Climate Change Connections: Ohio (Buckeye Trail)
Climate change is impacting all regions and sectors of the United States. The State and Regional Climate Change Connections resource highlights climate change connections to culturally, ecologically, or economically important features of each state and territory. The content on this page provides an illustrative example. As climate change will affect each state and territory in diverse ways, this resource only describes a small portion of these risks. For more comprehensive information about regional climate impacts, please visit the Fifth National Climate Assessment and Climate Change Impacts by Sector.
On this page:
Introduction: The Buckeye Trail Encircles Ohio and Showcases Diverse Landscapes
The Buckeye Trail loops more than 1,400 miles around Ohio, crossing through towns, cities, wooded areas, and numerous parks.1 Marked by blue trail makers, the trail begins at Headlands Beach State Park on the shores of Lake Erie and winds through the state to reach the Ohio River in Cincinnati. Many people enjoy a small portion of the Buckeye Trail using co-located trails while visiting Ohio’s many parks, including Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and other scenic spots situated along the loop. Some intrepid hikers attempt the whole length, often over many years. Maintenance of the Buckeye Trail is made possible by collaboration between nonprofits; local, state, and federal agencies; private landowners; and scores of volunteers.1 From the shores of the Great Lakes to forests, agricultural fields, and rivers, the Buckeye Trail showcases a cross-section of the many diverse landscapes that Ohio has to offer.
Climate Impacts: Warming Temperatures Impact Forest Composition and Recreation Opportunities
Concentrations of heat-trapping greenhouse gases are increasing in the Earth’s atmosphere, and in response, average temperatures at the Earth’s surface are increasing and are expected to continue rising. Ohio has experienced roughly 1.5°F degrees of warming since the early 1900s and is expected to see continued warming in the coming century.2 For forests, warming temperatures can impact the range of some tree species and promote insect or disease expansion that can negatively impact forest health.3 In Cuyahoga Valley National Park in northeast Ohio, it’s predicted that many tree species will see a change in suitable habitat due to climate change, including red maple, eastern hemlock, and black cherry, which are all expected to experience significant decreases in range.4 Predicted increases in wildfires and droughts in the Midwest are expected to negatively impact forests.5
For the tree from which the Buckeye Trail derives its name, there is some uncertainty about how the buckeye tree will adapt to changing conditions. Ohio is known as “The Buckeye State” after the buckeye tree, which has a seed, or nut, that resembles the color and shape of a deer’s eye. The buckeye is native to the Midwest and the Great Plains, but can primarily be found in the area from central Iowa to western Pennsylvania, with a large population in western Ohio.6,7 Buckeyes currently occupy a limited range in the region, which can make them vulnerable to changes. Some climate modeling for the buckeye projects potential slight decreases in overall habitat with fairly stable distribution in Ohio in the coming decades.8 Forest ecosystems are complex, and some individual tree species may be significantly impacted by climate change while others may be more resilient. Changing precipitation and temperature patterns are expected to impact forest composition across the Midwest.9
For people seeking to enjoy the outdoors, warming temperatures can have varied effects. In spring and fall, warming temperatures may make hiking and outdoor recreation more attractive during periods that were previously too cold. Mild winter temperatures can also promote increased disease vectors. With predicted warming, the incidence of mosquito-borne illness in the Ohio Valley is expected to increase.5 Warming winters also help extend tick season and could increase people’s exposure to pathogens like those responsible for Lyme disease.10
Heavy Precipitation and Drought Are Both Impacting the Midwest
Climate change can affect the intensity and frequency of precipitation. As average temperatures at the Earth’s surface rise, more evaporation and transpiration occur, adding more moisture to the air and increasing overall precipitation. In recent decades, more rainfall has been occurring as intense single-day rainfall events.11 Heavy precipitation refers to instances during which the amount of rain or snow experienced in a location substantially exceeds what is normal. The Midwest has experienced a nearly 45 percent increase in the number of extreme precipitation days since the mid-20th century.11 Since the mid-1990s, there has been a major increase in the number of extreme precipitation events (defined as two or more inches) in Ohio.2
The heavy concentration of rainfall over a short period of time can lead to impacts like crop damage, soil erosion, and an increase in flood risk. Heavy rainfall events can erode banks and flood rivers, which can be dangerous for surrounding communities. In recent years, river flooding has generally become larger across large parts of the Northeast and Midwest. Changing precipitation patterns can contribute to erosion and flooding that could disrupt access to outdoor recreation opportunities like hiking trails. Within Cuyahoga Valley National Park, eroded riverbanks have already required major restoration.12
In addition to increases in the number of extreme precipitation events, Ohio is also expected to experience increased drought activity due to warming temperatures and accelerating evapotranspiration.2 As summer droughts are likely to increase in the Midwest, soil moisture will decrease.5 During a drought, low soil moisture can stress agriculture and forests.
Taking Action: Preparing for Changing Conditions
Addressing climate change requires reducing greenhouse gas emissions while preparing for and protecting against current and future climate impacts. Communities, public officials, and individuals in every part of the United States can continue to explore and implement climate adaptation and mitigation measures. In Ohio, many are taking steps to make the state’s outdoor assets more resilient to climate change, including:
- Planning and education. Many state parks and National Park sites are already taking steps to reduce climate impacts, educate visitors about changing conditions, and identify adaptation strategies. Park systems can play an important role in modeling mitigation by demonstrating sustainability practices like water conservation and energy efficiency. With changing conditions, many parks are investing in adaptation plans and identifying priority areas. As a member of the Climate Friendly Parks Program, Cuyahoga Valley National Park works to educate visitors about climate change and how individuals can take steps to address climate change.13
- Forest management. Forest and natural resource managers can continue to monitor different species and implement protective management strategies to promote forest health, which is important in a changing climate. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Climate Change Tree Atlas can help users understand potential impacts on different species. The Ohio Division of Forestry has many initiatives, including the Forest Health Program, which monitors invasive species, practices active pest management, and conducts outreach and education on pest issues.14
To learn more about climate change impacts in Ohio and the Midwest region, see Chapter 24 of the Fifth National Climate Assessment.
Related Resources
- EPA Climate Change Indicators: River Flooding
- EPA Climate Change Indicators: Heavy Precipitation
- Fifth National Climate Assessment: Chapter 7: Forests
- Ohio State Climate Summary 2022 (NOAA)
- State Climate Office of Ohio (Ohio State University)
References
1 Ohio Department of Natural Resources. (n.d.). The buckeye trail. Retrieved June 12, 2024, from https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/outdoor/buckeye-trail
2 Frankson, R., Kunkel, K. E., Champion, S. M., & Easterling, D. R. (2022). Ohio state climate summary 2022 (NOAA Technical Report NESDIS 150-OH). NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service. https://statesummaries.ncics.org/chapter/oh/
3 Domke, G. M., Fettig, C. J., Marsh, A. S., Baumflek, M., Gould, W. A., Halofsky, J. E., Joyce, L. A., LeDuc, S. D., Levinson, D. H., Littell, J. S., Miniat, C. F., Mockrin, M. H., Peterson, D. L., Prestemon, J., Sleeter, B. M., & Swanston, C. (2023). Ch. 7. Forests. In A. R. Crimmins, C. W. Avery, D. R. Easterling, K. E. Kunkel, B. C. Stewart, & T. K. Maycock (Eds.), Fifth National Climate Assessment. U.S. Global Change Research Program. https://doi.org/10.7930/NCA5.2023.CH7
4 National Park Service. (2015). Climate, trees, pests, and weeds: Change, uncertainty, and biotic stressors at Cuyahoga Valley National Park [Forest vulnerability project brief]. https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/DownloadFile/517139
5 Wilson, A. B., Baker, J. M., Ainsworth, E. A., Andresen, J., Austin, J. A., Dukes, J. S., Gibbons, E., Hoppe, B. O., LeDee, O. E., Noel, J., Roop, H. A., Smith, S. A., Todey, D. P., Wolf, R., & Wood, J. D. (2023). Ch. 24. Midwest. In A. R. Crimmins, C. W. Avery, D. R. Easterling, K. E. Kunkel, B. C. Stewart, & T. K. Maycock (Eds.), Fifth National Climate Assessment. U.S. Global Change Research Program. https://doi.org/10.7930/NCA5.2023.CH24
6 Williams, R. D. (1990). Ohio buckeye. In Silvics of North America: Vol. 2: Hardwoods. U.S. Forest Service. https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/misc/ag_654/volume_2/aesculus/glabra.htm
7 Ohio Department of Natural Resources. (n.d.). Ohio buckeye. Retrieved June 2, 2023, from https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/plants-trees/broad-leaf-trees/ohio-buckeye-aesculus-glabra
8 U.S. Forest Service. (n.d.). Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra). Climate Change Atlas. https://www.fs.usda.gov/nrs/atlas/tree/331
9 U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit. (2019). Midwest: Forestry. https://toolkit.climate.gov/regions/midwest/forestry
10 Hayden, M. H., Schramm, P. J., Beard, C. B., Bell, J. E., Bernstein, A. S., Bieniek-Tobasco, A., Cooley, N., Diuk-Wasser, M., Dorsey, M. K., Ebi, K. L., Ernst, K. C., Gorris, M. E., Howe, P. D., Khan, A. S., Lefthand-Begay, C., Maldonado, J., Saha, S., Shafiei, F., Vaidyanathan, A., & Wilhelmi, O. V. (2023). Ch. 15. Human health. In A. R. Crimmins, C. W. Avery, D. R. Easterling, K. E. Kunkel, B. C. Stewart, & T. K. Maycock (Eds.), Fifth National Climate Assessment. U.S. Global Change Research Program. https://doi.org/10.7930/NCA5.2023.CH15
11 Marvel, K., Su, W., Delgado, R., Aarons, S., Chatterjee, A., Garcia, M. E., Hausfather, Z., Hayhoe, K., Hence, D. A., Jewett, E. B., Robel, A., Singh, D., Tripati, A., & Vose, R. S. (2023). Ch. 2. Climate trends. In A. R. Crimmins, C. W. Avery, D. R. Easterling, K. E. Kunkel, B. C. Stewart, & T. K. Maycock (Eds.), Fifth National Climate Assessment. U.S. Global Change Research Program. https://doi.org/10.7930/NCA5.2023.CH2
12 National Park Service. (n.d.). Climate impacts in Cuyahoga Valley. Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Retrieved June 12, 2024, from https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/climate-impacts-in-cuyahoga-valley.htm
13 Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry. (2020). Ohio’s statewide forest action plan: Forest resource strategy. https://ohiodnr.gov/static/documents/forestry/plans/OhioForestActionPlan-Forest-Resource-Strategy-2020.pdf
14 Ohio Department of Natural Resources. (n.d.). Forest health. https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/safety-conservation/about-ODNR/forestry/forest-health