Over 3 billion tons of coal has been mined in Ohio from both underground and above ground mines. Strip mining is used when the coal seams are close to the surface. Enormous harm to the natural environment is caused when forests are cut, top soil is removed, and the terrain is altered leaving a wasteland and polluted streams. The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 requires mining companies to reclaim the land which is how the ReCreation Land in Ohio was created.
Jesse Owens State Park is all strip mined land that been reclaimed. It's open for hunting, fishing, camping, boating, hiking, biking and horseback riding. The four campgrounds are free and self serve. They have few amenities other than picnic tables, fire rings, vault toilets, and dumpsters. Maple Grove has about ten sites. The first five are fairly close to the road. We camped in one of the three sites that are located in the turn around loop. We were glad that nobody took the site next to us because it was super close. Very quiet.
None of the sites are designated as accessible but most are usable.
Campground 39.70698, -81.724
Sometimes I wonder how "safe" these reclaimed areas are, as in what seeps up into the air and what seeps into the ground. But they certainly are attractive and nice to have.
ReplyDeleteYeah, if it's covered up, it's easy to ignore. We often wonder about the water quality in mining communities especially around gold, uranium, and other hazardous mines.
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