Richland Soil & Water

Area II Envirothon
2026-04-29 08:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York)
The ENVIROTHON is a high school competition held annually designed to stimulate, reinforce and enhance interest the environment and natural resources. Students are tested on their knowledge of soils, forestry, wildlife, aquatic ecology and current environmental issues. In addition, the Envirothon encourages cooperative decision-making and team building. While each student on a team is challenged individually to contribute his or her personal best, the score that counts at the end of the competition is the team score. A team consists of five students, all from the same high school. An adult advisor (or advisors) must accompany the team but is not permitted to assist the team during the competition.

High School students across the state compete each spring on the local level at one of the five Area Envirothons. Richland County is part of Area II which consists of teams from 17 northeastern Ohio counties. The top four teams from each Area Envirothon progress to the state contest in June held in a different part of the state each year. The 2026 Area II Envirothon is hosted by Lake and Geauga Soil and Water Conservation Districts at Holden Arboretum, 9550 Sperry Rd, Kirtland, OH 44094. The top-scoring Ohio Envirothon team advances to the International Envirothon, hosted by a different state or province each year.

Board Supervisor Meeting
2026-04-22 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-03-25 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-02-25 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-01-28 09:00 - 10:00, 2025-10-22 09:00 - 10:00, 2025-09-24 09:00 - 10:00
Board Supervisor meetings are open to the public and held in the Richland SWCD Conference Room 258. Please contact Matt Christian, Director, before the meeting if you wish to attend.

Pond Fish Order Pick-Up
2026-04-10 08:30 - 10:00 | Richland County Ohio Fairgrounds, 750 N. Home Rd., MANSFIELD, 44906
If you ordered products from the pond fish sale, pick up your order today, Friday, April 10 from 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. at the Richland County Fairgrounds near the Horse Barn at the East Gate. Place Your Order Here.

Arrive at the Fairgrounds 8:30 to 10 a.m.

Bring enough containers to hold the purchased fish. 5-gallon buckets work well. Each container must have an unscented ply liner (30 gallon trash bag). The bags are necessary to hold oxygen to keep the fish alive during transport. Do not use a lid; use a twist tie or twine to close the bag. Each container should be filled 1/3 full with water from the pond you are stocking.

General rule of thumb: One container per 100 small fish, one container per 1,000 minnows, one container per 4-5 amurs.

Please help with the loading and unlading of your containers into your vehicle to expedite the delivery process.

Prices on some items have risen. Please note that a convenience fee is added to online and credit card orders.

2-4″ Bluegill: $1.25 each

2-3″ Largemouth Bass: $1.50 each

2-4″ Hybrid Bluegill: $1.25 each

2-3″ Perch: $1.25 each

2-4″ Redear Shellcracker: $1.25 each

4-5″ Channel Catfish: $1.25 each

8-10″ White Amur: $18.00 each

Fathead Minnows: $10.00 per 100 (100 minimum order; order in multiples of 100)

Nature’s Pond Conditioner (1 gal.): $91.00 each

Nature’s Pond Conditioner (5 gal.): $400.00 each

Optimal Fish Food (small pellet, 40% protein): $51.00 (40 lbs.)

Plastic Bag and String: $1.25 each

Sales Tax (7%)

Minimum order of $30.00

Pond Fish Orders Due
2026-04-02 08:00 - 16:00 | The Longview Center, 1495 W Longview Avenue, Mansfield, Ohio, 44906, United States
Orders for the annual pond fish sale are due today. The fish and pond products are supplied by Fender’s Fish Hatchery.

Orders must be picked up Friday, April 10 from 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. at the Richland County Fairgrounds near the Horse Barn at the East Gate.

Arrive at the Fairgrounds between 8:30 and 10:00 a.m.

Bring enough containers to hold the purchased fish. 5-gallon buckets work well. Each container must have an unscented ply liner (30 gallon trash bag). The bags are necessary to hold oxygen to keep the fish alive during transport. Do not use a lid; use a twist tie or twine to close the bag. Each container should be filled 1/3 full with water from the pond you are stocking.

General rule of thumb: One container per 100 small fish, one container per 1,000 minnows, one container per 4-5 amurs.

Please help with the loading and unlading of your containers into your vehicle to expedite the delivery process.

Prices on some items have risen. Please note that a convenience fee is added to online and credit card orders. Order Here

2-4″ Bluegill: $1.25 each

2-3″ Largemouth Bass: $1.50 each

2-4″ Hybrid Bluegill: $1.25 each

2-3″ Perch: $1.25 each

2-4″ Redear Shellcracker: $1.25 each

4-5″ Channel Catfish: $1.25 each

8-10″ White Amur: $18.00 each

Fathead Minnows: $10.00 per 100 (100 minimum order; order in multiples of 100)

Nature’s Pond Conditioner (1 gal.): $91.00 each

Nature’s Pond Conditioner (5 gal.): $400.00 each

Optimal Fish Food (small pellet, 40% protein): $51.00 (40 lbs.)

Plastic Bag and String: $1.25 each

Sales Tax (7%)

Minimum order of $30.00

Area II Team Registration and Release Forms Due
2026-03-27 08:00 - 16:00
The ENVIROTHON is a high school competition held annually designed to stimulate, reinforce and enhance interest the environment and natural resources. Students are tested on their knowledge of soils, forestry, wildlife, aquatic ecology and current environmental issues. In addition, the Envirothon encourages cooperative decision-making and team building. While each student on a team is challenged individually to contribute his or her personal best, the score that counts at the end of the competition is the team score. A team consists of five students, all from the same high school. An adult advisor (or advisors) must accompany the team but is not permitted to assist the team during the competition.

High School students across the state compete each spring on the local level at one of the five Area Envirothons. Richland County is part of Area II which consists of teams from 17 northeastern Ohio counties. The top four teams from each Area Envirothon progress to the state contest in June held in a different part of the state each year. The 2026 Area II Envirothon is hosted by Lake and Geauga Soil and Water Conservation Districts at Holden Arboretum, 9550 Sperry Rd, Kirtland, OH 44094. The top-scoring Ohio Envirothon team advances to the International Envirothon, hosted by a different state or province each year. For more information go to envirothon.org.

In Ohio, Envirothon is sponsored by the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Natural resource and environmental specialists from many agencies, organizations, colleges, universities, park districts and businesses devise the Envirothon questions and staff the various testing eco stations.

The Area II Envirothon is financed through monetary donations and donations of services and products from individuals, organizations, and businesses.

The Ohio Envirothon is financed by grants and donations from businesses and through contributions to the Don Riehl Memorial Envirothon Fund. Many local businesses provide donations, services, and products in support of Area and Ohio Envirothons.

2026 Area II Envirothon

The 2026 Area II Envirothon will be held April 29 from 9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Holden Arboretum, 9550 Sperry Rd., Kirtland, OH 44094.

Important Dates

March 27, 2026: Team registration and release forms are dueApril 29, 2026: Area II Envirothon held at the Holden Arboretum, 9550 Sperry Rd., Kirtland, OH 44094, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.June 1 to 3, 2026: Ohio Envirothon held at Franciscan University of Steubenville, 1235 University Blvd., Steubenville, OH 43952

Office Closed in Observance of President's Day
2026-02-16 00:00 - 23:59

Galentine's Day Conservation Creation Workshop
2026-02-13 17:30 - 19:00 | Kingwood Center Gardens, 50 Trimble Rd., Mansfield, OH, 44906, United States
Gather your pals for this special Conservation Creation Workshop featuring woodland education, fun, and botanical art! Create your own botanical UV resin pendant with woodland plants and learn about property management and stewardship with Katie Gerber of ODNR Division of Forestry.

The workshop will be held in the King Ballroom at Kingwood Center Gardens. Registration required.

The workshop is presented by Richland Soil and Water Conservation District, Kingwood Center Gardens and North Central Ohio Women Owning Woodlands.

When you register for the workshop you agree to receive marketing materials from the partner organizations and photos are their property to use for promotional purposes.

Office Closed for Staff Professional Development
2026-02-09 08:00 - 2026-02-11 16:00, 2025-12-03 08:00 - 16:00

Office Closed in Observance of Martin Luther King Day
2026-01-19 00:00 - 23:59

Get Organized! Conservation Creation Arts & Crafts Workshop
2026-01-13 18:00 - 20:00 | The Longview Center, 1495 W Longview Avenue, Mansfield, Ohio, 44906, United States
Start the year off on the right foot by getting organized. Mod podge a pretty napkin to a recycled can to hold office, makeup or anything else that needs put in a place. All supplies are furnished. A representative from Richland County Solid Waste Management Authority will provide a program on recycling in Richland County.

This workshop is free due to the generosity of money raised through Richland Gives sponsored by the Richland County Foundation. Learn more at https://richlandgives.mightycause.com/story/7hsc2g.

When you register for the workshop you agree to receive marketing materials from Richland Soil and Water Conservation District and photos may be used for promotional purposes.

Office Closed in Observance of New Year's Day
2026-01-01 00:00 - 23:59

Office Closed at Noon New Year's Eve
2025-12-31 12:00 - 16:00

Office Closed in Observance of Christmas
2025-12-26 00:00 - 23:59
For immediate assistance, please contact Matt Christian, Director, at 419-544-2139.

Office Closed at Noon Christmas Eve
2025-12-24 10:00 - 16:00

Board Supervisor Meeting - Cancelled
2025-12-24 09:00 - 10:00, 2025-11-26 09:00 - 10:00

Special Board Supervisor Meeting
2025-12-10 09:00 - 11:00
This Special Board Supervisor Meeting is being held due to where the Christmas Holiday falls. Board Supervisor meetings are open to the public and held in the Richland SWCD Conference Room 258. Please contact Matt Christian, Director, before the meeting if you wish to attend.

Office Closed in Observance of Thanksgiving
2025-11-27 00:00 - 2025-11-28 23:59

Office Closed in Observance of Veterans Day
2025-11-11 00:00 - 23:59

County-Wide Common Milkweed Seed Pod Collection
2025-10-15 08:00 - 2025-10-31 16:00 | The Longview Center, 1495 W Longview Avenue, Mansfield, Ohio, 44906, United States
Thank you for joining the county-wide Milkweed Seed Pod Collection. Drop your Common Milkweed Seed Pods off at the Richland SWCD office, 1495 W. Longview Avenue, Suite 205B, Mansfield in the green and yellow bin located outside the office door.

Here are a few guidelines for this year’s collection:

We are collecting only Common Milkweed Seed pods because of the instability of other species. If you are unsure of the species, do not put them in the bin. Do not drop off pods that are damp or wet because it can cause mold and damage all the pods collected.

The amount of Common Milkweed Seed pods collected will be capped at 30 gallons due to the time required to remove the seeds from the pods. If the 30 gallon amount is reached, the bin will be removed and we will no longer be able to accept anymore pods.

Inside the bin, will be a large paper bag. Do not keep your pods in the bag you used to bring them to the drop off location. Instead, please add all common milkweed seed pods collectively in the large paper bag. Please do not rubber band pods together. They can damage the equipment used to remove the seeds from the pods and we will be held liable.

Thank you for helping with this year’s milkweed seed pod collection and helping the monarch butterfly!

More information about the collection may be found here: Programs | Richland Soil & Water (richlandswcd.net)

Conservation Creation Arts & Crafts Workshop: Aw, Nuts!
2025-10-14 17:00 - 20:00 | South Park, 100 Brinkerhoff Ave, Mansfield, Ohio, 44903
Squirrels aren’t the only one’s who like acorns! In this workshop, participants will make a needle-felted ornament using the top of an acorn under the direction of Jean McClintock of Shady Lane Alpaca Farm. All workshop materials are provided. A representative from Secrest Arboretum will join us with samples of oak leaves and acorns grown at the Arboretum to help you identify oak trees.

This workshop will be held at Mansfield’s South Park in the log cabin. Members of the Richland Early American Center for History ( R.E.A.C.H.) who maintain and operate the 1800’s historical village located in the park will open the buildings at 5:00 p.m. for anyone who wants to tour them. The program and workshop will begin after the tour of the buildings.

Please note: Please dress for the weather. The buildings are not heated. Baseboard heaters will be used for the workshop but the log cabin may be chilly. Public restrooms are available at a nearby building. A convenience fee is added at checkout.

When you register for this workshop you are agreeing to receive information from Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD) like the quarterly e-newsletter. Richland SWCD reserves the right to take photos during the Conservation Creation Arts & Crafts workshop for promotional purposes. Photography becomes the property of Richland SWCD.

Office Closed in Observance of Columbus Day
2025-10-13 00:00 - 23:59

Rain Garden and Rain Barrel Workshop
2025-10-01 17:00 - 18:00 | The Longview Center, 1495 W Longview Avenue, Mansfield, Ohio, 44906, United States
In this free workshop, learn about Rain Gardens and Rain Barrels and their benefits including managing stormwater. One rain barrel and one rain garden native seed packet will be given away. You must be present to win. Please register for the workshop due to limited seating.

When you register for this workshop you are agreeing to receive information from Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD) like the quarterly e-newsletter. Richland SWCD reserves the right to take photos during the Conservation Creation Arts & Crafts workshop for promotional purposes. Photography becomes the property of Richland SWCD.

Community Preparedness Fair
2025-09-20 13:00 - 16:00 | Avita Ontario, 715 Richland Mall, Ontario, Ohio, 44906
Get ready for an action-packed day! Join us for this event hosted by Richland County EMA in partnership with Avita Ontario and the Ontario Center. The Fair will be outside in the Avita West parking lot. We’ll have a fun activity and information about our services and programs
