to learn more about Turtle Pond's ecosystem.

08/20/2026

With the unprecedented amount of rainfall in recent weeks and subsequent flooding in central and Southern Ohio, it seems timely to understand the significance of KWLT’s work in preserving and reestablishing wetlands.

A wetland is a low-lying area of land that is saturated with water, either permanently or periodically. Ponds, marshes, bogs, fens, and swamps are all types of wetlands, primarily differentiated by their landscape position, the vegetation that grows there, and the nutrient content of the water.

Freshwater wetlands, like those we’ve been working on in Killbuck, are also crucial to controlling floods—acting as sponges absorbing significant amounts or rainwater and runoff before flooding can occur.

Ohio has lost 90% of its wetlands due to them being drained to farm or develop—second only to California, which has lost 91%. As we confront changing weather patterns and extreme weather trends, conserving and reestablishing wetlands will help keep us safe.

Several flood warnings and watches have been issued again today; we are thinking about the communities in the affected areas and hoping they remain out of harm's way.
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PHOTO CREDIT
1 - Crookesville, OH (Perry County Tribune)
2 - Reynoldsburg, OH (James Greenlee)