Logan County Conservation Districts

The Soil Is A Heritage We Guard

Baker Natural Area

History of the Baker Natural Area

 

The Baker Natural Area is achieving some firsts in Logan County and the state of Kentucky. The area is the first property purchased by the Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund (KHLCFB) in Logan County and the first property in Kentucky where the ownership resides with a local Conservation District. The North and South Logan County Conservation Districts manage and preserve this unique property located in western Kentucky.

 

The land consists of 66 acres within the city limits of Russellville, Kentucky. The site has not been intensively farmed for more than 20 years and much of the native flora and fauna has returned to the landscape. A biological review has identified a total of 377 plant species on the property. Five of these plants are listed by the Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission (2004) as of special    concern in Kentucky. These species include Purple prairie clover, Carolina  larkspur, Hairy fimbry, Inland muhly, and Tansy rosinweed.

 

The Logan County Conservation Districts are extremely excited about the potential this property has for preservation and education. The landscape is quite diverse and contains open prairie, natural regeneration area, limestone barrens, forestland, and a small wetland area. The biodiversity located on the property provides a great opportunity to educate students about the important natural functions of different land formations. The conservation districts currently hosts annual environmental field days for students in Logan County.  This site will allow them to expand these field days to more schools and for the first time  offer an outdoor learning environment for adults as well. The property will also serve as a valuable public green space in a developing urban setting.

 

The Baker Natural Area holds a bright future for citizens in this rural Kentucky region. Caution is being taken to preserve the unique plant communities while allowing people of all ages to experience the beauty of nature.  The Logan Conservation Districts held their Grand Opening on April 22, 2006.

 

The Kentucky Mesonet is a network of automated weather and climate monitoring stations being developed by the Kentucky Climate Center at Western Kentucky University to serve diverse needs in communities across the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  The Weather Station information can be found by going to kymesonet.org  Then click on sites, than proceed to the county you choose for the latest weather information.

 

For more information about the Baker Natural Area contact the Logan County Conservation Districts at 270-726-1371.