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.
Congratulations Elaine Oswald, 2025 Volunteer of the Year!
Elaine has volunteered with Richland Soil and Water Conservation District since 2016. She volunteers as a precipitation monitor and provides daily reports of rain and snow amounts on our website that is reported in real-time and used by the public, other volunteers, gardeners, community developers, elected officials and many more. Elaine said she volunteers with us because she has always been interested in conservation of our natural resources and felt monitoring precipitation was an easy way to participate. She holds bachelor’s degrees in biology and geology. As part of her education, she studied soils and is an avid gardener.
Elaine is retired and has an adult son.
Each volunteer of the year picks a public location for a tree to be planted in their honor and Elaine chose Liberty Park due to all the interest in revitalization of the Park. In August, a Green Gable Black Gum tree was donated by the District and planted. The Mansfield Park staff helped with the planting and will maintain the tree in the coming years.
Richland SWCD plants a tree in honor of the volunteer of the year because Elaine and other volunteers are committed to soil and water health and a tree provides long-lasting benefits. In addition to providing shade and adding beauty to an area, trees reduce the amount of stormwater runoff which helps reduce erosion and pollution in our waterways. Native trees are adapted to our climate, require less watering, and their strong roots help hold soil in place.
Black Gum trees are native to the Eastern United States including Ohio, other than in the drier counties in the northwestern part of the state. A Black Gum tree also goes by the name Tupelo. Each fall the tree will be bathed in beautiful scarlet and orange hues. Although hardly noticed by humans, the flowers and fruit are a good source of nectar for bees and food for birds. As it grows, it will contribute to the beauty of the park to be enjoyed by Leonard and Kathy, their family, our community, and future generations.
Watch this video edited by intern Daniel Karger to learn more about Elaine and her contribution to Richland SWCD. Thank you, Elaine, for all you do for the district!
The 72-member volunteer team has contributed more than 2,000 hours since January 1, 2025, which has saved the General Fund approximately $66,000. Volunteers contribute high quality data that is used to track soil and water health in Richland County’s eight watersheds, plus assist with office tasks, at community events and with photography.
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!
Volunteer of the Year Recipients
- 2015: Frank Shipley: Redbud at Gorman Nature Center
- 2016: Candy Brenner
- 2017: Ginnie Baker: near blue bridge in Bellville by B&O Bike Trail
- 2018: Linda Collins
- 2019: Mark Meinzer
- 2020: Denise Tenison: 2 Paw Paw at Clear Fork Stoller Road Trail
- 2021: Ella Hafenstein: Red Maple at Bicentennial Park in Lexington
- 2022: Marilyn Roe: Red Maple at Marshall Park in Ontario
- 2023: Leonard N. Fox: Black Gum Tree at Seltzer Park in Shelby
- 2024: Robert E. Donaldson: Black Gum Tree at Patriot Park in Shelby
- 2025: Elaine Oswald: Green Gable Black Gum Tree at Liberty Park in Mansfield
Now Recruiting Watershed Investigators!
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. Access to the internet is needed for precipitation, stream and lake monitoring watershed investigator opportunities for data to be posted on our website.
- Lake Monitors
- Photographers
- Precipitation Monitors
- Stream Monitors
- Data Management
Additional opportunities include:
- Office Assistance
- Special Events
If you are interested in volunteering with the District, please call the District at 419-747-8685, fill out our application online, or download the application and return it 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
Lake Monitor Volunteer Training
Volunteers with Richland Soil and Water Conservation District take an active role in water quality. The next Lake Monitor Volunteer training will be announces at a later date. Richland Soil and Water Conservation District partners with the Ohio Lake Management Society-Citizen Lake Awareness and Monitoring (OLMS-CLAM) for training and equipment. Volunteers will learn how to record water clarity, color, temperature and depth and will monitor conditions at Clear Fork, Charles Mill and Pleasant Hill Lakes. Volunteers must have access to the internet to post their data on our website. Wear appropriate clothing and footwear. For questions about volunteering, contact Theresa at sutter.theresa@richlandswcd.net or 419-747-8685.
Volunteer Training
Precipitation Monitor Volunteer Training
Return to this page to see dates and times for future group training. One-on-one training is available year-round. 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. If you can attend the training, please register here or contact Theresa at sutter.theresa@richlandswcd.net.
Lake Monitors
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
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
Stream Monitors collect data from designated streams from the stream banks in Richland County’s eight watersheds. We provide the equipment and training. Volunteers need access to the internet to post the data on our website. Quality data will be used to gauge long-terms trends in stream health. Download 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.
Workshops and Events
The District hosts workshops, participates in community events and hosts special events such as a pond fish sale, high school land judging competition, and the annual celebration.
Photographers
Take photos at Richland SWCD events and natural resource, conservation and agriculture photos throughout Richland County.