The patchwork quilt that is the Maumee State Forest received a couple of large, new panels recently, adding some prized areas of the Oak Openings region that are rich in ecological potential. The two parcels will expand the forest property by a little more than 110 acres — the largest addition in more than half a century.

A substantial amount of the newly acquired forest property had been in agricultural use, but the process of reverting back to its natural state is under way.

“We’ve already seen some native plants returning to the former farm fields,” said Don Schmenk, who has managed the forest for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry for more than two decades. “There’s potential for a healthy mix of native prairie and wetlands on the property, along with some nice oak forest in the upland areas.”

In the big picture, the additional acreage helps continue the arduous task of piecing together large swathes of the greater Oak Openings region, a globally rare ecosystem that stretches from near Napoleon into southeastern Michigan. The area contains large stretches of sandy soil ridges, along with oak savanna, wetlands, and grassland prairie.

Schmenk said that each time another tract receives the protection of being added to the state forest, or to the list of other park and preserve lands in the Oak Openings region, everyone wins. This latest addition to the Maumee State Forest came about because of a collaborative effort between the ODNR and the Nature Conservancy.

“This is a great addition, since the Maumee State Forest is broken up in parcels, and this is great way to connect some of the parcels,” he said. “Any addition to the forest will certainly add precious habitat for the complex variety of plants and animals that make the Oak Openings home. Each time we add new land, it is a step in the right direction.”

Maumee State Forest covers more than 3,000 acres in Lucas, Fulton, and Henry counties, west of Whitehouse. It is one of 21 state forests in Ohio, but the only one in the primarily agricultural northwest corner of the state.

Schmenk said one of the two new parcels in the Maumee State Forest comprises about 40 acres of land that had been farmed for many years, and includes a small section of woods. He said this tract has a mixture of high ground, low ground, and sand dunes. The second and larger parcel of about 70 acres is a mosaic of woodlands rich with oak trees, as well as some farmland that has high and low ground.

“There is great potential for restoration on both pieces of property,” Schmenk said, noting that changes are already taking place. “The first step is to see what is there naturally, and on the larger parcel, we’ve already noticed quite a bit of natural regrowth of native plants.”

Schmenk said the ODNR and the Nature Conservancy are working on a plan for developing and restoring the area. He said unwanted and nonnative plants will be removed, and some seeding and planting will likely take place, including planting more oak trees.

The Nature Conservancy purchased the property in 2015 and transferred the land to the ODNR earlier this year through its “trade lands” program, which encourages donations of nonconservation real estate that the Conservancy can then sell and use the proceeds to support its conservation efforts.

“This is an extremely important addition to the state forest, from the standpoint that the Oak Openings is one of the rarest natural communities on the planet,” said Steve Woods, Oak Openings program manager for the Nature Conservancy. “Wildlife will begin to benefit immediately, but over time with responsible management, these properties will slowly but surely return to their natural state.”

Woods said the two new sections of state forest land were identified using an ecological model that highlights places with the greatest potential for restoration. The lands, when restored, should benefit a great number of the unique species that inhabit the Oak Openings, since the new tracts offer wet prairie and savanna, Woods said. He encouraged everyone to visit the Oakopenings.org website for much more information on this unique landscape.

The Maumee State Forest was established in the 1940s and is managed for recreational use, educational purposes, wildlife habitat, and timber. It contains 65 miles of unmarked former logging trails for hikers, as well as bridle trails and a two-mile stewardship trail that provides information on forest management. The 63-mile Wabash Cannonball Trail passes along the southern edge of the new forest property.

Schmenk said he expects the new parcels of forest land to be available for public use very soon, with the installation of established trails coming at some later point.

FISHING REPORT: The warm weather has brought the anglers out along the Maumee River, but the fish have not yet arrived in the same volume. Mike Wilkerson, fish management supervisor for the Ohio Division of Wildlife in the northwest district, said there “are not significant numbers of walleyes in the river yet” but he expects the fish count to climb as rains push a surge of warmer water down the waterway and into the lake. A few jacks have been caught in the current, but the experts at Netcraft report that more fish are coming in each day, and they expect that upward trend to accelerate into the weekend. On the Sandusky River, Bernie Whitt at Anglers Supply reports that a few spawning females started to show up in the river on Thursday after about a week of sporadic catches of jacks. He said the river level is ideal for wading, but that could change quickly with additional rain in the forecast. Out on Lake Erie, Netcraft reports that anglers are catching walleyes on the reefs jigging purple and chartreuse hair jigs and trolling with crankbaits.

WILD GAME DINNER: The South Side Sportsmen’s Club holds its 10th annual wild game dinner at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the Glass City Boardwalk, 27820 East Broadway, in Moline. There will be live entertainment with Johnny Rodriguez, and an all-you-can-eat meal of pheasant, buffalo, elk, venison, rabbit, and turtle soup, with a cash bar. There will also be door prizes, gun raffles, and 50/​50 raffles. For tickets and information call Bob Summerskill at 419-836-2046.

Contact Blade outdoors editor Matt Markey at: mmarkey@theblade.com or 419-724-6068.

First Published March 11, 2016, 5:10 a.m.