By SHELLEY TERRY - Staff Writer - sterry@starbeacon.com
ASHTABULA — Jim Trisket has known for years that one of the city’s best assets, potential tourist attractions and educational resources is just a short drive north of City Hall. As chairman of City Council’s Community Development Committee, he hopes to share information on that resource, Walnut Beach, with residents of all ages.
The committee will host a public meeting from 6 to 7:30 p.m. March 23 at City Hall, where two experts will discuss the endangered plants, as well as natural and protected areas at Walnut Beach.
Jim Bissell, Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s curator of botany, and Richard Gardner, heritage botanist for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Natural Areas and Preserves, will lead discussions on such topics as: Walnut Beach’s populations of beach grass, beach pea and Oakes primrose on the dunes. All are Ohio-threatened species.
“There are many, many rare plants east of the beach area at Walnut Beach,” Bissell said. “In addition, the dunes themselves are quite rare, some of the best specimens of Lake Erie dunes in Ohio.”
Bissell places them above those at Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve.
The Walnut Beach dunes were formed by the breakwater, which was built more than 100 years ago. Bissell said dunes existed on this stretch of the lake prior to construction of the breakwater, which traps the sand, but the wall has helped create dunes that are taller than the naturally occurring ones.
The dunes are not protected by law.
Bissell said educating the public, as well as the city’s leaders, about the uniqueness and fragility of the habitat would lead to its greater appreciation and protection. That’s why he agreed to come back to Ashtabula on March 23.
“If we get the community involved, people will come from all over Ohio to see Walnut Beach,” he said. “Tourists will come here just to see the shore birds.”
Trisket, whose sons are active in scouting, hopes to get the scouting community interested in attending the March 23 meeting.
He also believes the public would enjoy and participate in a field trip — led by Bissell — at Walnut Beach, come spring. He has suggested setting a date in April.
The public meeting to discuss endangered plants and natural and protected areas at Walnut Beach will take place from 6-7:30 p.m. March 23 in Council Chambers, 4717 Main Ave., Ashtabula. For more information, call Trisket at (440) 992-1302, or Council Clerk LaVette Hennigan at (440) 992-7119.
