Tom S. Cooperrider-Kent Bog State Nature Preserve

The Tom S. Cooperrider - Kent Bog State Nature Preserve is state nature preserve located in Kent, Ohio and neighboring Brimfield Township. The preserve surrounds the Kent Bog, a remnant of the Wisconsin Glaciation. It is a true bog with acidic waters and unique environmental conditions have enabled it to survive. The bog contains the largest stand of tamarack trees in the state of Ohio.LocationThe Kent Bog is located on the border of Kent and Brimfield Township at 1028 Meloy Road. There is parking at the beginning of the half mile boardwalk. The boardwalk trail loops around the bog, ending back at the parking lot. Along the trail there are educational signs explaining the local flora and fauna as well as the geological founding of the bog. The preserve was dedicated in 1987 and is named after Tom S. Cooperrider, a botanist, author, and emeritus professor of biological sciences at Kent State University who has made numerous contributions to the study of the bog and the state's flora. His 2010 book, Botanical Essays from Kent, discusses natural history of the area and focuses mainly on the Kent Bog.Geology and geographyThe bog was formed during the retreat of the Wisconsin Glacier. A chunk of glacial ice broke off and was buried in sediment and glacial till from the glacial outwash. A ridge of sediment formed around the chunk of ice. This caused the formation of a deep kettle hole lake. The total original size of the kettle-hole lake was about.