Volunteer Opportunities

Although the office is closed to the public, when it comes to practices that can help keep our water and soil healthy, please turn to us at Richland SWCD. We are more committed than ever to providing you with good, solid information.

The next Board Supervisor meeting will be held Thursday, August 20 at 5:00 p.m. at the Longview Center, 1495 W. Longview Avenue, Suite 205B, Mansfield. If you wish to attend the meeting in person or via video conference, please contact Erica Thomas, District Program Administrator, at 419-747-8684 or thomas.erica@richlandswcd.net prior to the meeting so that enough meeting packets are prepared.

You may reach us at RSWCD.Data@richlandswcd.net.

Face-to-face stormwater permit approval is temporarily suspended. Stormwater permit applications, checklists and information needed to obtain a stormwater permit are available at https://richlandswcd.net/services/water/stormwater/stormwater-documents-list.

Please submit your stormwater permit application, site calculation form and additional documents via email to RSWCD.Data@richlandswcd.net or through US Mail by sending to: Richland SWCD, 1495 W. Longview Ave, Suite 205B, Mansfield, OH 44906.

Stormwater permit fees may be paid by check, payable to Richland SWCD and mailed to the Richland SWCD office.

Agriculture Pollution Abatement concerns may be reported by calling (614) 265-6610.

We appreciate your understanding and patience during this difficult time. Be well!

The District is grateful for our dedicated volunteers who share their time and talent with us. We strive to attract and retain quality, committed individuals who want an interesting and unique volunteer experience, while having fun and supporting conservation.

Volunteers Receive 2018 Awards

Congratulations to volunteers for receiving the 2018 Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) National and Northeast Regional Earth Team Chief's Office Awards! Through the partnership between NRCS and Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD), Richland SWCD volunteers also serve as Earth team volunteers. Both organizations collaborate on local projects while utilizing a passionate group of volunteers to stretch valuable resources. Each volunteer task helps paint a picture of how land use affect Richland County's eight watersheds. In 2018, volunteers donated service hours valued at $45,270.00. Thank you, Volunteers!

Congratulations Mark Meinzer, 2019 Volunteer of the Year!

Meinzer A Redbub tree was planted in recognition of Mark Meinzer on November 16, 2019, in the Gorman Nature Center entrance median for his contributions as a Precipitation and Stream Monitor and help wtih special events. Mark joined the volunteer program in 2015. Mark's wife, Nancy, was an original Rain Gauge volunteer, and he has since taken over reporting rain. As a stream monitor, Mark monitors 7 sites, which is a huge commitment due to the time it takes to monitor so many sites. Mark also readily volunteers whenever we need help. He has even brough new volunteers to the District. Mark served in the United State Navy as an electronic technician from 1966-1973. He is a Vietnam veteran, having been abovard a ship that was deployed in a supporting role twice during his assignment. Mark is active in his churdh, St. Peter's, and has been a member of the Johnny Appleseed Square Dance Club for 13 years. Thank you, Mark!

Congratulations Win Meek, 2019 Conservationist of the Year!

Win at Barn 002

Our 2019 Conservationist of the Year is also a volunteer and it's important for you to know his contributions to conservation, also. This is a short exceprt of what we shared about Win at the Annual Celebration. For the complete transcript, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Win and Jayne Meek reside in Troy Township where they continue to follow the conservation lessons Win learned as a child. Win has installed waterways, stabilized stream banks and re-constructed the pond dam. He manages his woodlands through the Nature Resources Consevation Service EQIP program. Grapevine, Multiflora Rose and Honeysuckle has been removed. Through the Conservation Reserve Program, he worked with a certified forester to develop and implement a forestry management plan. Win has selectively removed ash and beech trees and when he loggest three years ago the treetops were left for wildlife. He has also implemented wildlife and pollinator habitats on his farm through the Conservation Stewardship Program and Conservation Reserve program. When the Meek's renovated their 1840s barn, they added downspouts and gutters to divert the water away from the barn.

Win makes and uses wood duck boxes and bluebird boxes not only for himself, but for friends, as well, so they can enjoy wildlife.

Win has been re-purposing things since before it became popular to do so. A few items they have re-purposed and use are a Leland Hotel chandelier and Win's mother's swing. He and Jayne are in the process of installing solar power and his next project is to install a prairie. Thank you, Win, for supporting conservation and volunteering with Richland SWCD and many other organizations throughout and beyond Richland County.

Now Recruiting Watershed Investigators!

Lake Monitoring Volunteer Watershed investigators volunteer their time to help manage our eight Richland County watersheds. Each tasks helps paint a picture of how land use affects our watersheds. Quality data is collected through testing and making observations. This valuable data is vital for mapping and reporting and will be used to gauge long-terms trends in watershed health. This data will also help identify threatened environmental areas in the county when planning future land use. Training is provided to ensure quality reporting.

Lake Monitors
Photographers
Precipitation Monitors
Stream Monitors
Data Management

Additional opportunities include:

Office Assistance
Photo and Video Editing
Special Events

If you are interested in volunteering with the District, please call the District at 419-747-8686, fill out our application online, or download and return the application to:

Richland Soil and Water Conservation District
C/O Community Relations Coordinator
1495 W. Longview Ave., Suite 205B
Mansfield, OH 44906

We hope you’ll consider joining our valued team of volunteers and appreciate your interest.

Volunteer Training

Precipitation Monitor Volunteer Training: watch for the next group training date. If you enjoy keeping track of when it rains or snows, you'll enjoy this volunteer opportunity. As a Precipitation Monitor you will measure and record rain and snowfall at your home or business. The data is used to gauge long-term trends in watershed health and land use practices. We'll train you and provide the equipment; you just need access to the internet. Your data is shared with the public on the Water Data Map. This is a great citizen-science opportunity that doesn't require a lot of time and provides valuable data.

Lake Monitors

Lake Monitor Volunteers Take an active role in water quality. Record water quality data on Clear Fork, Charles Mill and Pleasant Hill Lakes. The data is used to document changes in lake conditions and the information will be used to assist with watershed management efforts.

Precipitation Monitors

Volunteers Precipitation Monitors collect and record rain and snow fall at home or work. The data that you collect is vital to identifying geographic locations of rain fall and snow fall in respect to the watershed you are recording precipitation from. Our network of volunteer data shows the amount of surface water your watershed collects annually. This information is used to assist communities by estimating the amount of precipitation during an event that may cause flooding reactions to your receiving streams and rivers.

Stream Monitors

Volunteers checking water Stream Monitors collect data from designated streams from the stream banks in Richland County's eight watersheds. We provide the equipment and training. Volunteers needs access to the internet to post the data on our website. Quality data will be used to gauge long-terms trends in stream health. Click here for a copy of the Stream Monitor Volunteer Training.

Data Management

Data that is collected is entered into computer spreadsheets and software (Microsoft Excel, primarily) that is easily managed and shared.

Access to the internet is needed for many watershed investigator opportunities.

The District is involved with a number of special events throughout the year such as the Pond Fish Sale, Land Judging competition, and Annual Celebration. Extra help is always appreciated.

Photographers

Take photos at Richland SWCD special events and natural resource, conservation and agriculture photos throughout Richland County.