Written with the help of AI from a news release from Five Rivers MetroParks.
Five Rivers MetroParks has completed a year-long bioassessment of Germantown MetroPark and the Upper Twin Conservation Area, both part of the Twin Valley, according to the agency. It worked with ecologist Kevin Tungesvick of Eco Logic LLC to gather information about the plant species in the area.
Tungesvick walked 127 off-trail miles across all four seasons and recorded data at more than 4,600 GPS points, MetroParks said. He described plant communities and habitat qualities, identified rare or sensitive plant species and noted invasive plant infestations, then used the data to make maps of those features.
The survey documented 624 plant species in Germantown MetroPark and 416 in the Upper Twin Conservation Area, the agency said. Of the species recorded, 25 are considered locally rare by the state of Ohio. MetroParks listed puttyroot orchid, leatherwood and black ash among the locally rare species in the Twin Valley.
MetroParks said it is focusing on data about high quality natural assets and invasive species, and on where the two overlap. Areas with high quality natural assets and large numbers of invasive plants are a high priority for protection, the agency said. "A better understanding of the land allows us to better steward it," said Grace Dietsch, MetroParks director of conservation.
The agency said the data also helps it care for animal habitat. Bobcats and the federally endangered Indiana bat have been sighted in the area, and maps from the survey show where habitat could be improved, including through wildlife corridors that connect neighboring habitats.
MetroParks said funding from a levy passed in 2024 allows its conservation team to create long-term plans and prioritize work based on the information. The agency also encouraged residents to submit photos of plants and animals through the iNaturalist mobile app.
Read the full release from Five Rivers MetroParks.
