ONAPA and the Ohio Division of Wildlife will host a stewardship workday at Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area on Tuesday, Nov. 11, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., seeking volunteers to help control woody species encroaching on the Holmesville sedge meadow. Parking will be at the Holmesville Conservation Club, 221 Franklin St./CR 320; volunteers will be asked to cut and haul brush while trained staff apply herbicide to cut stems.

The effort targets dogwood, alder and willow that have moved into the sedge meadow, a type of wetland community that can be sensitive to shading and structural change. Left unchecked, woody encroachment can alter local hydrology, reduce habitat for meadow-dependent plants and wildlife, and shift vegetation composition away from traditional wetland species. The stewardship day aims to reverse or slow those processes through coordinated mechanical removal and targeted stem treatment.

Organizers say hand tools will be provided; volunteers are asked to bring lunch, water, gloves and muck or rubber boots suitable for wet, muddy conditions. Trained Division of Wildlife staff will handle herbicide treatments on cut stems, ensuring that chemical control is applied by qualified personnel. Advance registration is requested via ONAPA to assist in planning staffing and supplies.

The event underscores a cooperative model of public land management in which state agencies and local nonprofit groups mobilize community volunteers to maintain and restore conservation areas. For Holmes County residents, the workday represents both a direct opportunity to help protect a nearby natural area and a practical response to management challenges many public lands face: limited staffing and the need for periodic, labor-intensive interventions.

Local participation also offers a civic engagement opportunity. Volunteers contribute labor that would otherwise require additional funding, while gaining firsthand knowledge of habitat conditions and management practices on public lands. The location at Killbuck Marsh places the project within a landscape of regional conservation importance, where small-scale habitat work can have outsized benefits for native plants, migratory birds and other wetland-dependent species.

Residents interested in taking part should register in advance through ONAPA to enable organizers to plan for tools, staff and safety measures. The stewardship day is timed to take advantage of cooler weather and reduced nesting activity, allowing teams to work with minimal disturbance to wildlife. For Holmes County, the event is a practical step toward preserving the character and ecological function of the Holmesville sedge meadow while engaging the community in on-the-ground conservation.