The pile of applications measures several inches thick, and they are peppered with what is to be preserved — rare species of orchids and leatherwood; running buffalo clover and Indiana bats; freshwater bivalves, and a variety of birds, such as bobolink and bitterns.

        There are 12 applications from three counties, a city, two townships, a village and a non-profit agency that are requesting close to $4.4 million in Clean Ohio Fund grants, seeking to protect more than 585 acres of open space and stream corridors in four Southwest Ohio counties.

        The Natural Resources Assistance Council (NRAC) that covers those four counties — Clermont, Butler, Warren and Clinton — hope to make a decision by late July on who gets what, said Jim Lukas, NRAC chairman.

        That NRAC committee has only about $2.2 million to award in the first round of the Clean Ohio Fund.

        Warren County Park District has filed three applications looking for more than $1.5 million in grants. Clinton County Park District also has three grant requests totaling $137,500. The largest single grant request is from Valley View Foundation, a non-profit group based in Milford, which is asking for $1.4 million to purchase 60 acres along the East Fork of the Little Miami River in Milford.

        Also seeking grants are the city of Monroe in Butler County ($67,500); Deerfield Township in Butler County (almost $198,000); Miami Township in Clermont County ($80,000); the village of Waynesville (almost $82,000); and Butler County ($884,000).

        For the most part, those jurisdictions are looking to protect land, especially stream corridors, from development.

        “We're living in an era of rapid development, especially residential development,” said William Schroeder, president of the Warren County Park Commission. “There are many people who are affluent enough to seek out these wonderful places and privatize them. Property owners sometimes don't protect these things.”

        Andy Dickerson, a spokesman for Valley View Foundation, said the 60 acres off South Milford Road it seeks to preserve go “either to a developer or to us. I know we've requested a big chunk, but this could be lost forever.”

        He said the wedge of bottomland is significant for cultural, historical and ecological reasons. The land was summer hunting grounds for the Shawnee and had been farmed by three Milford families who still live in the city. Valley View hopes to do restorative work on the land that includes planting a 200-foot buffer along the riparian zone of the East Fork and planting a native tall grass prairie.

        “It blends the whole community together and that's the strength in this project,” said Mr. Dickerson.

        Butler County requested $884,4000 to attain 80 acres in West Chester Township, part of it a corridor spanning the Mill Creek.

        “It's a very versatile project,” said Greg Wilkens, Butler County engineer. “It will provide an education purpose and it will develop potential wetlands and flood protection.”

        Miami Township in Clermont County is seeking $80,000 to buy 1.6 acres along the Little Miami River, connecting a new park under construction — Miami Riverview Park — with the river.

        “It would essentially give us river access from our park,” said Dave Duckworth, township administrator. “You've got the park, you've got a bike trail, you've got the river access. What more could you ask for?”

        Clean Ohio Fund is part of the Clean Ohio Program, which Ohio voters approved in November 2000. It provides $400 million over four years for green space and conservation projects as well as brownfield revitalization projects. Of the $100 million available each year, $37.5 million is reserved for the Clean Ohio Fund.

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