WEST PORTSMOUTH, OH - Rarden Township in Scioto County now has additional office and storage areas, after leasing the former headquarters of Brush Creek State Forest from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry. ODNR closed the Brush Creek office complex in July 2002 after consolidating operations with those at Shawnee State Forest, also in Scioto County.
"This is a win - win situation for the State of Ohio and Rarden
Township," said Ben Hamilton, district manager for Shawnee and Brush
Creek state forests. "Rarden Township needed more room for services
and will provide good stewardship for the facility."
Rarden Township will house their maintenance equipment at the facility
and use the office space as well. The Division of Forestry will
continue to store some equipment there, but Rarden Township will
maintain the buildings and surrounding grounds. Operations in the
state forest will continue to be handled by ODNR.
"This agreement means a great deal to us, especially in our efforts to
make this community a better place," said Paul Alexander, Rarden
Township trustee.
The ODNR Division of Forestry manages 20 state forests on more than
185,000 acres, spanning parts of 21 counties. Using Best Management
Practices (BMPs), state foresters demonstrate proper timber management
within these forests and assist private landowners with sustainable
forest management on their woodlands. Benefits of these
properly-managed forests include timber, improved forest health,
biodiversity, wildlife habitat, aesthetics and recreational
opportunities.