In 1995 the Siebenthaler Company sold this property to The Nature Conservancy, who then turned it over to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife. BCWA volunteers built the recycled plastic and fiberglass board-walk, the tower and kiosk, and the Division of Wildlife completed the wooden boardwalk. Bob Siebenthaler donated funds for Nan’s Tower in memory of his sister. Siebenthaler Fen is the crown jewel of the wetland corridor and enjoys year-round use by school groups, birdwatchers and wildflower enthusiasts. A boardwalk takes you past wet woods, the fen, Beaver Creek, the information kiosk and observation tower. The trail is accessible by wheelchair with broad areas to turn around. Siebenthaler Fen is a hunting area September through January. Visitors should wear bright colors during hunting season.

Trail length: About 1 mile

Trail difficulty: Flat boardwalk wheelchair friendly with turnouts. Stairs to overlook.

What to see: Plant diversity is high along the boardwalk, and flowering peaks from July through September. Look for Marsh Marigolds and Skunk Cabbage in late winter/early spring, dogwoods and iris in May, Queen of the Prairie in July, Asters in August, Bottle Gentians in September. Fen-sedge meadows dominate the loop portion and wet woods line the boardwalk leading to the loop. Butterflies abound all spring and summer. Birds include Yellow Warbler, Common Yellow Throat, Willow Flycatcher, Sora Rail, Eastern Towhee, House and Carolina Wren, Cedar Waxwing, Red-

wing Blackbird, Yellow Shafted Flicker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-breasted Chat, Song and Swamp Sparrows, and many more.

Amenities: 130 acres with park-ing, boardwalk with disabled access, observation deck, infor-mation kiosk, benches, hunting and trapping in season, no restrooms

Wetland facts: Fens are peat-lands fed by mineral-rich springs oozing up from groundwater. Water does not usually cover the surface but runs quickly to Beaver Creek. The pH is a little over 7 (7 is neutral). The peat, derived from sedges, is about 8 feet deep. Since 1988 biologists have identified over 470 wetland species here. Such biodiversity provides a genetic bank poten-tially useful in crop improve-ment and medicine development.

Website: www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife

Ownership: Partners:

GoldfinchBottle Gentian Observation Deck

Siebenthaler Fen

Oakes Quarry ParkCemex ReserveFairborn CommunityParkFairborn MarshKoogler Wetland/Prairie ReserveBeaver CreekWildlife AreaSiebenthaler FenBeaver CreekWetland NaturePreservePhillips ParkRotary ParkCreekside Reserve

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

Dayton-Xenia Rd

N. F

airf

ield

Rd

Dayton

Xenia

Beavercreek

Fact

ory

Rd

GarlandRd

235

675S.

Map

le A

ve

Dayton YellowSprings Rd

New GermanyTrebein Rd

Treb

ein

Rd

Fairground Rd

Little Miami River

Little Beaver

Fairborn

Bea

ver C

reek

1

2

3

4

5 6

7

8

Bea

ver V

alle

y Rd

North

Bike Paths

35

11

9

Creek10

Enjoy nature year-round in all these Beaver Creek Wetland locations

Oakes Quarry Park This former limestone quarry features 440 million year old fossil beds. 2 mile perimeter trail plus horseback trail. Parking and portable restrooms.

Cemex Reserve Restored 165 wetland acres with marsh, wet forest, wet prairie and a small fen. The 1.2 mile trail may be muddy after rain. Parking.

Fairborn Community Park An extensive recreation complex with sports fields and courts, picnic areas, and pool. Natural areas include restored prairies, forest, other wetlands. 2 mile paved trails, more unpaved. Parking and restrooms.

Fairborn Marsh The largest marsh in the wetland corridor at-tracts ducks and shore birds. 52 acres with woods, prairie, and fen. 1 mile loop trail and observation deck. Parking.

Koogler Wetland/Prairie Reserve 47 acres of upland prairie, wet prai-rie and swamp. 1.5+ miles of trails and boardwalk. Parking.

Beaver Creek Wildlife Area Simple grassy trails lead 0.75 miles through wet and upland prairies, fen, marsh and swamp. Hunting allowed in season. Parking.

Siebenthaler Fen The crown jewel of the wetlands. A wheelchair-accessible boardwalk leads 1 mile past wet woods, fen and meadow to a kiosk and observation deck. Parking.

Beaver Creek Wetland Nature Preserve Phillips Park Rotary Park1.25 mile loop trail plus shorter spurs through floodplain wetlands. Sites include sports fields, picnic ar-eas, fishing pond, observation deck, portable restrooms, parking.

Creekside Reserve Features a small fen, man-made wetlands, upland prairie and forest along the restored stream. 3.5 miles of trails parallel bike path. Parking and restrooms at both ends.

Why Wetlands Matter

Wetlands purify water, prevent flooding and pro-vide greenspace for wildlife and recreation. Yet Ohio has lost over 90% of its wetlands.

What began as a handful of volunteers around a kitchen table has grown into a 12-mile cor-ridor of 1800+ protected acres along the Beaver Creek and Little Beaver Creek. Since 1988 we’ve worked to:

• Ensure natural flood control.

• Protect soils, plants and microbes that filter water and remove or destroy many pollutants. � � � � � � � � � �

• Protect a primary source of drinking water.

• Restore habitat for diverse plants and animal species, including many that are endangered.

• Provide unique nature areas offering recreation and fitness opportunities.

• Reserve green space that improves property values.

• Provide opportunities for education and research.

Learn More OnlineFor maps, brochures, upcoming events, ways to volun-teer and more information visit us online. www.beavercreekwetlands.org

Join Us As MembersProtect your environment, meet interesting peo-ple and learn more about the world around you. Receive our newsletter, e-mail alerts and attend special events. BCWA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) land trust. Donations are tax-deductible.

Photo credits: Richard Swigart, Jim Amon, Deborrah Adams, Pete Bales, Jen Gruner, Kate Hagenbuch, Mark Martel ©2012 BCWA

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11