WMVO Good Times Great Oldies
Two land conservation organizations – the Philander Chase Conservancy and the Owl Creek Conservancy were recently recognized for 25 years of work in Knox County. At a ceremony on March 13, State Representative Mark Hiner presented commendations from the Ohio House of Representatives to both organizations, who will be jointly celebrating their milestone anniversaries throughout 2025. Since their respective foundings in 2000, the two non-governmental groups have led efforts to conserve open space and critical natural habitats while safeguarding the rural landscape of Knox County and surrounding areas.
The Philander Chase Conservancy was established by Kenyon College to protect land in a five-mile radius surrounding the College and Gambier. At the same time, the Owl Creek Conservancy focuses on the remainder of Knox County. Over the past 25 years, both groups have reached numerous milestones, combining efforts to protect nearly 12,000 acres of land. The Philander Chase Conservancy has conserved more than 6,000 acres, , and Owl Creek Conservancy over 5,700 acres. . Both conservancies have collaborated with farmers, landowners, environmental organizations, and government agencies to preserve the region’s rural charm through agricultural and conservation easements and fee purchases.
Landowners within the conservancies’ focus areas can sign voluntary agreements that legally protect their land from development. These easements ensure that families can maintain their properties in their current state, protecting the unique natural characteristics of the land, allowing for continued farming activities or other traditional uses and compensating them for development rights. In other instances, fee purchase of a property might be the preferred option, such as the 124-acre Yauger Road property, which will be open to the public in June 2025.
The Kokosing Nature Preserve, which opened in 2015, stands as a prime example of the unique role a conservancy can play in the community. Located in the scenic countryside of Gambier, this conservation burial ground is a project of the Philander Chase Conservancy. Spanning 23 acres of restored prairies and woodlands, the preserve provides a natural burial option while also supporting native habitat restoration and protection.
“The need to protect land in Knox County has never been greater,” said Philander Chase Conservancy Director Amy Henricksen. “Development is fast approaching and reshaping the areas around us. We are all for appropriate development, but we are also mindful of our commitment to protecting local farmland and natural resources. We are proud of what we have accomplished over the past 25 years and will continue our good work in collaboration with landowners and the broader community.”
The two conservancies’ work also includes a focus on the Kokosing River’s riparian corridor, a narrow strip of land directly along the river’s banks. The area is characterized by dense vegetation of trees and shrubs that provide critical habitat for wildlife and help stabilize the riverbank, essentially the natural ecosystem bordering the river itself. To date, 15 miles of the Kokosing’s shoreline is in protected status.
“As development pressures intensify in the Columbus region, we must consider the fiscal consequences of various types of development and their impact on our rural character and environment,” said Owl Creek Conservancy Executive Director Vicki Kauffman. “Our county residents share these sentiments, having supported the recent update of the Knox County comprehensive plan to safeguard this area’s rural character. As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, we look forward to working with landowners to safeguard Knox County’s lands and waters.”
For more information on the 25th-anniversary celebrations, upcoming events, or how to support both conservancies’ ongoing efforts, please visit https://www.kenyon.edu/philander-chase-conservancy/ and https://www.owlcreekconservancy.org/
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About Owl Creek Conservancy
The Owl Creek Conservancy is a private nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving natural and agricultural lands in the Knox County Area through widespread private action. We work with landowners for the public good to maintain and to improve the quality of life now and in the future by conserving farmlands, stream corridors, aquifer- and watershed protection areas, wildlife habitats, woodlands, scenic vistas, and ecologically sensitive areas of environmental, historical and community importance.
About Philander Chase Conservancy
Philander Chase Conservancy is an accredited land trust dedicated to conserving open space and vital natural habitats within a five-mile radius of Kenyon College. The conservancy collaborates with farmers, landowners, environmental organizations, and government agencies to maintain the rural character of the surrounding area. Kenyon College is the only college or university in the nation to establish its own land trust. In the mid-1980s, the area immediately surrounding the College faced threats from commercial and residential development. In response, the College acquired property across from its entrance and established a nature preserve along the Kokosing River, which became the Brown Family Environmental Center in 1995.The College formed the Philander Chase Conservancy in 2000 to better address the need to protect the farmland and rural landscape of the surrounding area.