MWCD Approves Bridle, Hiking Trail at
Pleasant Hill Reservoir

Development of a bridle and hiking trail in the Pleasant Hill Reservoir area of Ashland and Richland counties will lead to the connection of Pleasant Hill Lake Park to the trail system at Malabar Farm State Park, as well as a plan for the eventual connection with the Mohican State Forest trails.

Members of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District Board of Directors gave their approval to the plan today (July 21), which will proceed in phases under the guidance of the Ohio Horseman’s Council (OHC).

“I think this is a super idea to allow a relatively low-impact activity on public land and open access for another user group,” said David E. Brightbill, a member of the MWCD Board of Directors and a Pleasant Hill Reservoir area native.

Plans in the first phase call for the construction of a three-mile section of a bridle and hiking trail on MWCD land beginning at the eastern edge of Pleasant Hill Lake Park and north of the lake, traveling west through the Richland Cottage Area on Covert Rd. and eventually intersecting with the Malabar Farm State Park trail. A loop trail also is being considered around a portion of the trail, adding another 1.5 miles, according to Mark Jukich, MWCD manager of operations.

Other plans include construction of a horseman’s camping area inside Pleasant Hill Lake Park and adding an additional four miles of trail on MWCD land located south of the lake and linking it with the existing 24-mile Mohican Forest Trail.

The bulk of the cost of the program would be paid by OHC, Jukich said, including initial trail construction and maintenance over time. The first phase of the work could be completed in less than a year. Most of the costs for the MWCD will be related to in-kind and technical assistance, he said.

“We also have witnessed the strong cooperation of hikers and bridle trail users working together on trail improvements, maintenance and other related issues,” Jukich said. The MWCD has similar trails on land it owns at Bolivar, Tappan and Wills Creek reservoirs, including the location of the headquarters of the Buckeye Trail Association at Tappan Lake.

In another matter, the Board approved the appointment of two members to the MWCD’s Development Advisory Committee.

James A. Rowe of Strasburg was appointed to a full term ending in December 2008 and Richard J. Pryce of North Canton was appointed to an unexpired term ending in December 2007.

Rowe is a self-employed dairy farmer and received a bachelor’s degree in dairy science from Ohio State University. Pryce is the retired president and chief executive officer of Aultman Health Foundation at Canton, and has degrees from the University of Michigan.

The 18-member DAC serves in an advisory capacity to the MWCD’s Board of Directors and staff. Members volunteer their time and hold quarterly meetings throughout the year, with various subcommittee sessions held on an as-needed basis.

The DAC was created by the MWCD Board of Directors in 1992 to provide an organized public support system for responsive and effective economic development, conservation and recreation programs. Members provide information and guidance to the MWCD on numerous issues as assigned by the Board or identified by the DAC.

In other business, the Board:

• Authorized filing a grant project application with the Clean Ohio Conservation Program administered by the Ohio Public Works Commission for acquisition of a parcel of land of up to 10 acres at the eastern edge of Atwood Reservoir in Carroll County. It is estimated the MWCD would pay 25 percent of the total cost of $25,000 for the project, or $6,250.
• Approved additional services estimated at $188,600 to be provided by the engineering firm of Fuller, Mossbarger, Scott & May Engineers of Cincinnati for work related to the readjustment of appraisal of benefits for the MWCD.
• Heard reports from the MWCD staff about the drowning of a Harrison County man at Piedmont Lake in June, recent storms in the Charles Mill and Pleasant Hill reservoir areas and the plans by the ownership of Tappan Lake Marina to seek voter approval to serve alcohol in its restaurant and for carry out purchases.
• Held an executive session to discuss pending litigation, collective bargaining and the potential sale or acquisition of property.
  

PRESS RELEASE
July 21, 2006

CONTACT:
Darrin Lautenschleger
Public Information Officer
Toll-Free:(877) 363-8500

E-mail: darrin@mwcdlakes.com