about the meeting
The meeting was organized by John Navarro, Aquatic Stewardship Program Administrator, in the Ohio Department of Natural Resources of the Division of Wildlife. It brought together a variety of individuals who participate in activities related to the Department's goals. These individuals can be with conservation organizations, government offices, educational institutions and others interested in conservation.
The meeting was held at the Brown Family Environmental Center, part of Kenyon College, in Gambier, Ohio. The Center is a 500-acre preserve located in the Kokosing River Valley of central Ohio. You can view the facility and trail map here. Emphasis during the meeting was on the Kokosing River (The River of Little Owls) and efforts in support of the endangered (in Ohio) Hellbender salamander through releases, habitat restoration and watershed protection.
The meeting was held at the Brown Family Environmental Center, part of Kenyon College, in Gambier, Ohio. The Center is a 500-acre preserve located in the Kokosing River Valley of central Ohio. You can view the facility and trail map here. Emphasis during the meeting was on the Kokosing River (The River of Little Owls) and efforts in support of the endangered (in Ohio) Hellbender salamander through releases, habitat restoration and watershed protection.
schedule of events
- 09:30 – 10:00 (30 minutes) – Coffee, Donuts and Conversation
- 10:00 – 10:05 (05 Minutes) – John Navarro – Introduction
- 10:05 – 10:10 (05 Minutes) – Noelle Jordan - Brown Family Environmental Center
- 10:10 – 10:20 (10 minutes) – Kendra Wecker (Division of Wildlife) – Welcome and RAWA* update
- 10:20 – 10:35 (15 Minutes) – Lori Totman (Knox County Parks) – Kokosing River, Hidden Gem
- 10:35 – 10:50 (15 Minutes) – Heather Doherty (Scenic Rivers) – Kokosing River, Well Deserved Designation
- 10:50 – 11:05 (15 Minutes) – Brian Ball (City of Mt Vernon) – City Embraces the Kokosing River
- 11:05 – 11:20 (15 Minutes) – Brian Zimmerman (The Ohio State University) – Rare Fish Program
- 11:20 – 11:35 (15 Minutes) – Greg Lipps (The Ohio State University) – Eastern Hellbender Program
- 11:35 – 12:00 (25 Minutes) – Tim Daniel (Division of Wildlife) - Diversity Stamp Judging
- 12:00 – 12:50 (50 Minutes) – Box Lunch and Socializing – Food Catered by Kenyon College
- 12:50 – 13:00 (10 Minutes) – Tim Daniel (Division of Wildlife) – Announcement of the Diversity Stamp Winner
- 13:00 – 17:00 (4 Hours) – Field Trips to the Kokosing River in search of Hellbenders and Rare Fish
* RAWA - Recover America's Wildlife Act
Photos
The first six photos were taken by Wolfgang Pelz; Ramsey Langford took the group aerial shot and Mary Warren took the other pictures.