# Richland Soil & Water > Conservation District > Contact: Contact@richlandswcd.net ### Pages #### About Us You’re Invited: 2026 Annual Celebration & Board Supervisor Election Join us October 1 for our Annual Celebration and cast your vote for the Richland SWCD Board of Supervisors.Read More Word Games for Sunny Days Download and play our word puzzles for some interactive newsletter fun!Read More Upcoming Events Don’t miss these spring events!Read More Award Recipients See past and present award winners. Board of Supervisors & Staff Contact our team and learn more about our board. Conservation Partners Additional conservation resources. Contact Us Let us know your questions or concerns. Events Calendar Learn about our upcoming programs and sales. Forms Find the forms you need for your project. Mission, Vision, & History Learn about our commitment to the community. News Keep up with what’s happening in our area. Our Rich Land Podcast Bringing you stories and insight on conservation in our small corner of Ohio. Press Releases See press releases from RSWCD. Reminisce Browse historical photos and documents. Videos See videos about what we do. Contact 419-747-8686. Normal business hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 p.m. The cash basis report was filed February 28, 2024, and is available for review in our office. #### ADA Compliance This website conforms to WCAG 2.1 at level AA or higher Details Date: August 11th, 2026 Guidelines: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 – https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/ Conformance Level: AA Scope: richlandswcd.net and all related pages and subdomains accessible from a web browser when not logged in Necessary Technologies: HTML5, CSS3 (2023 spec or newer), JS (ES6 or later), PDF, SVG, JPG, PNG, WEBP This statement is true to the best of our knowledge, but is not an unconditional guarantee of complete compliance. Third-party content linked from this site is not included in this claim, nor are files hosted on richlandswcd.net that are not used within the site content. If you find any part of this site to be inaccessible, please report the offending content to us and we will fix it as soon as possible. #### Agriculture Tillage Talk The history and differences between tillage and no-till practices.Read More Applying Soil Health Principles & Leveraging Conservation Programs Find the conservation program that’s right for you.Read More ODA Cover Crop Demonstration Plot – Spring Observations Timelapse video and recent observations.Read More Agriculture Partners Find more agricultural resources. Agriculture Pollution Abatement Program This aims to reduce pollution of waters of the state by soil sediment, animal manure and residual farm products. Conservation Easements Conservation easements allow the landowner to maintain ownership of the land while limiting future development. Conservation Plans Conservation plans ensure that the land’s unique natural resources are managed in the best possible way, while maintaining sustainability and productivity. Cover Crops Learn about programs supporting the planting of cover crops and the many benefits of doing so. Farmland Preservation This program ensures farms remain permanently in agricultural production. H2Ohio H2Ohio is a state-funded grant program to help reduce or eliminate phosphorous runoff from agriculture fields to prevent algae blooms. Nutrient Management Managing the amount, placement, and timing of plant nutrients to get the best results and minimize surface and groundwater pollution risks. Ohio Department of Agriculture Farmland Preservation Program: Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (LAEPP) Farmland Donation Program: Agricultural Easement Donation Program (AEDP) Richland County Food Producer List This local food producer list helps connect local food growers and producers to consumers to purchase locally-sourced food. Richland County Pioneers Learn from previous generations of agricultural families and see how agriculture has evolved in Richland County. Soil Testing Find out what your soil needs in order to be healthy and fertile. USDA-NRCS Programs These provide technical assistance with natural resource concerns such as reducing soil erosion and protecting water quality. #### Agriculture Partners Farm Service Agency — Ohio Ohio Department of Agriculture Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Documentary on Hugh Hammond Bennett, Soil Conservation Pioneer NRCS.USDA.gov Ohio Agriculture Conservation Initiative #### Agriculture Pollution Abatement Program The Ohio Department of Agriculture — Division of Soil and Water Conservation has the authority to establish standards for a level of management and conservation practices in farming and animal feeding operations. The purpose of these standards is to reduce pollution of waters of the state by soil sediment, animal manure and residual farm products. Learn More #### All Your Stormwater Permit Needs Getting Started? I Have a Project Forms Apply Online for a Stormwater Permit Get Stormwater Forms Site Plan Examples Example Site Plan – Pond Example Site Plan – Other than Pond Videos If you are thinking about a construction project in an unincorporated area of Richland County or the Village of Lexington, you are encouraged to watch the 4-part In the Know Video series on the stormwater permit process. The videos provide an overview of why a stormwater permit is needed and what documents and information you need before you begin the stormwater permit process. Intro to Stormwater Permits Residential Stormwater Permits Intro to Online Stormwater Permits Agriculture Stormwater Permits #### Award Recipients 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. Congratulations The Ohio State University at Mansfield, 2025 Cooperator of the Year! The Ohio State University at Mansfield was established as a regional campus of The Ohio State University, a Land Grant institution, in 1958 and occupies a 644-acre area campus shared with North Central State College. The EcoLab at The Ohio State University at Mansfield campus is an umbrella term inclusive of all the outdoor assets on campus.  Among other features, the Ecolab consists of a maple research sugarbush complete with maple syrup production, woodland and wildlife management showcase areas, Right-of-Way Pollinator demonstration plots, vernal pools, hiking trails with interpretive signage, and the Grant and Mary Milliron Research Wetlands and Classroom. The EcoLab was established to provide a range of course work and research experiences for students interested in careers in forestry, water, biology and wildlife.  Balancing internal teaching and research priorities while embracing the external community through outreach and leisure recreation is an overarching goal. The EcoLab provides educational workshops and programs to the public. and fosters partnerships with public and private entities on a range of natural resource and environmental topics. The Ohio State University at Mansfield is driven by a moral sense of responsibility to carefully and creatively steward campus resources. Thank you for being commendable stewards, The Ohio State University at Mansfield! Watch this video to learn more about The Ohio State University at Mansfield’s stewardship activities. Cooperator of the Year Award Recipients 1964-Present 1964: Chester Hampton1965: Lee Oswalt1966: Jack Gatton1967: Al Schumacher1968: John Winger1969: Chester Mowry1970: Ralph Winters1971: Leonard Krietemeyer1972: Ken & Robert McConkie1973: LaVaughn Oswalt1974: Harry Benson1975: Tom Kranz1976: John Simmons1977: Bob Kissel1978: Jim Zimmer, Sr.1979: John Scherer1980: John Ramsay1981: Bill Bierly1982: Carl Mowry1983: Owen Galloway1984: Howard Doner1985: Ken Nixon1986: Jim & John McCarron1987: Floyd McFarland1988: Leonard Krietemeyer1989: Ted Hickerson1990: Howard & Dean Cook1991: Gene & Steve Spoerr1992: Dr. Charles Young1993: Bill & Charlie Briner1994: Dean Swigart1995: Ed Huff1996: Kenneth Ernst1997: Van Ross Wade2004: John Culler2005: Grant Milliron2006: Ivan Ulmer2007: Robert Niese2008: Fred & Lynn Cooke2013: John & Martha Sherer2014: David Burley2015: Charles &Diane Winger2016: Walter, Regina, Peter, Cathy Berg—Berg Farms2017: John Akers & Beer Farms2018: Jay Miller2019: Winfield Meek2020: Eisenhauer Family Farm2021: Kingwood Center Gardens2022: Roger Baird2023: William R. Flanegan, Jr.2024: Watershed Ranch2025: The Ohio State University at Mansfield Cooperator of the Year Award Nomination Form #### Backyard Conservation Backyard conservation can really reduce storm water problems. When rain falls on roadways and rooftops, it can’t soak gently into the ground as it once did. Instead, it flows down gutters and into storm sewers, picking up pollutants as it goes. Besides affecting the quality of water in streams and rivers, this runoff can cause flooding more quickly. Here are some examples of easy conservation practices that you can incorporate at home. Rain Gardens Wildlife Habitat Landscape Garden Soil Testing Composting Tree Planting Irrigation Mulching Download the Backyard Conservation Booklet #### Black Fork Watershed Note: Impervious surface permit icons, land use icons, and livestock icons do not necessarily indicate exact locations. They are approximate locations on the same land parcel. View the Richland County Watersheds Map BLACK FORK Begins near Mansfield/Ontario → goes through Shelby → Charles Mill Lake → joins Rocky Fork River east of Lucas below Charles Mill Lake Soil Type in the Black Fork Watershed Shoals-Chili-Wheeling Belmore-Haney Fitchville-Luray-Bennington Pewamo-Bennington Rittman-Wadsworth Bennington-Cardington Lordstown-Loudonville Wooster-Canfield Cardington-Alexandria More Information on These Soil Types Impervious Areas Total Impervious Areas Created in the Black Fork Watershed*   8,753,565 sq. ft. Residential Permits (Homes, Pole Barns, Additions, etc.) PermitsYearLeast Area Created (Above 0)7,672sq. ft.2000Most Area Created378,025sq. ft.2004 Exemptions** (Less than 2,000 square feet created) PermitsYearLeast Area Created (Above 0)18,728sq. ft.2008Most Area Created229,822sq. ft.2025 Commercial Permits PermitsYearLeast Area Created (Above 0)744sq. ft.2019Most Area Created1,066,118sq. ft.2004 *This figure does not include impervious areas from prior to 2000**Agriculture is included in permit exemptions Learn About Impervious Areas Impervious Areas Created in the Black Fork Watershed by Year #### Board Supervisors & Staff Email general inquiries to Contact@richlandswcd.net or call 419-747-8686. Board Supervisors Brian Alt Chairman Jackson Township, Black Fork Watershed balt@neo.rr.com 419.631.6124 Leonard Fox Vice Chairman Jackson Township, Black Fork Watershed lfox2@neo.rr.com 419-989-8150 Jean McClintock Treasurer Troy Township, Clear Fork Watershed jsmcclintock@mac.com 419.560.0780 Pamela McKown Member Plymouth Township, Black Fork Watershed pamelamckown948@gmail.com 419.543.3336 Supervisor Login Richland Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors are publicly elected by a special general election. The Board of Supervisors create an annual and long-term plan of operation that protects the District’s mission and vision and are interested, conservation-minded, local leaders who promote conservation of the county’s natural resources through education, planning and technical assistance which are key to the success of the District. Supervisors are elected to a three-year term as a public official and serve without pay. Supervisors advocate for the District, attend and participate in monthly board meetings, assist with District programs and services and attend area and state meetings. The Board meets the fourth Wednesday of every month at 9:00 a.m. and meetings are open to the public. If there is a date or time change, we will provide it. The public is encouraged to contact Matt Christian, Director, for scheduling their time at the meeting and to obtain the District Board packet of action items. Please contact Matt for details. 2026 Board Supervisor Election Information The Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Commission will cause an election of Supervisors of the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) for one open position to be held in accordance with Chapter 940 of the Ohio Revised Code. Individuals who own or occupy land within the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District and are 18 years of age or older may vote for Supervisor. There are three ways an eligible voter can cast a ballot: 1. At the Richland SWCD office, 1495 W. Longview Avenue, Suite 205 B, Mansfield, from 9/02/2026 until 9/30/2026 during normal business hours; or 2. At the Richland SWCD Annual Celebration, 10/01/2026 from 11:30 am to 12:30 p.m. at the Area Agency on Aging Hawkins Corner Room, 2131 Park Avenue West, Ontario; or 3. Voting absentee from 9/02/2026 until 9/30/2026, by requesting the ballot application and election ballot from the Richland SWCD office at the following address 1495 W. Longview Avenue, Suite 205 B, Mansfield, by calling 419-747-8686, or email election@richlandswcd.net. Absentee ballots must be received by the SWCD office by 9/30/2026 at 4 p.m.                                     Supervisors will be elected to a three‐year term commencing January 1, 2027 and ending December 31, 2029. The Board of Supervisors create an annual and long-term plan of operation that protects the District’s mission and vision and are interested, conservation-minded, local leaders who promote conservation of the county’s natural resources through education, planning and technical assistance which are key to the success of the District. Supervisors are elected to a three-year term as a public official and serve without pay. Supervisors advocate for the District, attend and participate in monthly board meetings, assist with District programs and services and attend area and state meetings. Candidates Brian Alt and Vincent (Skip) Malaska Meet the Candidates Board Supervisor Candidate Nomination Form How to Become a Board Supervisor OAC Rule 901:13-3-01: Nominations (successor elections) OAC Rule 901: 13-3-02: Candidate, Voter, and Ballot Eligibility (successor elections) OAC Rule 901:13-3-03: Note of Elections (successor elections) OAC Rule 901:13-3-04: Election Conduct (successor elections) OAC Rule 901:13-3-05 | Election challenge (successor elections) Past Board Supervisors Aaron L. Lockhart, 1949-1958, Jefferson TownshipKenneth Nixon, 1949-1954, Madison TownshipHarvey Snyder, 1949-1952, Worthington TownshipWarren Smith, 1949-1951, Butler TownshipLewis Rinehart, 1949-1952, Sandusky TownshipWilliam Wareham, 1952-1960, Jackson TownshipRobert Walker, 1953-1957, Springfield TownshipCarl Baker, 1953-1961, Weller TownshipLee Oswalt, 1955-1960, Franklin TownshipDavid Field, 1958-1958, Perry TownshipRobert Davidson, 1958-1958, Troy TownshipDerald Darling, 1959-1967, Worthington TownshipFreeman Swank, 1959-1971, Jefferson TownshipEarl Hetrick, 1961-1969, Springfield TownshipChester Jones, 1961-1969, Plymouth TownshipJohn Hattery, 1962-1964, Weller TownshipRichard Lehnhart, 1965-1970, Monroe TownshipDale Cook, 1968-1978, Mifflin TownshipTom Kranz, 1970-1972, Cass TownshipLeo Fair, 1970-1978, Butler TownshipJohn Winger, 1971-1972, Mifflin TownshipRalph Winters, 1971-1972, Monroe TownshipKenneth Ernst, 1973-1993, Cass TownshipJames McCarron, 1973-1982, Franklin TownshipRichard Forbes, 1973-1997, Worthington TownshipHarvey Yost, 1973-1982, Franklin TownshipJack Meyers, 1979-1980, Jefferson TownshipRobert McConkie, 1982-1992, Jefferson TownshipJohn Scherer, 1982-1987, Sharon TownshipD.Charles Winger, 1983-2002, Mifflin TownshipEd Huff, 1988-1993, Butler TownshipDale Broeske, 1992-1998, Perry TownshipJohn Culler, 1993-1999, Monroe TownshipDale Hulit, 1993-2002, Weller TownshipKen Burrer, Jr., 1998-, Bloomingrove TownshipLaVaughn Oswalt, 2000-2002, Butler TownshipBob Winbigler, 1999-2005, Worthington TownshipJerry Schumacher, 2003-, Sharon TownshipRoger Cook, 2003-, Mifflin TownshipWayne Weirick, 2005-, Troy TownshipBob Winbigler, 2004-2015, Worthington TownshipChris Powell, 2011-2014, Mifflin TownshipMatt Cook, 2012-2018, Mifflin Township, Rocky Fork WatershedJim McKinney, 2012-2015, Plymouth TownshipMike Switzer, 2010-2016, Monroe Township, Rocky Fork WatershedBrian Alt, 2015-Present, Jackson Township, Black Fork WatershedVincent (Skip) Malaska, 2016-2018, Madison Township, Rocky Fork WatershedBarbara Zaugg Joudrey, 2016-2018, Springfield Township, Clear Fork WatershedFred Cooke, 2017-2023, Plymouth Township, Black Fork WatershedKyle Bailey, 2018-2019, Jackson Township, Black Fork WatershedLanny Hopkins, 2018-2025, Jackson Township, Black Fork WatershedDave Krichbaum, 2018-2021, Jackson Township, Black Fork WatershedAaron Dearth, 2019-2021, Jefferson Township, Clear Fork WatershedJean McClintock, 2022-Present, Troy Township, Clear Fork WatershedRob McConkie, Jr., 2021-2023, Jefferson Township, Clear Fork WatershedRick Novak, 2023, Madison Township, Black Fork WatershedLeonard Fox, 2024-Present, Jackson Township, Black Fork WatershedGreg Timberlake, 2024-2026, Springfield Township, Black Fork Watershed Pamela McKown, 2025 – Present, Plymouth Township, Black Fork Watershed Staff Matt Christian Director christian.matt@richlandswcd.net 419.747.8684 Zoe Baumberger Marketing & Volunteer Coordinator baumberger.zoe@richlandswcd.net 419.774.8986 Contact Zoe regarding: District Sales Donations District and Community Events Milkweed Seed Pod Collection and Milkweed Seed Distribution Partnerships Speaking Requests Volunteer Program Website Concerns District E-Newsletter Podcast Matt Wallace Technician wallace.matt@richlandswcd.net 419.747.8687 Contact Matt regarding: Agriculture Best Management Best Practices Agriculture Drainage, Erosion and Pollution Concerns Agriculture Stewardship Cover Crops Ditch Petitions FFA Events Farmland Preservation & Conservation Easements Floodplain Properties Ponds Soil Health/Quality Concerns Soil Testing Water Health/Quality Concerns Sam Foley Technician Foley.Sam@richlandswcd.net 419.747.8077 Contact Sam regarding: Stormwater Permits MS4 Program Natural Resource Concerns Urban Drainage, Erosion and Pollution Concerns Soil Health/Quality Concerns Soil Testing Stormwater Urban Conservation Water Health/Quality Concerns Jordan Keller Technician keller.jordan@richlandswcd.net 419.747.8688 Contact Jordan regarding: H2Ohio Program Nutrient Management Planning USDA-NRCS Cost-Share Programs Rain Gardens Soil Health/Quality Concerns Soil Testing Urban Conservation Water Health/Quality Concerns Colby Dunn Technician dunn.colby@richlandswcd.net 419.774.7890 Contact Colby regarding: Stormwater Permits MS4 Program Natural Resource Concerns Urban Drainage, Erosion and Pollution Concerns Soil Health/Quality Concerns Soil Testing Stormwater Urban Conservation Water Health/Quality Concerns Theresa Sutter Marketing & Volunteer Support Specialist sutter.theresa@richlandswcd.net 419.747.8685 Contact Theresa regarding: District Sales Donations District and Community Events Milkweed Seed Pod Collection and Milkweed Seed Distribution Partnerships Speaking Requests Volunteer Program Website Concerns Jason Ruhl District Conservationist jason.ruhl@usda.gov Richland County: 419.747.8691 ext. 7120 or 3 – (main duty station)Ashland County: 419.289.2421 ext. 4859 or 3 –Fax for both: 885.842.8005 Jordan Miller USDA-NRCS, Soil Conservationist jordan.miller@usda.gov 419.747.7121 Rachel Coy Farm Bill Biologist rcoy@pheasantsforever.org Cell: 567.274.8166 Crawford, Huron, Richland and Seneca Counties #### Careers and Internships Careers Thank you for your interest in Richland Soil and Water Conservation District. Ohio SWCD Job Postings Richland County Job Postings Internships Internship opportunities vary based on the needs of the office. The Richland Soil and Water Conservation District offers internships for college students who have an interest in agriculture, natural resources, conservation and the environment. However, opportunities may exist not only for students who are studying a natural resources-related field, but students who are marketing, digital media, English, education majors and other majors, as well. The mission of the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (RSWCD) is to assist the citizens of Richland County to protect and improve the County’s natural resources by providing exceptional educational, planning, and technical assistance. #### Cart Payments are processed by Square and subject to their Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Sales tax will be charged at the Richland County, OH standard flat rate of 7.00%. A service fee of 2.50% or a minimum of $1.95 will be charged for all credit card transactions. A fee of $3.00 will be charged if paying by eCheck. This fee is not charged or collected by Richland County, OH, but by our payment processor, Square. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your bill, please contact our office at director@richlandswcd.net or 419.747.8684. #### Categories CONTENTS #### Checkout URL: https://richlandswcd.net/checkout/ #### Clear Fork Watershed Note: Impervious surface permit icons, land use icons, and livestock icons do not necessarily indicate exact locations. They are approximate locations on the same land parcel. View the Richland County Watersheds Map CLEAR FORK Begins in Richland and Morrow Counties → Clear Fork Reservoir → goes through Lexington, Bellville, Butler → joins Black Fork near Loudonville and becomes Mohican River → Walhonding River → Muskingum River → Ohio River → Mississippi River → Gulf of Mexico Soil Type in the Clear Fork Watershed Shoals-Chili-Wheeling Fitchville-Luray-Bennington Pewamo-Bennington Rittman-Wadsworth Bennington-Cardington Hanover-Titusville-Loudonville Lordstown-Loudonville Wooster-Canfield Cardington-Alexandria More Information on These Soil Types Impervious Areas Total Impervious Areas Created in the Clear Fork Watershed*   16,085,544 sq. ft. Residential Permits (Homes, Pole Barns, Additions, etc.) PermitsYearLeast Area Created (Above 0)31,949sq. ft.2000Most Area Created711,001sq. ft.2003 Exemptions** (Less than 2,000 square feet created) PermitsYearLeast Area Created (Above 0)18,272sq. ft.2008Most Area Created99,054sq. ft.2025 Commercial Permits PermitsYearLeast Area Created (Above 0)225sq. ft.2000Most Area Created1,203,925sq. ft.2016 *This figure does not include impervious areas from prior to 2000**Agriculture is included in permit exemptions Learn About Impervious Areas Impervious Areas Created in the Clear Fork Watershed by Year #### Conservation Easements Landowners can conserve their land while maintaining ownership of the land through a Conservation Easement. A Conservation Easement is a legal agreement between a landowner and a qualified organization, such as a land trust, that restricts specific activities on the land to protect its conservation values. Conservation Easements allow the landowner to maintain ownership of the land while limiting future development. The property can also be sold or passed onto heirs, with the Conservation Easement forever restricting the land as the original landowner planned, ensuring their wishes for conservation in perpetuity. Landowners can choose to restrict areas of their land from development, while also setting aside development zones for the future, ensuring a balance between the built environment and the protection of natural resources on the property. Conservation Easements can also ensure future uses on the land if they are in agreement with the goals of the Conservation Easement. For example, the cutting of a limited percentage of trees for firewood, as long as it is within the standards for ensuring a healthy forest, can be specified; hunting on the property to continue to manage healthy wildlife populations can also be permitted. Each easement is unique to the land it governs. Richland Soil and Water Conservation District suggests working with a legal professional to develop the easement so that it conforms to the wishes of the donor and protects the conservation values of the land. More Information Farmland Preservation Program (LEAPP) Farmland Donation Program (ADEP) #### Conservation Partners Richland County Partners in Conservation Richland County Commissioners Richland County Government Richland County Park District & Gorman Nature Center Richland County Regional Solid Waste Management Richland Public Health Richland County Foundation Richland County Regional Planning Commission Richland County EMA Ohio Bird Sanctuary Kingwood Center Gardens The Ohio State University Extension – Richland County Richland County Farm Bureau Farm Credit Mid-America State Resources Malabar Farm State Park Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) Ohio Department of Agriculture — Division of Soil and Water Conservation Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Tree Guide Ohio Department of Natural Resources — Division of Forestry Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts Ohio Land Trust Directory The Ohio State University Extension – Richland County Federal Resources United States Department of Agriculture — Farm Service Agency (USDA-FSA) United States Department of Agriculture — Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) United States Environmental Protection Agency United States Geological Survey (USGS) Stream Gauge at Shelby United States Geological Survey (USGS) Stream Gauge at Bellville National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) #### Conservation Plans The Conservation Plan Process Schedule an on-site visit to address concerns you have about your property’s resources  You determine and share your objectives While on-site, your property’s resources are evaluated with respect to your objectives If needed, recommended practices are discussed with you You decide which conservation practices you want to implement A Conservation Plan is created for you Technicians will survey, design, draft and lay out the practice for construction We will work with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) in the allocation of cost share funds for the project, if available and/or wanted Implement the Conservation Plan Evaluate the Conservation Plan What is a Conservation Plan? An agricultural/livestock owner tries to run their operation as efficiently as possible. Sometimes certain areas become problems to their operations. These operators may seek the assistance of USDA-NRCS to develop a conservation plan. This plan will help the operator address these problem areas and other areas that could affect natural resources. Through the use of Conservation Practices, NRCS can help the operator determine what conservation practices will correct these concern areas. There are many Conservation Practices that NRCS has developed, but the following are a list of commonly installed practices in Richland County. At the conclusion of the plan creation, material will be provided to you to help implement the plan. Examples of Conservation Practices Access Roads Farming operations often utilize frequently traveled areas to access particular areas of the farm. Sometimes these areas become rutted, muddy, pot-holes. This can be due to an unsuitable soil type in that area, the physical location of the area or poor weather conditions. An Access Road can be used to protect these areas. They are developed by installing a particular depth of gravel material to withstand frequent travel. They protect soil, water, air, wildlife and other adjacent resource areas. Agrichemical Facility Many farming operations frequently use fertilizers and chemicals to maintain their crops. Rather than hire a company to apply these chemicals, an operator may want to apply their own. To do this they need to have storage tanks on-site to store the appropriate chemicals. If any of the tanks were to develop a leak it could be a big threat to natural resources. An Agrichemical Facility addresses this situation. It is a designed basin with an impermeable liner where all storage tanks are placed. In the event of a leak or a spill while mixing, all chemicals would be contained, pumped out and disposed of properly. Fences Livestock operations need to keep their animals within certain areas. Also, it has been found to be beneficial to have smaller pasture fields and rotate livestock within these fields at regular intervals. This promotes healthier vegetation in the pastures, better nourished livestock and erosion protection. Filter Strip A filter strip, typically adjacent to a ditch, stream or river, is an area of vegetation established for removing sediment, organic material, and other pollutants from runoff and wastewater. Grassed Waterway When a whole field is tilled and planted, there may be areas where two hill slopes come together (what we call a swale). During a rain, water will naturally flow to these swales and eventually to a stream or creek. In some instances, the slope, soil type, tilling type, tilling direction or all of the above are not adequate to hold the soil in place. Eventually, these swales become gullies that can be difficult or impossible to cross and they carry sediment to the steam or creek. Grassed Waterways are engineered, shallow grassed channels designed to handle the water flow, keep soil in place while allowing cropping equipment to safely cross over it. Grazing Management (Prescribed) This is the management of the kind of animal, animal number, grazing distribution, length of grazing and/or browsing periods and timing of use to provide grazed plants sufficient recovery time to meet planned objectives. The management of livestock movements is based on the rate of plant growth, available forage, and allowable utilization target. Proper grazing management will maintain and improve vegetation and soil conditions, improve water quality, and enhance wildlife habitat. More Information Heavy Use Pad Livestock operations utilize certain areas frequently to feed and water their animals. Sometimes these areas become rutted, muddy pot-holes. This can be due to an unsuitable soil type in that area, the physical location of the area, poor weather conditions or frequent use. A Heavy Use Pad can be used to protect these highly used areas. They are developed by installing a particular depth of gravel material to withstand the frequent travel. They protect soil, water, air, wildlife and other adjacent resource areas. Seasonal High Tunnel This practice is intended to extend the growing season earlier and later in the growing year. Tunnel systems are designed to extend the cropping season and benefit natural resources by improving plant quality, soil quality, and water quality through methods such as reduced nutrient and pesticide transport. A seasonal high tunnel is a polyethylene-covered structure with or without electricity, heating, or mechanical ventilation systems. High tunnels modify the climate to create more favorable growing conditions for vegetable and other specialty crops grown in the natural soil beneath it. Crops must be grown in the soil under the high tunnel, not in pots, growing racks or hydroponics systems. The structure utilizes passive solar heating and can use a supplemental heating system, if required. Ventilation is usually provided by manually rolling the sides up or down. However, mechanical systems may be used to improve effectiveness. High tunnel systems are not greenhouses. More Information Nutrient Management Nutrient management involves managing the amount, placement, and timing of plant nutrients to obtain optimum yields and minimize the risk of surface and groundwater pollution. Nutrient Management Plan Information The 4Rs were created to educate and promote wise nutrient management to conserve water quality and soil health using four “rights”: Right Source: Ensure a balanced supply of essential nutrients, considering both naturally available sources and the characteristics of specific products, in plant available forms. Right Rate: Assess and make decisions based on soil nutrient supply and plant demand. Right Time: Assess and make decisions based on the dynamics of crop uptake, soil supply, nutrient loss risks, and field operation logistics. Right Place: Address root-soil dynamics and nutrient movement, and manage spatial variability within the field to meet site-specific crop needs and limit potential losses from the field. Waste Storage Facility The main byproduct of livestock operations is manure. Fortunately, manure is also a valuable resource, and it can be applied back on the land where it will provide nutrients and organic matter to the soil. However, manure cannot be applied at any time. Care must be taken to apply manure when the land is ready to receive it. It cannot be applied when the ground is saturated with rain, right before a rain event or on frozen-snow covered ground. Manure obviously cannot be applied when agricultural crops are actively growing. As you can see it can be difficult to find suitable conditions to apply the manure. A lot of operations do not have the adequate manure storage capacity to wait for the ideal application situation. A Waste Storage Facility provides a stable facility with enough storage capacity to hold the waste until ideal land application opportunity exist. The storage structure types include liquid waste storage ponds or tanks, and solid waste stacking structures. Windbreaks Windbreaks or shelterbelts are single to multiple rows of trees and possibly shrubs planted in a linear fashion. They are established upwind of the areas to be protected. Windbreaks and shelterbelts are primarily used to reduce soil erosion from wind; protect crops, livestock, and farmsteads from wind; area related microclimate effects; control snow deposition; and improve air quality by intercepting drifting chemicals and odors. Energy Conservation practices contribute to energy efficiency and fuel savings. More Information The Benefits of a Conservation Plan A conservation plan ensures that the land’s unique natural resources are managed in the best possible way, while maintaining sustainability and productivity. Other benefits of a conservation plan: Help landowner comply with environmental regulations Qualify landowner for USDA conservation programs that can help him or her implement conservation measures Adapts to changing farm or ranch operational goals Establishes an implementation schedule that fits landowner’s timetable and resources #### Contact Us Richland Soil and Water Conservation District 1495 W. Longview Avenue, Suite 205BMansfield, Ohio 44906 We are located at the Richland County Longview Center on Longview Avenue between Trimble Road and Home Road. We are near the Richland County Fairgrounds, which is on the corner of Longview Avenue and Home Road. GPS Coordinates 40°46’30″N 82°33’44″W Phone 419-747-8686 #### Continental Divide Tour When you click “Get Directions” on the map below, you can start exploring the Continental Divide by following three easy steps: Enter the address of where you wish to start Select where you want to start your tour, i.e. on the upper left, upper right, lower top or lower bottom of the Continental Divide Click on “Get Printable Directions” You are provided with step-by-step directions and are ready to start your tour. If you wish to print the directions out, click on “print.” If you want to return to the Continental Divide home page click on the “X.” If you wish to use your GPS to navigate the tour, go back to the tour home page and click on each point to see the latitude and longitude to guide you on your tour. Also, if you click on each point, you will be told approximately where you are and points of interest you will find in the vicinity. Use your mouse to zoom in or zoom out or use the “+” and “-” buttons found in the upper left-hand corner of the map. Take a Drive on the Continental Divide One of America’s favorite past-times is to take drives that allow us to enjoy beautiful scenery at a leisurely pace while discovering new places and returning to favorite places. With this is mind, we’re sharing a Drive-It-Yourself Tour of the Continental Divide within Richland County. The purpose of this tour is to highlight one of the unique aspects of our county’s natural resources. This is a drive you take when convenient for you and at your own pace. Let’s back up for a minute, though, and explain what the Continental Divide is. The Continental Divide is a major watershed boundary. On one side, the water flows to Lake Erie, and on the other side, water flows to the Ohio River. Many people are accustomed to thinking the Continental Divide follows the highest point of a region. However, when you’re traveling the Richland County portion, you may find yourself at a spot that is lower than hills you see in the distance. Your eyes aren’t deceiving you. The distant hills are isolated areas within their watershed. As you travel through Richland County, we hope you will continue to be awed by its beauty and diversity and perhaps make some new discoveries. Send us a photo of yourself on the tour along with the date and location, and we’ll share it on our social media outlets. Take your time and enjoy your drive on the Continental Divide! #### Cover Crops Learn More About Cover Crops What is a Cover Crop? Cover crops are plants that provide multiple benefits in a cropping system generally planted after the primary crop has been harvested. Benefits of Cover Crops Cover Crops provide a multitude of benefits which include the prevention of erosion, improve soil’s physical and biological properties, replace nutrients in the soil, suppress weeds, improves the availability of water in soil, and break pest cycles along with many other benefits. The species of cover crop selected along with its management determine the benefits and returns. Some popular planting methods include traditional planter planting, aerial seeding, and broad cast seeding depending upon the type of seed being planted. Get more information from NRCS about cover crop selection, termination, and planting guides. NRCS EQIP Cover Crop Program The NRCS Disaster Recovery EQIP funding opportunity to plant cover crops on flooded cropland acreage. The sign-up begins July 1 and continues until the funding is exhausted. USDA-NRCS Cover Crop Agronomy H2Ohio Program NRCS Seeding Recommendations MWCD Cover Crop Cost Share Program The 2025 Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District Cover Crop Program is offering $12.00/acre with a cap of 175 approved acres per applicant across eligible counties in the jurisdictional boundary of the MWCD District unless fields are located within one of the specified MWCD Lake watersheds. Applications should be received in our office by June 20. For more information, contact Matt Wallace. Get the MWCD Program Application Ohio State University Cover Crop Information Get the OSU Cover Crop Information This resource provides some of the positives and negatives associated with an extensive list of cover crops we see in Ohio.  ***Please Note, the disclaimer in the Fact Sheets that some of the seeding rates and dates may be slightly different than Appendix A.  Producers need to follow Appendix A for H2Ohio, EQIP, and other cost-share programs. The USDA is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. #### Donate or Sponsor Richland Gives! Richland Gives is the local online giving event designed to encourage everyone to contribute to local nonprofits they care about through a single giving platform/website hosted by the Richland County Foundation. The Foundation hosts Richland Gives to build capacity, grow philanthropy, and make the community stronger. Due to the generosity of past donors through Richland Gives, Richland SWCD has funded grants to urban and rural residents for soil tests, rain barrels, native seeds for rain gardens and native plants. To donate and support Richland SWCD programs and services, please Click here. There are many ways that residents, businesses and local government support the mission of Richland Soil and Water Conservation District Use conservation practices on residential, agricultural, commercial, or public property Donate money, services, products, and time to support workshops, intern and volunteer programs, special events, community events, and the Annual Celebration Volunteer with Richland Soil and Water Conservation District All donations are tax-deductible and any donation, regardless of size, is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your support! If you prefer to mail in your donation, checks should be made out to Richland SWCD and sent to: Richland SWCD1495 Longview Avenue, Suite 205BMansfield, OH 44906 #### EPA Best Practices Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Stormwater Management Preferred Practices Bioretention Cells A bioretention cell or rain garden is a depressed area with porous backfill (material used to refill an excavation) under a vegetated surface. These areas often have an underdrain to encourage filtration and infiltration, especially in clayey soils. Bioretention cells provide groundwater recharge, pollutant removal, and runoff detention. Bioretention cells are an effective solution in parking lots or urban areas where green space is limited. Curb and Gutter Elimination Curbs and gutters transport flow as quickly as possible to a stormwater drain without allowing for infiltration or pollutant removal. Eliminating curbs and gutters can increase sheet flow and reduce runoff volumes. Sheet flow, the form runoff takes when it is uniformly dispersed across a surface, can be established and maintained in an area that does not naturally concentrate flow, such as parking lots. Maintaining sheet flow by eliminating curbs and gutters and directing runoff into vegetated swales or bioretention basins helps to prevent erosion and more closely replicate predevelopment hydraulic conditions. A level spreader, which is an outlet designed to convert concentrated runoff to sheet flow and disperse it uniformly across a slope, may also be incorporated to prevent erosion. Grassed Swales Grassed swales are shallow grass-covered hydraulic conveyance channels that help to slow runoff and facilitate infiltration. The suitability of grassed swales depends on land use, soil type, slope, imperviousness of the contributing watershed, and dimensions and slope of the grassed swale system. In general, grassed swales can be used to manage runoff from drainage areas that are less than 4 hectares (10 acres) in size, with slopes no greater than 5 percent. Use of natural, low-lying areas is encouraged and natural drainage courses should be preserved and utilized. Green Parking Design Green parking refers to several techniques that, applied together, reduce the contribution of parking lots to total impervious cover. Green parking lot techniques include: setting maximums for the number of parking lots created; minimizing the dimensions of parking lot spaces; utilizing alternative pavers in overflow parking areas; using bioretention areas to treat stormwater; encouraging shared parking; and providing economic incentives for structured parking. Infiltration Trenches Infiltration trenches are rock-filled ditches with no outlets. These trenches collect runoff during a storm event and release it into the soil by infiltration (the process through which stormwater runoff penetrates into soil from the ground surface). Infiltration trenches may be used in conjunction with another stormwater management device, such as a grassed swale, to provide both water quality control and peak flow attenuation. Runoff that contains high levels of sediments or hydrocarbons (for example, oil and grease) that may clog the trench are often pretreated with other techniques such as water quality inlets (series of chambers that promote sedimentation of coarse materials and separation of free oil from storm water), inlet protection devices, grassed swales, and vegetated filter strips. Inlet Protection Devices Inlet protection devices, also known as hydrodynamic separators, are flow-through structures with a settling or separation unit to remove sediments, oil and grease, trash, and other stormwater pollutants. This technology may be used as pre-treatment for other stormwater management devices. Inlet protection devices are commonly used in potential stormwater “hot spots”—areas where higher concentrations of pollutants are more likely to occur, such as gas stations. Permeable Pavement Permeable pavement is an alternative to asphalt or concrete surfaces that allows stormwater to drain through the porous surface to a stone reservoir underneath. The reservoir temporarily stores surface runoff before infiltrating it into the subsoil. The appearance of the alternative surface is often similar to asphalt or concrete, but it is manufactured without fine materials and instead incorporates void spaces that allow for storage and infiltration. Underdrains may also be used below the stone reservoir if soil conditions are not conducive to complete infiltration of runoff. Permeable Pavers Permeable pavers promote groundwater recharge. Permeable interlocking concrete pavements (PICP) are concrete block pavers that create voids on the corners of the pavers (pictured to the right). Concrete grid paver (CGP) systems are composed of concrete blocks made porous by eliminating finer particles in the concrete which creates voids inside the blocks; additionally, the blocks are arranged to create voids between blocks. Plastic turf reinforcing grids (PTRG) are plastic grids that add structural support to the topsoil and reduce compaction to maintain permeability. Grass is encouraged to grow in PTRG, so the roots will help improve permeability due to their root channels. Rain Barrels and Cisterns Rain barrels and cisterns harvest rainwater for reuse. Rain barrels are placed outside a building at roof downspouts to store rooftop runoff for later reuse in lawn and garden watering. Cisterns store rainwater in significantly larger volumes in manufactured tanks or underground storage areas. Rainwater collected in cisterns may also be used in non-potable water applications such as toilet flushing. Both cisterns and rain barrels can be implemented without the use of pumping devices by relying on gravity flow instead. Rain barrels and cisterns are low-cost water conservation devices that reduce runoff volume and, for very small storm events, delay and reduce the peak runoff flow rates. Both rain barrels and cisterns can provide a source of chemically untreated “soft water” for gardens and compost, free of most sediment and dissolved salts. Riparian Buffers A riparian, or forested, buffer is an area along a shoreline, wetland, or stream where development is restricted or prohibited. The primary function of aquatic buffers is to physically protect and separate a stream, lake, or wetland from future disturbance or encroachment. If properly designed, a buffer can provide stormwater management and can act as a right-of-way during floods, sustaining the integrity of stream ecosystems and habitats. Sand and Organic Filters Sand and organic filters direct stormwater runoff through a sand bed to remove floatables, particulate metals, and pollutants. Sand and organic filters provide water quality treatment, reducing sediment, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and fecal coliform bacteria, although dissolved metal and nutrient removal through sand filters is often low. Sand and organic filters are typically used as a component of a treatment train to remove pollution from stormwater before discharge to receiving waters, to groundwater, or for collection and reuse. Variations on the traditional surface sand filter (such as the underground sand filter, perimeter sand filter, organic media filter, and multi-chamber treatment train) can be made to fit sand filters into more challenging design sites or to improve pollutant removal. Stormwater Planters Stormwater planters are small landscaped stormwater treatment devices that can be placed above or below ground and can be designed as infiltration or filtering practices. Stormwater planters use soil infiltration and biogeochemical processes to decrease stormwater quantity and improve water quality, similar to rain gardens and green roofs but smaller in size—stormwater planters are typically a few square feet of surface area compared to hundreds or thousands of square feet for rain gardens and green roofs. Types of stormwater planters include contained planters, infiltration planters, and flow-through planters. Tree Box Filters Tree box filters are in-ground containers used to control runoff water quality and provide some detention capacity. Often premanufactured, tree box filters contain street trees, vegetation, and soil that help filter runoff before it enters a catch basin or is released from the site. Tree box filters can help meet a variety of stormwater management goals, satisfy regulatory requirements for new development, protect and restore streams, control combined sewer overflows (CSOs), retrofit existing urban areas, and protect reservoir watersheds. The compact size of tree box filters allows volume and water quality control to be tailored to specific site characteristics. Tree box filters provide the added value of aesthetics while making efficient use of available land for stormwater management. Typical landscape plants (for example, shrubs, ornamental grasses, trees and flowers) are an integral part of the bioretention system. Ideally, plants should be selected that can withstand alternating inundation and drought conditions and that do not have invasive root systems, which may reduce the soil’s filtering capacity. Vegetated Filter Strips Filter strips are bands of dense vegetation planted downstream of a runoff source. The use of natural or engineered filter strips is limited to gently sloping areas where vegetative cover can be established and channelized flow is not likely to develop. Filter strips are well suited for treating runoff from roads and highways, roof downspouts, very small parking lots, and impervious surfaces. They are also ideal components for the fringe of a stream buffer, or as pretreatment for a structural practice. Vegetated Roofs Green roofs consist of an impermeable roof membrane overlaid with a lightweight planting mix with a high infiltration rate and vegetated with plants tolerant of heat, drought, and periodic inundations. In addition to reducing runoff volume and frequency and improving runoff water quality, a green roof can reduce the effects of atmospheric pollution, reduce energy costs, and create an attractive environment. They have reduced replacement and maintenance costs and longer life cycles compared to traditional roofs. Related Links Learn about Impervious Areas NPDES/MS4 #### Events CONTENTS #### FAQ Q. Where can I find information about Richland Soil and Water Conservation District Events? A. The calendar of events. Q. What soil and water information can Richland SWCD provide? A. Drainage and erosion, flooding, pond creation and maintenance, forestry management, agricultural programs, Aerial-GPS maps, soil testing, native plants, and stormwater management practices Q. I installed drainage tile a number of years ago and I think it’s broken in places. How can I fix it? A. If you discovered clay tile that is separated or broken, it may be time to replace the entire system with plastic tile. If the clay tile is operating well, you can join the clay tile with plastic for repair. If the tile is plastic and became crushed by heavy equipment, simply remove the crushed section and repair with similar-sized plastic tile. If tree roots are a problem, have an experienced contract hydro-jet or grind the roots. After cleaning, repair the damaged sections. Q. How do I properly manage storm water? A. You want to reduce the total volume of the water discharge and the best thing you can do is attempt to slow water down before it leaves your property. This can be done numerous ways. First of all, you should try to outlet your downspouts on the ground surface, as far from property lines as possible. This gives your water an opportunity to soak into the soil before it becomes runoff. Secondly, you can install some type of retention practice such as: rain barrels, a gravel pit/French drain, retention pond or rain gardens. Q. After each rain, I am left with a large area of standing water in my yard. What can I do? A. If the standing water lasts only a few days, nature has taken care of it and nothing needs to be done. If the standing water has developed in recent years and lasts for more than a few days, check the area for a failing subsurface tile drain. If the standing water has always occurred, you can enhance the area with moisture tolerant plants and create a wetland or garden. Q. We just bought a house that came with a pond. Unfortunately, it’s really overgrown. What can I do to get it cleaned up? A. You need to determine the primary reason for owning a pond or lake. Is it for adding landscape amenities or for recreation? Each reason is managed differently and we should remember that Mother Nature, by her own rules, fills all landscape depressions in time. If your pond or lake is old it may be time to drain it and removed decades of silt and organics. Other options are to use chemicals or to physically remove vegetation. Q. I’m putting up a storage shed. Do I need to get a storm water permit? A. If your property is within Richland County and not in the incorporated limits of a city or village (Lexington is the exception), you will need to fill out a Stormwater Permit Application. The details of your project (amount of disturbed soil & amount of impervious area to be developed) will determine whether a permit, fee exemption or permit exemption is required. The purpose of the permit program is to save soil from eroding and to manage runoff from project sites. The Storm Water permit office is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. If you’re working on a commercial project, please call to schedule an appointment. Q. Whenever it rains, water from my neighbor’s property comes onto my property and now my basement floods whenever it rains. What can I do to make our neighbor correct the problem? A. The best course of action is for you to contact your neighbor with your concerns and attempt to cooperate with each other to come up with a mutually agreeable solution. If this cannot be achieved, invite us out to provide recommendations for both properties. Q. One side of our property is bounded by a ditch and over the years, the banked area has continued to erode. What can we do to keep it from eroding any further? A. First, determine if the ditch is a township ditch, county ditch, or state highway ditch. These types of ditches are on a maintenance schedule of the proper sector. Simply call them and ask to report a problem. If this is a private ditch and it’s agricultural, agricultural operators are exempt from local regulations. If this ditch is strictly on your property, you may need a permit to manage the erosion of the freshly repaired banks. If you happen to have a stream or river on your property, contact us because there may be state and federal permits needed to alter the water course. Q. What is the best compost? A. Compost is broken into two classifications. One is fresh vegetation that breaks down into nutrient-rich humus. The other is woody vegetation that breaks down providing soil with texture, tilth and moisture holding abilities. Both are needed to provide the proper balance of organisms to sustain life. Q. I want to have my soil tested. Can you help me? A. You have two options. We can either pull a sample for you or you can pull the sample and bring it into the office. Once the sample is obtained, we’ll send it in to be tested. The results of the test will be analyzed and recommendations provided. Still have a question? If you have a question that has not been answered on this page, or you need more information, let us know. We’re here to help. Contact Us #### Farmland Preservation December 14, 2021, marked the Richland Soil & Water Conservation District’s first completed easement in the Farmland Preservation Program also known as The Clean Ohio Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (LAEPP). A recipient who wished to remain anonymous and Cass & Lisa Gwirtz’s farm was approved by the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) Office of Farmland Preservation in conjunction with Richland Soil & Water Conservation District, who acts as the local sponsor for the program. This means their farm is protected by a perpetual easement from future residential or commercial development and will remain a farm for generations to come. Watch this video on the importance of the Farmland Preservation Program to the Gwirtz family. If you would like to consider the advantages of preserving your farmland for future generations, there are two options: The Agricultural Easement Donation Program (AEDP) is a tool for landowners to protect their farm’s soils, natural resource features, and scenic open space. It provides landowners the opportunity to donate the easement rights on viable farmland to the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA). The department assures the land remains in agricultural use forever. The standard cost for services needed to secure the easement (i.e., title examination, title policy, escrow, closing and recordation) are covered by ODA. All easement transactions are permanent. They are recorded on the property deed and will transfer with the land to successive owners. The Clean Ohio Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (LAEPP) provides funding to farmland owners for placing an agricultural easement on their property. Monies are issued for up to 75 percent of the appraised value of a farm’s development rights. A payment cap has been set at $2,000 per acre, with a maximum of $500,000 per farm. All easement transactions are recorded on the property deed and transfer with the land to successive owners. Funds from the purchase of these easements are invested in the local economy by the landowners who use them by expanding their farming operations, purchasing new equipment, reducing debt, adding conservation practices, planning for retirement, sending their children to college or for other purposes. When the state purchases a farmland easement, the proceeds are plowed into Ohio’s economy. The 2026 Farmland Preservation Program for Richland County is open, and accepting applications thru March 16, 2026. For additional information visit the ODA webpage on Farmland Preservation or contact Matt Wallace at 419-747-8687 for details. The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) provides financial and technical assistance to help conserve agricultural lands and wetlands and their related benefits. Under the Agricultural Land Easements component (ALE) of ACEP, NRCS provides financial assistance to eligible partners for purchasing Agricultural Land Easements that protect the agricultural use and conservation values of eligible land. In the case of working farms, the program helps farmers and ranchers keep their land in agriculture. The program also protects grazing uses and related conservation values by conserving grassland. Eligible partners include Indian tribes, state and local governments, and non-governmental organizations that have farmland or grassland protection programs. Under the ALE component, NRCS may contribute up to 50 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement. Where NRCS determines that grasslands of special environmental significance will be protected, NRCS may contribute up to 75 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement. In Fiscal Year 2019, the applicant will need to describe how the grassland offered for enrollment fits the definition of Grassland of Special Environmental Significance. Easement values for ALE are based on a fair market appraisal. Though signup is continuous, funding selections are made at specific times during the fiscal year. For more information and how to apply, visit https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/oh/programs/easements/acep/NRCSEPRD416633/ Conservation The Ohio Land Trust Directory was created by the Coalition of Ohio Land Trusts. Formed in 2004, the Coalition of Ohio Land Trusts (COLT) is a voluntary network of land trusts and other conservation organizations dedicated to advancing land conservation for public benefit in Ohio. COLT provides a forum for professional and technical support to the conservation organizations that work to conserve land. Ohio land trusts have diverse but complementary missions, ranging from the protection of watersheds, to the preservation of prime farmland, to the restoration of natural areas. Ohio Land Trust Directory Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Ohio Department of Agriculture The Ohio Department of Agriculture Office of Farmland Preservation implements the Clean Ohio Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program, The Ohio Agricultural Easement Donation Program and provides technical assistance to communities implementing the Agricultural Security Area program. More Information #### Floodplains What are Floodplains? A Floodplain, as defined by the National Flood Insurance Program, is any land area susceptible to being inundated by flood waters from any source. Floodplain Regulations Floodplain Regulations are designed to guide development within Special Flood Hazard Areas. For regulatory purposes, the floodplain is divided into two areas based on water velocity: the floodway and the flood fringe. The floodway includes the channel and adjacent floodplain area that is required to pass the 100-year flood without unduly increasing flood heights. This is the hazardous portion of the floodplain where the fastest flow of water occurs. Due to the high degree of hazard found in the floodway, floodplain regulations require that proposed floodway developments do not block the free flow of flood water as this could dangerously increase the water’s depth and velocity. The flood fringe is the portion of the floodplain, outside of the floodway, that contains slow-moving or standing water. Development in the fringe will not normally interfere with the flow of water. Therefore, floodplain regulations for the flood fringe allow development to occur but require protection from flood waters through the elevation of buildings above the 100-year flood level or floodproofing buildings so that water cannot enter the structure. Richland County adopted Special Flood Hazard Area (Floodplain) Regulations to promote the public health, safety and general welfare, protect the natural function of streams, and to minimize public and private losses due to flood conditions in specific areas by provisions designed to: Protect human life and health; Minimize expenditure of public and private money for costly flood control projects; Minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated with flooding and generally undertaken at the expense of the general public; Minimize prolonged business interruptions; Minimize damage to public facilities and utilities such as water and gas mains, electric, telephone and sewer lines, streets and bridges located in areas of special flood hazard; Help maintain a stable tax base by providing for the proper use and development of areas of special flood hazard so as to minimize future flood blight areas; Ensure that potential buyers are aware that property is in an area of special flood hazard, and Ensure that those who occupy the areas of special flood hazard assume responsibility for their actions. The Floodplain Regulations adopted by the Richland County Board of Commissioners apply to property located in unincorporated areas of Richland County only. Each community (cities and villages) in Richland County is responsible for its own Floodplain Regulations and enforcement of those regulations.  Richland County Floodplain RegulationsEffective April 4, 2011 What is a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA)? As defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) an area having special flood, mudflow or flood-related erosion hazards and shown on a Flood Hazard Boundary Map (FHBM) or a Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) Zone A, AO, A1-A30, AE, A99, AH, AR, AR/A, AR/AE, AR/AH, AR/AO, AR/A1-A30, V1-V30, VE or V. The SFHA is the area where the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP’s) floodplain management regulations must be enforced and the area where the mandatory purchase of flood insurance applies.  For the purpose of determining Community Rating System (CRS) premium discounts, all AR and A99 zones are treated as non-SFHAs. Development within a defined floodplain or SFHA is governed through floodplain regulations adopted by a local community or county. Flood Insurance Flood insurance is an important consideration when buying floodplain property. A person should be aware of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which provides flood insurance coverage for structures and their contents, in communities participating in the NFIP. Under this program, federally insured or regulated institutions must require flood insurance policies on all new loans for structures in mapped 100 year floodplain areas recognized by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). You can find out if a piece of property is located in the floodplain by checking with the local Floodplain Administrator (ask for the Flood Insurance Rate Map or the Flood Hazard Boundary Map furnished by FEMA). Matt Christian and Matt Wallace, Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD) are the manager and administrator for Richland County. If a person is considering the purchase or development of floodplain property, their insurance agent can provide information on the cost and availability of flood insurance. It should be noted that flood insurance is available for structures only in communities participating in NFIP. The structure does not have to be located in the mapped floodplain in order to obtain insurance. ODNR Floodplain Management Fact Sheet 13 – Facts About Flood Insurance Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Floodplain Administrator List National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Flood Insurance Rate Maps Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMS) are issued by FEMA as part of the National Flood Insurance Program. The hazard area or Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), shown on the flood map is known as the 100-year floodplain. It is more precisely defined as the floodplain associated with a flood that has a 1 percent annual chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. The 100-year flood is not a flood event that happens once in a hundred years, rather a flood event that has a one percent chance of occurring every year. Flood maps may include: Major highways, secondary roads, lakes, railroads, streams and other waterways Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA) identified on the FIRM as zones A, AE, AH, AO, AR,V, VE or A99 Base Flood Elevations (BFEs) or depths (BFE is the calculated elevation of the 100-year flood.) Areas subject to inundation by the 500-year flood. Flood Insurance Rate Information Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) FEMA Flood Map Service Center You can create a FIRMette using the online FIRMette – Web tool. A FIRMette is a full-scale section of a FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) that you create yourself online and is formatted to fit on printers commonly found in offices. There is no cost for making a FIRMette. FIRMettes can be used in all aspects of the NFIP including floodplain management, flood insurance, and enforcement of mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements. You can also view Flood Maps using Google Earth. You need to download the National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL) KMZ file below. Please download and read the instructions below for using Google Earth and the NFHL KMZ file. Create a FIRMette FEMA Map Service Center Floodplain Determinations A floodplain determination can assist a property owner in determining what portions of their property and what structures on their property are in a floodplain. As well, when applying for flood insurance or a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) or Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) a floodplain determination will assist the property owner, the lender, and FEMA in applying the correct criteria when writing an insurance policy or making a determination. Floodplain determinations are provided at no charge for properties located in the Richland County jurisdiction. For more information or to request a determination, please contact Matt Wallace. Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA) LOMA and LOMR – Based on Fill Process (LOMR-F) Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) Floodplain Resources National Weather Service (NWS) National Flood Insurance Program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) FEMA Elevation Certificate Guidance FEMA’s Handbook of Appeals Floodplain Management Requirements for Agricultural and Accessory Structures Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Water Resources For more information, please visit FEMA. Ohio Department of Natural Resources – Floodplain Management Program includes information on floodplain regulations in Ohio. A stormwater permit application may be found on our forms menu. You may also apply for a stormwater permit online. For projects that modify a watercourse and are located in Zone A where no Base Flood Elevations exist, a Zone Channel Modifications Form must be filled out on our forms menu. #### Forms Agriculture Forms H2Ohio Lake Erie CREP Fillable Application Lake Erie CREP Landowner Contract Ohio Agriculture Fertilizer Applicator Recordkeeping Form Voluntary Nutrient Management Technical Guidance CNMP Guidance H2Ohio BMP Checklists CCR Checklist DMS Log DMS – Development Checklist DMS – Maintenance Checklist Manure Incorporation Checklist NMP – Implementation Checklist NMP Grant – Producer NMP Grant – TSP OCC Checklist SPP Checklist VRPA Checklist MWCD Cover Crop Cost Share Program MWCD Cover Crop Application and Agreement MWCD Programs MWCD Cover Crop Area Map Farmland Preservation Agriculture Security Area Application Agriculture Security Area Tax Exemption Form Site Visit Form Deed of Agriculture Easement Landowner Application Attachment Checklist USDA-NRCS Conservation Planning Workbook Richland County Growers and Producers Richland County Grower and Producer Form Cooperator of the Year Cooperator of the Year Nomination Form Stormwater Forms Commercial Projects Commercial Construction Documents Checklist Inspection and Maintenance Agreement and Deed of Stormwater Control and Erosion Control Easement General Documents Agricultural Enterprise Declaration Form Current Stormwater Regulations Download Stormwater Permit Application Stormwater Permit Application Checklist Site Calculation Form Intent to Fill Form Inspection and Maintenance Agreement and Deed of Stormwater Control and Erosion Control Easement Example Site Plan – Pond Example Site Plan – Other than Pond New Landowner, Home Buyer or Home Builder Guide for Richland County Get the Guide Get Involved Forms Volunteers Online Volunteer Application Download Volunteer Application Volunteer Equipment Borrow Form Volunteer Release Form Volunteer Release Form – Minor Lake Monitor Data Sheet Releases Adult Release Form for Photos, Videos Minor Volunteer Consent & Release Form Adult Contest Release Form Other Board Supervisor Candidate Nomination Form Camp Canopy Scholarship Form Feedback Form #### Get Involved New Team Members at Richland SWCD Meet our new stormwater technician and summer interns!Read More Theresa Sutter Transitions to a New Role What Theresa will be up to in her new role.Read More Summer Events Richland county residents are in for a fun summer!Read More Backyard Conservation Learn about some easy conservation practices you can incorporate at home. Careers & Internships Find out about job and internship opportunities. Donate or Sponsor Support local conservation efforts. Volunteer Opportunities Do you have a passion for conservation? Consider joining our valued team of volunteers! Volunteer Portal Already a volunteer? Log in here. #### H2Ohio About H2Ohio The 2025 H2Ohio Annual Report is available to read here! H2Ohio is a water quality program that offers monetary incentives to farmers/producers for implementing conservation-focused best management practices (BMPs). The aim is to encourage producers within the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) to adopt practices that will help decrease phosphorus runoff from agricultural land. Lake Erie has been the focus of this project due to the harmful algal blooms that have occurred there. In 2020, the H2Ohio program was rolled out to fourteen counties within the WLEB. In 2021, the Ohio Department of Agriculture rolled out H2Ohio to the remaining ten counties within the WLEB, Richland County being one of them! H2Ohio is available in Richland County for crop years 2026 and 2027.  If you’re interested in enrolling in H2Ohio, more information on sign-up period and program offerings will be available in the coming months. In the meantime, here are some items to gather to expedite the process when the sign-up period is open: Up-to-date soil test information (i.e. 4 years old or newer. For Crop Year 2026 soil test information from 2022-on is acceptable, for 2027 soil tests from 2023-on is acceptable.) Planned crop rotations for crop years 2026 & 2027. Field maps for the ground you’re interested in enrolling in H2Ohio (and/or Field boundary files from your cca or agronomist.) Richland County is still on the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) H2Ohio schedule, meaning land in the following counties will be eligible to enroll through our office for crop year 2026 and 2027: Crawford, Erie, Huron, Marion, Ottawa, Richland, Sandusky,  Seneca, Shelby, & Wyandot. Application VNMP and CNMP Implementation Exhibit A VNMP and CNMP Implementation Exhibit B Manure Incorporation and Utilization Over-Wintering Cover Subsurface Phosphorus Placement For questions or more information, contact Jordan Keller 419-747-8688. What It Consists Of A suite of data driven BMPs make up the program. They include: establishing cover crops, adding small grains into your crop rotation, implementation of an SWCD/ODA approved nutrient management plan, manure/fertilizer placement and rate, and drainage water management. Why It Matters H2Ohio is a voluntary program that offers incentives to farmers who meet the requirements for the specific BMPs. In addition to the incentives, producers have the opportunity through H2Ohio to participate in the stewardship of their natural resources, as well as the resources of Ohioans next door or downstream. Again, the goal of the program is to decrease nutrient runoff from farmland. Additionally, the H2Ohio practices may assist in increasing soil health, conserving soil nutrients, and providing opportunities to try things a little differently. For more information, visit: https://h2.ohio.gov/about-h2ohio/. Lake Erie CREP H2Ohio Program The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is a USDA Farm Bill conservation program that offers farmers and landowners financial compensation for taking cropland out of production and establishing conservation practices such as buffer strips, grasslands, and wetlands to improve water quality for a contract period of 15 years. The new H2Ohio Water Quality Incentive Program is being offered in combination with Lake Erie CREP and provides a onetime payment of $2,000 per acre for new Lake Erie CREP wetlands and forested riparian buffers (buffer strip with trees) to help improve water quality in the Lake Erie watershed. More wetlands and forested riparian buffers will help reduce phosphorus runoff into Lake Erie. Both conservation practices are on the H2Ohio top 10 list of phosphorus reduction practices. Forms Get H2Ohio Forms Get H2Ohio BMP Checklists More Information WQIP Announcement Lake Erie CREP H2Ohio Fact Sheet Lake Erie CREP H2Ohio Requirements Lake Erie CREP H2Ohio Contacts Lake Erie CREP H2Ohio FAQs Lake Erie CREP H2Ohio Guidance Richland County Overwintering Cover Crops Fact Sheet Richland County Small Grains Fact Sheet Richland County VNMP Fact Sheet #### Help Center Below you will find a list of Board of Supervisors and Staff Members, along with contact information. If you are unsure of who to contact or have general inquiries, email Contact@richlandswcd.net or call 419-747-8686. Matt Christian Director Matt@richlandswcd.net419.747.8684 Zoe Baumberger Marketing & Volunteer Coordinator Baumberger.zoe@richlandswcd.net419.774.8986 Contact Zoe regarding: District Sales Donations Events, Programs and Speaking Engagements Milkweed Seed Pod Collection and Milkweed Seed Distribution Partnerships Supervisor Elections Volunteer Program Website Concerns Matt Wallace Technician wallace.matt@richlandswcd.net419.747.8687 Contact Matt regarding: Agriculture Drainage, Erosion and Pollution Concerns Agriculture Stewardship Cover Crops Ditch Petitions FFA Events Farmland Preservation & Conservation Easements Floodplain Properties Ponds Soil Health/Quality Concerns Soil Testing Water Health/Quality Concerns Sam Foley Technician Foley.sam@richlandswcd.net419.747.8077 Contact Sam regarding: Stormwater permits Soil Health/Quality Concerns Soil Testing Urban Conservation Water Health/Quality Concerns Drainage, Erosion and Pollution Concerns MS4 program Rain Barrels Jordan Keller Technician keller.jordan@richlandswcd.net419.747.8688 Contact Jordan regarding: H2Ohio Program Nutrient Management Plans Rain Gardens Stormwater permits Soil Health/Quality Concerns Soil Testing Urban Conservation Water Health/Quality Concerns Colby Dunn Technician Stern.Evan@richlandswcd.net419.774.7890 Contact Colby regarding: Stormwater permits Soil Health/Quality Concerns Urban Conservation Water Health/Quality Concerns Drainage, Erosion and Pollution Concerns Jason Ruhl District Conservationist jason.ruhl@usda.govRichland County: 419.747.8691 ext. 7120 or 3 – (main duty station)Ashland County: 419.289.2421 ext. 4859 or 3 –Fax for both: 885.842.8005 Jordan Miller USDA-NRCS, Soil Conservationist jordan.miller@usda.gov419.747.8691 ext. 3 Rachel Coy-Mecurio Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist IIPheasants Forever, Inc. and Quail Forever rcoy@pheasantsforever.orgCell: 419.707.2940 Richland, Crawford, Huron, and Seneca Counties Brian Alt Board of Supervisor Chairman balt@neo.rr.com419.631.6124 Greg Timberlake Board of Supervisor Secretary gtimberlake@gmail.com419.528.8917 Jean McClintock Board of Supervisor Treasurer jsncclintock@mac.com419.560.0780 Leonard Fox Board of Supervisor Vice Chairman lfox2@neo.rr.com419.989.8150 Pam McKown Board of Supervisor At Large pamelamckown948@gmail.com419.543.3336 #### Home Home Stormwater Permit Information Office hours are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon and by appointment outside of permit office hours. Stormwater permit applications, checklists and information needed to obtain a stormwater permit are available here. Please submit your stormwater permit application, site calculation form, permit fees and additional documents in person, via email to Permit@richlandswcd.net, or through US Mail by sending to: Richland SWCD, 1495 W. Longview Ave, Suite 205B, Mansfield, OH 44906. Frequently Asked Questions From managing storm water to soil testing, we’ve got the answers. Calendar of Events Election Web Slider(2)Pam McKown Board Supervisor DutiesPodcast Welcome to Richland Soil & Water Property owners are faced with many decisions regarding land management, and we can help you meet your goals. We offer assistance with: Drainage and erosion concerns Flooding Pond creation and maintenance Forestry management Agricultural programs We also provide Aerial-GPS maps of individual properties. Don’t Forget If you are moving soil you need to consult with us about getting a stormwater permit so that you are in compliance with the Stormwater Management and Sediment Control Regulations for Richland County. Let’s work together to keep Richland County green and clean! You’re Invited: 2026 Annual Celebration & Board Supervisor Election Join us October 1 for our Annual Celebration and cast your vote for the Richland SWCD Board of Supervisors.Read More Keep Your Clippings Out of the Fast Lane The hidden problem with grass clippings on the road.Read More New Team Members at Richland SWCD Meet our new stormwater technician and summer interns!Read More TopsoilDid you know?Topsoil is the most productive soil layer. It has varying amounts of organic matter (living and dead organisms), minerals, and nutrients. Richland County AreaDid you know?Richland County has a total area of 318,080 acres. That’s 497 square miles! Continental DivideDid you know?The Continental Divide goes through Richland County. It separates the runoff that goes to Lake Erie from runoff that goes to the Ohio River. Richland County TownshipsDid you know?Richland County has 18 Townships. It also has 3 cities (Mansfield, Ontario & Shelby) and 6 villages. WatershedDid you know?Everyone lives in a Watershed. If you’re in Richland County, the water from your watershed travels to either Lake Erie or the Ohio River. #### Huron Watershed Note: Impervious surface permit icons, land use icons, and livestock icons do not necessarily indicate exact locations. They are approximate locations on the same land parcel. View the Richland County Watersheds Map HURON Begins in northern Richland County near Plymouth → Lake Erie at Huron Soil Type in the Huron Watershed Shoals-Chili-Wheeling Belmore-Haney Fitchville-Luray-Bennington Pewamo-Bennington Bennington-Cardington Wooster-Canfield Cardington-Alexandria More Information on These Soil Types Impervious Areas Total Impervious Areas Created in the Huron Watershed*   1,377,602 sq. ft. Residential Permits (Homes, Pole Barns, Additions, etc.) PermitsYearLeast Area Created (Above 0)1,916sq. ft.2021Most Area Created52,457sq. ft.2002 Exemptions** (Less than 2,000 square feet created) PermitsYearLeast Area Created (Above 0)1,224sq. ft.2008Most Area Created78,130sq. ft.2013 Commercial Permits PermitsYearLeast Area Created (Above 0)2,500sq. ft.2019Most Area Created294,009sq. ft.2001 *This figure does not include impervious areas from prior to 2000**Agriculture is included in permit exemptions Learn About Impervious Areas Impervious Areas Created in the Huron Watershed by Year #### I Have a Project What to Bring For a Stormwater Permit? This questionnaire is designed to help you through the process of getting a Stormwater Permit. It will alert you to what documentation you will need to obtain before you make a trip to the office. Not all permits require fees. You will need to complete a Stormwater Permit Application with a signature. Some permits may allow the contractor to sign. Pay attention to the summary at the end of the questionnaire for what documents you will need to obtain. Start the Questionnaire In addition to completing the questionnaire above, you are encouraged to watch the 3-part In the Know Video series on the stormwater permit process. The videos provide an overview of why a stormwater permit is needed and what documents and information you need before you start the stormwater permit process. Stormwater Permit Office Hours Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon. Get Stormwater Forms Intro to Stormwater Permits Residential Stormwater Permits Intro to Online Stormwater Permits Agriculture Stormwater Permits #### Impervious Areas Impervious vs. Pervious Impervious Areas are man-made areas that cannot absorb water from rain or snow. Impervious Area Examples: Roofs Roads Driveways Parking Lots Sidewalks Pervious Areas, on the other hand, absorb water from rain or snow. How Impervious Areas Affect Your Watershed Water from Impervious Areas can no longer soak into the soil. Usually it is directed somewhere else to drain, such as: a Road Ditch, Stream, Property Line, etc… This has negative impacts: Aquifers don’t get replenished. Water reaches streams much faster, which forces the stream to adjust to handle the additional water, often leading to streambank erosion and flooding. Why is the Stormwater Program Important? The Stormwater Program works with permit applicants on how to properly direct water from newly constructed Impervious Areas. Applicants needing residential permits are encouraged to direct the water to drain on their own property. This allows their soil to absorb some of the water, which slows it down before it reaches streams. This also minimizes streambank erosion and flooding. Commercial permits can create significantly large amounts of impervious areas with one project. This is why these applicants must have an engineered plan to make sure their stormwater runoff is released at a controlled rate. Impervious Areas Maps Since 2000, the District has administered the County Stormwater Permit Program. A portion of the data collected from the program includes the amount of Impervious Areas that have been added in the County. This information has been broken down by Watershed and incorporated into an interactive map! Huron Watershed Sandusky Watershed Upper Vermillion Watershed Rocky Fork Watershed Black Fork Watershed Clear Fork Watershed Upper Kokosing Watershed Upper Olentangy Watershed Not sure which watershed you’re in? Richland County Watersheds NOTE: Information has only been collected from 2000 to 2021, therefore the maps do not reflect the Impervious Areas prior to 2000. Learn More Stormwater NPDES #### Locations CONTENTS #### Mission, Vision, and History Our Mission The mission of the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District is to assist the citizens of Richland County to protect and improve the County’s natural resources by providing exceptional educational, planning and technical assistance. Our Vision The vision of the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District is to improve the quality and quantity of our County’s natural resources within the watersheds of Richland County by establishing a working network of diverse conservation partners resulting in the District being known as the County’s natural resource reference agency. History The Richland Soil and Water Conservation District was organized in 1948 and covers all lands within Richland County. The District is a legal sub-division of the State of Ohio and is assisted by the Richland County Commissioners and the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA). Through a memorandum of understanding, technical assistance is provided by ODA – Division of Soil and Water Conservation and the United States Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS.) The Richland Soil and Water Conservation District is governed by a Board of five Supervisors who are elected by the owners and occupiers of the land within the boundaries of the District. The Richland Soil and Water Conservation District and its five-member Board of Supervisors provide leadership through strategic planning, partnerships and conservation services. The District partners with Richland County government, other Richland County departments, local governments, and the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (OFSWCD). These partnerships form an important association to assist Richland County landowners and government. #### My Bookings CONTENTS #### Newsletters View Newer Newsletters 2023 Podcast E-Newsletter 2022 Podcast Number 4 Spring 2022 E-Newsletter Summer 2022 E-Newsletter Fall 2022 E-Newsletter Winter 2022 E-Newsletter Annual Celebration Nutrient Management Plan Grant 2022 Podcast E-Newsletter 2022 Podcast Number 4 Spring 2022 E-Newsletter Summer 2022 E-Newsletter Fall 2022 E-Newsletter Winter 2022 E-Newsletter Annual Celebration Nutrient Management Plan Grant 2021 January 2021 February 2021 March 2021 Pastures for Profit Grazing School Spring Pond Fish Sale April 2021 May 2021 June 2021 H2Ohio Meetings August 2021 Newsletter H2Ohio and Farm Science Review October 2021 December 2021 Newsletter 2020 January 2020 Newsletter February 2020 Newsletter March 2020 Newsletter Tree Seedling Sale Cancellation Pastures for Profit Grazing School Pastures for Profit Grazing School Postponed Richland SWCD Response to COVID-19 April 2020 Newsletter May 2020 Newsletter June 2020 Newsletter July 2020 August 2020 September 2020 October 2020 November 2020 Annual Celebration Re-Cap Newsletter Holiday Greetings 2019 January 2019 Newsletter February 2019 Newsletter March 2019 Newsletter April 2019 Newsletter May 2019 Newsletter Urban Technician Position Announcement June 2019 Newsletter July 2019 Newsletter August 2019 Newsletter September 2019 Newsletter Watershed Survey October 2019 Newsletter Annual Celebration Invitation Extreme Farming Farm Planning for Extreme Weather 2018 January 2018 Newsletter March 2018 Newsletter April 2018 Newsletter Spring 2018 Pond Fish Sale June 2018 Newsletter July 2018 Newsletter August 2018 Newsletter District Program Administrator Job Announcement Fall Pond Fish Sale Milkweed Seed Pod Collection Precipitation Monitor Training 2018 Annual Celebration Invitation 2018 Annual Celebration Summary 2018 Holiday Greetings #### NPDES/MS4 Stormwater Non Point Discharge System (NPDES) in Richland County In addition to requirements Richland County landowners follow for earthmoving activities through the Richland County Stormwater and Erosion Control Program, communities that have 1000 or more people per square mile must follow the Stormwater Non Point Discharge System (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) (NPDES) General Permit for Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) to further effectively manage water pollution. The Richland County Commissioners are mandated by Ohio EPA to create and manage this added accountability for stormwater runoff. The NPDES (MS4) communities in Richland County are: City of Mansfield, City of Ontario, Village of Lexington, Madison Township, Mifflin Township, Springfield Township and Washington Township. NPDES/MS4 Areas Map Stormwater runoff is generated when rain and snowmelt events flows over land or impervious surfaces and does not percolate into the ground. As the runoff flows over the land or impervious surfaces (paved streets, parking lots, and building rooftops), it accumulates debris, chemicals, sediment or other pollutants that could adversely affect water quality if the runoff is discharged untreated. The primary method to control stormwater discharges is the use of best management practices (BMPs). In addition, most stormwater discharges are considered point sources and require coverage under an NPDES/MS4 permit.  Water pollution degrades surface waters making them unsafe for drinking, fishing, swimming, and other activities. Authorized by the Clean Water Act, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program for MS4 controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States. Point sources are discrete conveyances such as pipes or man-made ditches. Individual homes that are connected to a municipal system, use a septic system, or do not have a surface discharge do not need an NPDES/MS4 permit; however, industrial, municipal, and other facilities must obtain permits if their discharges go directly to surface waters. In most cases, the NPDES/MS4 permit program is administered Ohio EPA. Since its introduction in 1972, the NPDES permit program is responsible for significant improvements to our Nation’s water quality. These regulations require designated communities to develop and implement a storm water management plan. This is accomplished by implementing six minimum control measures. Public Education — BMPs for MS4s to inform individuals and households about ways to reduce stormwater pollution. Public Involvement — BMPs for MS4s to involve the public in the development, implementation, and review of an MS4’s stormwater management program. Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination — BMPs for identifying and eliminating illicit discharges and spills to storm drain systems. Learn more about how to test for an IDDE. Construction — BMPs for MS4s and construction site operators to address stormwater runoff from active construction sites. Post-construction — BMPs for MS4s, developers, and property owners to address stormwater runoff after construction activities have completed.  Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping — BMPs for MS4s to address stormwater runoff from their own facilities and activities.  If there is a land disturbance within the NPDES/MS4 area it may require engineered plans. Please contact us as part of your planning process to find out. Our office can provide detailed steps of how a land use change can be made while still complying and how to work with EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) directly. Richland Soil and Water Conservation District assists communities with a variety of public education, outreach, involvement and participation programs to help meet the requirements of the local MS4 management plan. These programs include electronic newsletters, social media platforms, website updates and workshops. 2026 Stormwater Theme: Only Rain Down the Drain In the final quarter of 2025, we inspected our MS4 township garage facilities to confirm their good housekeeping practices. We enjoyed catching up with the township road supervisors and discussing our plans for the new permit term, which will run from 2026 to 2030. 2026 brings a new MS4 theme: Only Rain Down the Drain! Many people don’t realize that, unlike a sanitary sewer, the water that enters a storm drain or ditch is NOT treated. There’s no filtration or disinfection process. Stormwater simply flows (often through a system of pipes, culverts, and catch basins) to the nearest stream, lake, or river. That means anything the water picks up along the way (from litter to oil) is carried into our local waterways. What goes down the drain goes into our environment. Join us throughout 2026 as we highlight simple ways to protect our waterbodies. If you’re planning a project this year, come get your stormwater permit to ensure you’re only sending rain down the drain. Small choices can make a big impact! Learn more here: https://www.onlyraindownthedrain.com/ Washing your car is a good maintenance practice. However, when you wash your car in your driveway or on a hard surface, soap, oils, dirt, and salt can run off into the storm drain. Runoff from vehicle washes can contain high amounts of nutrients, metals, and hydrocarbons that adversely affect aquatic ecosystems. So, what can you do to protect local waters? Go to a commercial car wash facility that treats wash water or use a biodegradable, phosphate-free, water-based detergent at home and rinse it in the grass. Together we can ensure that only rain goes down the storm drain! Learn more about the MS4 program in Richland County by contacting the MS4 Technician. We sell rain barrels and have them in stock. You may purchase one online or let us know and we will make arrangements with you to pick one up. Stormwater Themes 2025 2025 Stormwater Theme: Keep Dirt Where it Belongs 2024 2024 Stormwater Theme: Pollution Prevention 2023 2023 Stormwater Theme: Reduce Your Stormwater Footprint 2022 2022 Stormwater Theme: Trees Reduce and Clean Stormwater 2021 2021 Stormwater Theme: Only Rain Down the Drain 2020 2020 Stormwater Theme: Trees Reduce and Clean Stormwater 2019 2019 Stormwater Theme: Only Rain Down the Drain #### Nutrient Management Nutrient management involves managing the amount, placement, and timing of plant nutrients to obtain optimum yields and minimize the risk of surface and groundwater pollution. The 4Rs The 4Rs were created to educate and promote wise nutrient management to conserve water quality and soil health using four “rights”: Right Source: Ensure a balanced supply of essential nutrients, considering both naturally available sources and the characteristics of specific products, in plant available forms. Right Rate: Assess and make decisions based on soil nutrient supply and plant demand. Right Time: Assess and make decisions based on the dynamics of crop uptake, soil supply, nutrient loss risks, and field operation logistics. Right Place: Address root-soil dynamics and nutrient movement, and manage spatial variability within the field to meet site-specific crop needs and limit potential losses from the field. Learn More About the 4Rs ODA and OSU Extension Offer Online Pesticide Re-Certification During the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA), is partnering with the Ohio State University Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) to temporarily provide online recertification for pesticide applicators and fertilizer certificate holders whose licenses expired in spring of 2020. The online recertification will be available Monday, July 6. For commercial applicators, it will be available August 10.  For more information or to register for the online recertification, visit Pesticide Certification.  The online option allows private applicators and fertilizer certificate holders due for training by March 31, 2020 and commercial applicators due for training by September 30, 2020 to meet their continuing education requirements. The cost for online training is $35 for private applicators and $10 for fertilizer certification. The price per credit hour for commercial applicators is $15. If you don’t know your license number, please call ODA at 614-728-6987, choose option 1. Applicators are still required to meet their recertification requirements to renew licenses and certifications.  As a result of HB 197, applicators have until 90 days after the emergency is over or December 1, whichever comes first, to complete their requirements.  Recertification status can be checked online here. Applicators must also submit a completed renewal application and pay an additional fee to the ODA for licensure. For additional information regarding online recertification, please contact the Ohio Department of Agriculture at 614-728-6987, and press 1 for licensing recertification or the OSU Pesticide Safety Education Program at 614-292-4070. Commercial applicators must earn at least five recertification credit hours every three years, and Private applicators must earn at least three recertification credit hours every three years. One hour (60 minutes) must be earned by taking one or more core education classes, one half-hour (30 minutes) of education in each category on the license, and the remaining time requirement can be met by attending classes in any category. Manure Management Manure management is an important aspect of livestock farming in Ohio. Livestock operations should have a site specific plan, called a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMPs) that includes the best practices and strategies to manage the collection, storage and land application of manure. Many livestock farmers collect and store manure over a period of time before applying it to a field. A CNMP recommends the size of manure storage structure based on the number of livestock, the desired frequency of field application, and environmental conditions, such as frozen ground. The producer should be able to store manure during the times of the year that have an increased risk of nutrient loss, such as the winter months when the ground is frozen. Manure is fertilizer because it contains nutrients vital for plant growth. When manure is spread on a field with growing plants the nutrients in the manure become available to the plant. Sampling the soil in the field will let a producer know how much of a nutrient is already in the soil before applying manure. There is a greater risk of nutrients will leave the field in water that runs off the surface or drains into field tile if the soil contains more nutrients than the plants need. Farms that import manure to spread on fields should also have a nutrient management plan. Nutrient management plans for these farms document practices on the fields receiving manure and amount of nutrients already in the soil. For more information, please visit https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/plantsanimals/livestock/afo/?cid=stelprdb1042911 Download the Nutrient Management Plan PDF Ohio Applicator Forecast NOAA Forecast H2Ohio Program USDA-NRCS 590 Standard Video Explanation USDA-NRCS 590 Conservation Practice Standard for Nutrient Management OSU Fertilizer Recertification The USDA is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. #### Ohio Drainage Laws Landowners can’t block water from entering and leaving their property without providing an outlet. See the Ohio Drainage Law Ditch Petition Procedures, Chapter 6131: Single County Ditches, Chapter 6133: Joint County Ditches, Ohio Drainage Law and the Ohio State University Extension Bulletin 822 for more information: Ohio Drainage Law Stream Debris and Obstruction Removal Ohio State University Extension Bulletin 822 Black Fork Ditch Petition Process Watershed Map 1st Meeting Map B Watershed Map 1st Meeting Map D Ohio Drainage Law Ditch Petition Procedures Chapter 6131: Single County Ditches Chapter 6133: Joint County Ditches Example of Logjams and Dead Trees in Black Fork Black Fork Petition – Hearing Presentation Drone Footage of Black Fork Ditch Petition Area Richland Source May 21, 2021, article on Black Fork Ditch Petition Public Viewing Impervious Areas Learn about Impervious Areas Neighborhood Drainage Issues Neighborhood drainage issues are becoming a major county issue in populated areas. Here is an explanation of what you can do and how we can help. Resolving Drainage Issues Assistance We Provide with Neighborhood Drainage Issues Neighborhood drainage issues are becoming a major county issue in populated areas. In our experience, landowners want to involve our agency as an intermediary between neighbors. Our agency does not work with property owners to settle disputes. When neighbors agree to work together, then we can provide recommendations for solutions. If the drainage concern is complex, a civil engineer should be consulted at the landowner(s) expense. Our agency is not an enforcement agency, but we do explain the parameters of Ohio Drainage Law when surface water issues arise. Ohio Drainage Law is specific. In short, surface water is owned by the state of Ohio and landowners that receive surface water must not impede or block the natural flow of water. Many of our recommendations include slowing surface flow by diverting or retaining water while the discharge flows naturally, the way nature intended. Also, we can consult and recommend practices to be installed to minimize drainage concerns. These are verbal recommendations and it is up to the landowner to implement the practices suggested. We can provide examples of practices for landowners to follow. In addition, we cannot walk onto neighboring properties to investigate drainage concerns. When there are issues between neighbors, we must be invited to go onto the property. Above all, it is the responsibility of the two parties/neighbors to come up with an agreeable solution. When drainage issues cannot be resolved between landowners, we offer the option of the parties getting together in our office with a mediator. The goal of mediation is to develop a mutual agreement between neighbors. The court driven mediation will help minimize confusion and promote a solution. The mediation is at the expense of the parties. In an ideal situation, both landowners involved in a dispute share the expense of implementing a solution. This solution will not only benefit them; it will benefit all landowners in the community. When neighbors cannot communicate and mediation is unsuccessful, the only recourse is to proceed with civil court. When a landowner considers civil court, it is important that their claim(s) warrant the complaint on the basis of damage to life, property, equipment. Is it life threatening? Is the drainage devaluing my property? Is the drainage a seasonal moisture issue that disappears when rainy periods diminish? Is this drainage issue affecting my quality of life, or well-being of my property (buildings, basements, foundations, etc.)? Am I in a floodplain or wetland? It is important to remember that there are federal and state laws in place to protect natural resources. Many of our complaints are temporary issues; they involve ponding or the holding of surface water during seasons of high rainfall. Finally, we encourage landowners who experience drainage issues to document with dated pictures, videos and receipts of repairs resulting from stormwater damage in a dated folder. This information will be important if the landowner chooses to resolve the concern in civil court. Please contact us if you have further questions at 419.747.8684 or go to our contact page. Drainage Assistance Example Neighbors Work Together to Resolve Drainage Situation We want to share with you a recent example of three (3) neighbor’s working together to resolve a drainage situation. One neighbor invited Richland SWCD to meet with himself and his neighbors to share what has been happening, to discuss possible solutions and hear recommendations from Richland SWCD. Matt Wallace, District Technician, and Erica Thomas, District Administrator met with the group. Background: Adam Wade, NeighborForeground: Matt Wallace, SWCD Technician To provide you with some background, one neighbor has a farm and the other two neighbors are home and landowners. Two neighbors have lived in their homes several years and the third built a home with driveway a few years ago. The neighbor who recently built a home, also inherited a ditch from a previous owner that was intended to drain into the farm field. The farmer does not want the water to drain onto his field. The other homeowner has been experiencing septic back-ups into the home and some basement flooding. How can this be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction? The new homeowner suggested removing part of a dike along the manmade channel to eliminate septic saturation and back-up, basement flooding and keep it from draining onto the farm field. This solution will allow water to flow back to an open meadow that was naturally wet before a past owner decided to channel it in one direction. To reduce a potential mosquito problem, Matt recommended building bat and swallow houses. The benefit is two-fold. Building and installing it will be great family project, plus it uses natural methods instead of chemicals. By the time Matt and Erica were ready to leave, the neighbors were discussing how to get started on the project. In the end, everyone seemed pleased and were ready to work toward achieving the same goal. We consider this a great day and visit and appreciate being invited to join in the discussion. A drainage issue like this one, is a civil matter. If you invite Richland SWCD to a meeting like the example above, we will schedule a time to meet the parties involved at the site and provide recommendations. Sometimes an intermediary like Richland SWCD who isn’t directly involved in a situation can help find a satisfactory resolution. Richland SWCD does not settle disputes and is not an enforcement agency. However, you may forge a stronger relationship with your neighbor. To learn more, call 419-747-8686 or go to our contact page. June 15, 2020 Drainage Rights From Jack Van Kley, Van Kley & Walker, LLC December 21, 2016 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT YOUR DRAINAGE RIGHTS: Flooding from high stream flows or heavy unchanneled runoff from land can cause substantial damage to property. Disputes between neighbors can arise when a landowner on higher ground increases the volume or rate of flow onto another landowner’s property, or when a landowner on lower ground blocks the flow from another landowner’s higher land. Drainage problems, and disputes over drainage problems, can occur on land that is used for any purpose. [n rural areas, drainage disputes can arise when one farmer’s fields are flooded by rainfall or snow melt flowing off another farmer’s fields, or when poor drainage on one farmer’s fields blocks effective drainage from another farmer’s fields. In urban areas, the construction of paved parking lots, buildings, roads, and other impervious surfaces can prevent the percolation of precipitation into the soil and increase the storm water runoff onto adjoining properties. The increased storm water runoff can erode the soil and flood basements, yards, gardens, and septic systems. This article explains the drainage rights possessed by Ohio landowners in the form of questions and answers. This information is applicable to drainage in all types of land use, whether industrial, commercial, residential, recreational, or agricultural. The references to “landowners” in these questions and answers also apply to renters and other persons who occupy a property. True or False? An upper (uphill) landowner always has the right to drain all of his surface water onto a neighbor’s downgradient (downhill) land, regardless of the flow volume and the amount of damage it causes on downgradient land. Answer: False. If the drainage causes an unreasonable amount of damage to downgradient land, then the upper landowner is liable for encroaching on the downgradient neighbor’s property rights. Ohio’s courts have adopted a “reasonable use” doctrine that the com1s use to determine whether a landowner’s drainage activities have violated another landowner’s property rights. This principle allows a landowner to develop or modify his prope11y in a manner that increases the drainage onto a neighbor’s land, but only if the increased drainage does not unreasonably interfere with the neighbor’s drainage. A project that interferes with drainage is unreasonable if its hann to other landowners outweighs the project’s benefits. This is a subjective standard that is based on fairness and common sense. This balancing test evaluates the following facts to determine the seriousness of harn1 to the landowners adversely affected by the interference with drainage: the extent of the harm; the character of the harm; the social value of the use or enjoyment that is harmed; (d) the suitability of the damaged use or enjoyment to the character of the locality; and (e) the burden on the hanned landowner if she has to fund and implement the actions necessa1y to avoid ham1 from the other landowner’s drainage. This balancing test evaluates the following facts to evaluate the value of the project that interferes with drainage: (a) the project’s social value; (b the project’s suitability to the character of the locality; whether it is impracticable to prevent or avoid the interference; and whether it is impracticable to maintain the project if its owner is required to bear the cost of compensating for the interference with drainage. A judge or jury will use these factors to compare the seriousness of the harm caused by the project with the project’s value to determine whether the project unreasonably interferes with drainage. Generally, a landowner’s interference with another landowner’s drainage will be found unreasonable if most citizens would find the interference to be unfair or offensive. True or False? An upper landowner is allowed to increase his drainage onto a neighbor’s land even if the higher volume of drainage exceeds the highest flows that have historically occurred from her land. Answer: True, as long as the increased flow is reasonable as determined by the balancing test described in the previous answer. True or False? An upper landowner can always increase the speed of surface water flow onto downgradient land without liability as long as the total volume of water does not increase. Answer: False. Even if an upper landowner does not increase the overall amount of water drained onto a neighbor’s land, the upper landowner is liable if he accelerates the speed of drainage in a manner that unreasonably floods or interferes with drainage on his neighbor’s land. True or False? If surface water has historically flowed in a stream or over the ground surface from a landowner’s land onto someone else’s land, the landowner has an unlimited right to increase the flow even if it harms a neighbor’s property. Answer: False. Even if the route of a flow has existed for centuries, an increase in flow is governed by the reasonable use doctrine. The upper landowner can increase the flow, but only if it is reasonable. True or False? A landowner is not allowed to construct developments (such as buildings or parking lots) or make other unnatural changes to his land that increase the surface water flow onto neighboring land that is greater than the land’s natural flow. Answer: False. A landowner is allowed to develop his land in any manner that does not cause an unreasonable interference with the drainage of other landowners, even if the increased flow exceeds historic levels. However, the landowner is liable if the increased flow unreasonably damages the downgradient landowner. True or False? A landowner can be liable for interfering with a neighbor’s drainage even if she takes no purposeful action to interfere with the flow. Answer: Trne. If conditions on a landowner’s property interfere with a neighbor’s drainage, the landowner can be liable for the drainage interference even if she did not intend to interfere with the neighbor’s drainage. True or False? If vegetation or debris plugs a tile or pipe on a downgradient landowner’s land and floods an upper landowner’s land, the downgradient landowner can be liable for the damage even though the downgradient landowner took no action to plug the tile or pipe. Answer: True. The downgradient landowner is required to properly maintain his tiles and pipes to allow proper drainage on the upper property. However, if vegetation or debris flowing from the upper landowner’s property clogs the downgradient landowner’s tile or pipe, the upper landowner may be responsible for the problem. True or False? A landowner is allowed to dig a trench in a marsh or other wetland to improve the drainage on his land. Answer: False. Generally a landowner is prohibited from digging, filling, or moving soil in a wetland for any purpose, unless the landowner has a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and/or the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Protected wetlands include marshes, swamps, bogs, and similar areas that possess saturated soil. Some woodlands are wetlands if they are saturated during a portion of the year, even if they are dry for the rest of the year. Before clearing or digging in a saturated area, it is important to find out whether it is a wetland. True or False? A downgradient landowner has an absolute right to prevent an upper landowner from discharging surface water onto the land of the downgradient landowner by erecting a wall or taking other action to block the flow. Answer: False. An upper landowner has the right to discharge surface water on downgradient land, as long as the flow is reasonable. The downgradient landowner cam1ot block this flow so long as it is reasonable. However, the downgradient landowner can take reasonable action to reduce the flow if necessary to protect the downgradient landowner’s land from unreasonable damage. True or False? Under some circumstances, a downgradient landowner is allowed to interfere with the natural flow of surface water from an upper landowner’s land even though it causes some harm to the upper landowner’s property. Answer: True. A downgradient landowner is allowed to restrict the flow from upper land if the interference is reasonable. True or False? If a tile, ditch, or other drainage structure on downgradient land deteriorates and impairs an upper landowner’s drainage due to no fault of the downgradient landowner, the downgradient landowner is required to repair the structure at his own expense. Answer: Generally true, unless the upper landowner has entered into an agreement or easement with the downgradient landowner agreeing to pay for or share the expense. For another exception to this principle, see the next question and answer. True or False? A landowner can defray the expense of improving or restoring the effective drainage of her land by initiating action requiring other landowners to share in the expense if their lands also benefit from the improved drainage. Answer: True. A landowner can submit a petition to the county commissioners to initiate proceedings for constructing, modifying, repairing, or maintaining ditches, dams, reservoirs, walls, tiles, and other drainage or flood control structures. If the county commissioners detennine that a project is necessary, feasible, and cost-effective, they have the authority to approve, fund, and construct it. The costs of the project are assessed to the benefitting landowners in proportion to their benefits, whether or not they supported the petition. Petitions also can be submitted to the local Soil and Water Conservation District, which evaluates and approves the projects and then refers the projects to the county commissioners for ultimate approval and implementation. True or False? Ohio has enacted a state law that establishes a landowner’s drainage rights. Answer: False. Ohio has no state law that provides a landowner with the right to drain surface water from the landowner’s land, nor does state law prohibit ;;;omeone from discharging surface water on a landowner’s land. For that reason, no state agency has the authority to stop someone from violating a landowner’s drainage rights. However, the Supreme Com1 of Ohio has established the reasonable use doctrine for drainage that is described above. This doctrine enables landowners to file private lawsuits to enforce their drainage rights against persons who unreasonably damage their property. Ohio does have a law that prohibits a person from obstructing the drainage in watercourses and ditches along public highways. The purpose of this law is to prevent the highways from flooding, but keeping these drainage ways open also benefits adjoining landowners. Some counties, townships, or municipalities have enacted laws that govern drainage. These laws may provide local government with limited authority to address drainage issues. True or False? Richland County has enacted laws regulating all drainage activities in the county. Answer: False. State law authorizes counties to regulate drainage on some types of property, but not on other types. For example. state law does not authorize counties to regulate drainage on land used by public utilities, railroads, and agriculture. Counties cannot regulate drainage on crop fields or other agricultural land. In addition, the county does not have authority over drainage activities inside the City of Mansfield and some other municipalities. The Richland County Board of Commissioners does have the authority to regulate, and does regulate, surface and subsurface drainage from the construction of single-family, two-family, and three-family dwellings and any other building or structure that disturbs at least 3,000 square feet of soil, creates at least 2,000 square feet of impervious surface, or disturbs soil within 100 feet of a stream, a wetland, or Special Flood Hazard Area. The Richland County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) administers these drainage requirements for the county commissioners. Any person who develops a regulated project must install an effective drainage system to prevent drainage problems. Permits issued by the county identify the drainage controls that must be installed and operated. A person may change the pre-existing surface or subsurface drainage on the developed property, but only to the extent that these changes do not flood or saturate upgradient or downgradient properties or otherwise harm any person or property. Article VII of the county’s Stormwater Management and Sediment Regulations provides additional details about these requirements. A copy of these regulations can be found on this web site at this link [install link]. True or False? The Richland County Board of Commissioners and the Richland County Soil and Water Conservation District (S\VCD) have the authority to decide disputes between landowners over drainage issues. Answer: Generally false. State law limits the county’s jurisdiction over drainage. The county commissioners have only the authority to enforce Article VII of the Stom1water Management and Sediment Regulations against anyone who is causing a drainage problem in violation of those regulations. Any other drainage issue is not subject to county authority. The SWCD is not an enforcement agency, but we assist the county commissioners with technical advice in implementing and enforcing these regulations. In addition, the SWCD can provide landowners with technical advice to help them solve their drainage problems if they are willing to work with us. The article at this link [install link] provides you with additional infonnation about how we can help. This article has been prepared by Jack A. Van Kley of the law firm of Van Kley & Walker, LLC, 132 Northwoods Boulevard, Suite C-1, Columbus, OH 43235. Mr. Van Kley can be contacted at (614) 43 t-8900. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide legal advice as individual situations will differ and should be discussed with a lawyer. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship between the author and the reader. Knowing Your Water Rights Here are additional questions and answers about water rights. Since there are a fair number of them, you may wish to create a new page for them. I. What are the rights of the public to use a stream (such as a river or creek) or lake? Answer: The public has the right to use any navigable stream or lake for boating and fishing. The public has no right to use a navigable stream or lake for swimming, wading, bathing, hunting, or other purposes unless the owner of the bed of the stream or bed has agreed to allow that access. The public has no right to use non-navigable streams or lakes for any purpose without the permission of the landowner. How can I tell whether a stream or lake is navigable? Answer: A stream is generally navigable if canoes or other boats can navigate it under natural conditions and if it is accessible from publicly owned land. A lake on private property is unlikely to be classified as navigable even if canoes or other boats can navigate it, unless the lake is of great size. Does the public have the right to go onto private property in order to reach a navigable stream or lake? Answer: No, that would be a trespass on the landowner’s land. The public must use publicly owned land to reach the navigable water or obtain a private landowner’s permission to use her land for that purpose. Does the public have the right to walk on the bank of a navigable stream or lake? Answer: The bank is not part of a navigable stream or lake. A person has no right to walk on the bank, fish from the bank, or do anything else on the bank unless he owns the bank or has been given the landowner’s pennission to use it. The public can use the bank if it is on government property (such as a park or wildlife refuge) and the governmental owner has provided access to the public. Does the public have the right to fish, wade in, or engage in any other activity in a non-navigable stream, lake, or pond if the water is accessible from public property? Answer: A person has the right to use a non-navigable stream, lake, or pond only if she owns it or has been given permission by the owner to use it. If a person owns land under a stream or lake, for what purposes can he use the stream or lake? Answer: A person who owns the bed of a stream or lake, or any part of it, can use the water in the stream or lake for boating, fishing, irrigation, swimming, drinking, and other purposes. His use of the water must be conducted in a reasonable manner that does not deprive other owners of their rights to use and enjoy the water. For example, one landowner is not allowed to use so much water for irrigation or other purposes that other landowners are unable to boat on it. Ohio courts have not provided clear direction on whether the owner of part of the bed of a privately owned lake has a right of access to the entire lake for boating and other purposes, or has access to only the portion that he owns. A landowner’s rights can be affected by easements, covenants, or contracts that restrict or enlarge her rights to use a stream or lake. If a landowner’s land is separated from a stream or lake by someone else’s land, does the landowner have a right to use the water? Answer: A landowner whose land is separated from a lake or stream by any other person’s land has no more right to use the lake or stream than any other member of the public. Can the government stop my neighbor from taking too much water and drying up my well, lake, or stream’? Answer: No. Government agencies have no authority to restrict the amount of water pumped from a lake or stream. However, Ohio law does authorize a landowner to file a lawsuit to protect the landowner’s own water supply. This article has been prepared by Jack A. Van Kley of the law firm of Van Kley & Walker, LLC, 132 Northwoods Boulevard, Suite C-1, Columbus, OH 43235. Mr. Van Kley can be contacted at (614) 431-8900. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide legal advice as individual situations will differ and should be discussed with a lawyer. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship between the author and the reader. #### Ponds Ponds can create a sense of serenity, a focal point, and a source of recreation on your property. They can also be used as a source of drinking water, fire suppression, and watering source for crops and livestock. Many people think that creating and owning a pond is as simple as digging a hole and letting it fill up with water, right? There are a lot of factors you must consider before installing a pond. Here are a few to consider: What size pond do you want? Do you have enough land to accommodate the pond size? What types of soils are present in the proposed pond site? Will the parent material at the site be sufficient for a pond, or will offsite material have to be brought in? How much watershed do you have, and will it be sufficient to fill your pond? How much do you want to spend on your pond? Will it need a liner? What type of aeration will be used? Do you need soil inclusions and how will they be handled? This can pertain to pockets of wet soils – sand veins – gravel veins and large rocks. All these things can add additional costs to your planned pond, and this is before you start looking at the design of the underwater structure itself. If this is for fishing then you will need to take into consideration the underwater structure the fish need such as areas for hunting, loafing, brood rearing, and hiding. Some of these items can be accomplished with differing depths of the water level and others can be accomplished by adding natural or artificial underwater structures for your feeder and game fish. With advance planning, Richland Soil and Water Conservation District can usually be at the pond site evaluation. A backhoe is needed to dig several test holes. We want to be present as the holes are being dug to see the parent material coming out of the holes and feel the soil to see what potential the site may have for the pond. If you decide to proceed with a pond, you need to take into account some design considerations: Pond size Excavation depth Spoil pile size and ability to stabilize it Primary overflow location and size Secondary or Emergency overflow Amount and size of riprap needed for the outflow areas This is a lot of information to digest and think about. All too often people put upwards of 6 figures into a pond only to have it fail because someone convinced the property owner they “know what they are doing” only to end up with a large deep mud hole. One of the resources available to you is the Web Soil Survey from the United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS). This online tool can give you good general information about your property, but you must keep in mind that once you get below a certain aspect ratio the map may not be representative due to the possibility of soil inclusions. Therefore, a site visit while the soil is being excavated is necessary. This list is not inclusive of all you should consider before installing a pond and some may not apply to your project. We all love and enjoy our own ponds where we make memories from catching bluegill to family events and gatherings near our favorite spots along them. Now that we are into fall there are some considerations that you will want to take into consideration. Things like pond weeds like cattails, coon-tail, long-leaf pondweed, water millet, duckweed and the potential list is endless. Some of these aquatic plant species are considered ok to be there in lesser amounts but can point to larger problems that you may be aware of. Cattails while able to provide a food source, hunting, loafing, and rearing of distinct species of aquatic and terrestrial life can be an invitation to muskrats. Long-leaf pondweed, in substantial amounts, can be an indicator that your pond may have excessive sediment or heavy nutrient loading which can reduce the overall volume of water in your pond and habitat too. Duckweed and water millet while ok in small doses for aquatic species and waterfowl can completely cover a pond and create a green mat across your pond and should be addressed in the spring. The one thing that all these plants have in common is that most will soon be dying and decaying in your pond which can potentially be detrimental to your fish. One method for dealing with dying aquatic plants is to physically remove them. A second option would be to utilize a biologic control that will add good live bacteria to your pond to help breakdown plant and muck material. This will help add volume and longevity to your pond unless your pond is silted into a point that it may need to be dredged to regain its original volume. Low oxygen in the winter can cause a fish kill if the pond becomes frozen and snow covered. Removing the snow, approximately 25-50%, can provide sunlight to plants that can over winter and provide the much-needed oxygen to your fish. Another option to keep the snow off a pond is to add an aeration to your pond by adding air stones that will add supplemental oxygen to your pond keeping your fish alive and assisting in breaking down plants and muck. Pond Types Embankment Ponds Embankment ponds are more common in areas with moderate to steep sloping terrain. They are created by building a dam or embankment between two hillsides to collect and hold water from overland runoff. The pond bottom and dam must be made up of soils that prevents excess seepage. Embankment ponds should not be built by damming permanent flow streams, no matter what size they are. Small steams are a source for silt, sediment, debris, excess nutrients, and undesirable fish, all of which can degrade water quality and reduce chances of good fishing. Dugout or Excavated Ponds Dugout or excavated ponds are constructed in areas of flat or gently sloping land not suited for ponds with dams. As the name implies, dug ponds are created by removing soil and allowing water to fill in the dugout area. Most of the water supply comes from ground water seepage or natural springs. Soils are usually made up of materials that allow free movement of water through the pond bottom. Pond Components Dam or Embankment A barrier constructed out of soil across a watercourse or natural drainage area to permanently impound, trap or store water. Spillway A pathway for excess water to exit a pond or lake. Spillways are designed to maintain the water level under normal inflows from snow melt, spring flow and rain. They are also called overflows. There are two types of spillways: Principal and Emergency. Principal The principal spillway is responsible for maintaining the pond water at a desired level. Whenever water enters the pond and the level rises, water first exits the pond through this spillway. They are typically constructed out of pipe (metal, plastic or concrete) or any type of concrete structure. Emergency The emergency spillway is responsible for protecting the dam. Whenever so much water enters the pond and the principal spillway cannot carry it all out of the pond, the emergency spillway provides a stable pathway for the excess water to flow around and not over the top of the dam. If water were to flow over the top of the dam, it can begin to erode the structure quickly causing a total dam failure and potentially causing significant property damage downstream. Principal Spillway Emergency Spillway Core Trench A trench constructed in the undisturbed foundation soil under a dam or embankment. It is constructed in a way to stop water from seeping beneath the dam. Pool Area All of the land area that will be under water after the dam and spillways are constructed. ODNR Dam Safety Info New Pond Construction Site Selection Before getting to the point of actually constructing a pond, it is a good idea to take a close look at your site. This can help you visualize how much property a pond can take up. Also, it can help you plan to keep proper setbacks from: buildings, driveways, septic systems, wells and property lines. Flag Marking Use highly visible flags to mark out important pond components such as: Dam or Embankment: Make sure to consider the total overall width of the dam. This includes not only the top width, but also how far the inside dam toe and outside dam toe will extend. Example: a 6’ high dam with a 2:1 inside side slope and a 3:1 outside side slope and a 8’ Top Width, would take up 38’ of total width! Regular Water Level: Mark where the water level of the pond will be during its normal elevation. Emergency Water Level: Mark the water level where the pond water will be overflowing out of the emergency spillway. Spillway Locations: Mark where you will outlet the principal spillway and mark where the emergency spillway will be located. How to Build a Pond Constructing a pond can be a complicated and expensive process. Therefore we recommend you seek a professional engineer and/or a professional excavation contractor to design and/or construct your pond. The following items are good general construction practices that should be followed when constructing any pond. Become familiar with these practices so that you can question prospective engineers or contractors on how they will accomplish these practices. Remember: If you decide to construct a pond, you will need to apply for a stormwater permit. Visit the Stormwater Documents page for info. Topsoil Topsoil is a valuable resource. In nature it can take over 500 years to form an inch so you do not want to waste what you have. Before excavation begins, the first step should be to have the topsoil stripped off any areas where digging will happen. The topsoil then should be stockpiled in an area where it can be retrieved when construction is complete. It can then be re-applied to all areas to be re-seeded. The new seeding will have a much better success rate if it is established in topsoil rather than unfertile sub-soil. Removal of Exposed Rock & Tree Roots Often ponds are excavated in an area not conducive to a pond, such as wooded areas or reclaimed land. It is crucial to remove all rocks, tree roots and vegetation from the dam area as well as the emergency overflow to be able to achieve good compaction. Compaction Compaction is a very important practice in pond construction, especially when constructing the core trench and dam. Proper compaction is achieved from 3 main components: Soil type, soil moisture and compaction method. The soil should contain a mixture of silt, clay and sand to achieve the best compaction. A mixture too high in clay will make it hard to obtain the proper moisture content, become too sticky if too wet and when the soil dries out it can shrink and crack, creating potential leaks. Too much silt and the soil will not compact together at all, it will spread out during compaction rather than building up higher and higher. If a soil has too much sand, it will also not compact, and it will also allow water to move through it too easily. A good guide to soil moisture content can be obtained from a simple field test. When soil moisture is at the best level for effective compaction, you should be able to roll the soil between your palms into a thread (about the thickness of a pencil) that just begins to crumble on further rolling. If the soil thread crumbles before it reaches pencil thickness, it is too dry. If the thread can be rolled to a thickness much less than a pencil, then it is too wet. As far as compaction methods are concerned, the soil used to build the core trench and to form the embankment should be placed in 6” layers, with each layer thoroughly compacted before the next layer is placed. A layer of more than 6” of soil before compaction is not recommended. The number of passes that should be made by the compacting equipment depends on the soil type, but it should be at least four. Preferably, compaction should be achieved with a sheepsfoot roller. However, a heavy rubber tired machine or a loaded pan may be satisfactory, depending on the soil behavior and the layer thickness and the ability to compact the entire surface. (Bulldozers do not offer adequate compaction.) Core Trench A core trench can reduce the chances of water seeping underneath the dam. A core trench may be built along the entire length of the dam. To create a stable core the trench should be at least 3 ft deep and no steeper than 1:1 and the width of the equipment used. The trench should be backfilled with good clay that is thoroughly compacted by a heavy rubber tire or sheepsfoot roller. All dams should have a core trench! Spillways Spillways should be constructed of adequate size and new, durable materials. Keep in mind that repairs on existing spillways can be very expensive and may require your pond to be emptied, so it’s best if the spillway lasts for a very long time. Also, if a spillway is not of adequate size or fails, your dam may become damaged or lost (both expensive to repair). How Richland SWCD can Help Site Investigations An appointment may be made with a technician to visit your site, where we will discuss the particulars of your site that will determine whether or not the site is physically and monetarily feasible for a pond. These particulars include: Site Topography: How the lay-of-the-land lends itself to the placement and type of pond being considered. Watershed: Whether the pond site will have enough watershed acres to supply the pond with the proper amount of water. Generally, a 1-acre pond should have 10–15 acres of watershed. Soil Types: By looking up the soil types of the site in the Richland County Soil Survey, the technician will be able to determine if the soils mapped for the site have the characteristics needed to hold water and/or construct a dam. Soil Test Hole Investigations If the site has been determined to be suitable to build a pond and the landowner wants to go to the next step, the District will schedule a Soil Scientist to personally look at the soils and give his professional opinion on the soil suitability for pond construction. The District needs time to schedule an appointment with the Soil Scientist. Once we determine that he is needed, we will contact him and get a few dates that are available. The landowner is responsible for supplying a backhoe that is capable of digging at least 2 feet below the deepest planned excavation. (Ex. If a pond is going to be 8 feet deep with a dam of 3 feet, then the pond area will have to be excavated 5 feet deep, the backhoe will then have to be able to dig a hole 7 feet deep to be 2 feet below the deepest excavation) The holes must be dug while the District staff is present. It is important that the soil from the pit is seen as it comes out of the ground. The Richland Soil and Water Conservation District does not offer design services for ponds at this time. Additional Links for New Ponds Ohio Pond Management Handbook OSU Ponds, Fisheries and Aquatic Management Appurtenances Dry Hydrants and Wave Erosion Protection Principal Spillways Principal Spillway 1 USDA-NRCS Pond Code 378 Information USDA-NRCS Dry Hydrant Information USDA-NRCS Side View of Pond USDA/NRCS Ponds – Planning, Design, Construction. (AH-590) Ohio Utilities Protection (OUPS) “Call Before You Dig” NRCS Soils Website (Are my soils suitable for a pond?) ODNR Ohio Dam Safety Program (Will my pond fall under the Ohio Dam Laws?) Existing Ponds Maintenance Ponds require maintenance to keep them operating properly and to maintain the desired appearance. Periodic Sediment Removal Every pond eventually will fill up with leaves, silt, dead water plant material, etc. It is the natural process of a pond, it will eventually convert into a wetland type area. Dam Maintenance It is important to maintain the dam because it’s a key component to your pond. Trees and bushes should be removed from a pond dam. The large roots of trees and bushes grow into the dam soil, creating holes and voids which can weaken the structure of the dam. If the dam is weakened enough, it can fail, emptying the pond and potentially causing damage downstream. Burrowing animals such as groundhogs and muskrats should be removed immediately if they are found digging near or on the dam. Their burrows can cause severe damage to the dam. Once removed, their damage must be repaired. Spillway Maintenance Spillways control the water level of your pond. If not maintained, water could flow over the top of the dam or cause the spillway to fail completely, both causing significant damage to the dam. Periodically inspect the spillway to check for and remove debris blocking water flow. Problems Experiencing concerns with your pond’s appearance or function? High Water Level This is most likely due to the principal spillway being either blocked with debris or some other type of blockage disturbing flow. Low Water Level There are a few potential causes for a low water level. Drought/Minimal Rain Conditions Most ponds are refilled with rainfall, so during drought times pond levels can drop significantly due to evaporation. Leaking Dam A weak point has developed in the dam causing pond water to drain through the dam itself. Indications: Wet areas on backside of dam, with standing or trickling water. Change in vegetation type or existing vegetation is greener in a certain area. How to Fix: Contact an excavation contractor to discuss methods and price. Failing Spillway The principal spillway has developed a weak point somewhere in the structure causing pond water to drain at a lower point than what the spillway was designed for. Indications: Water flowing within spillway & not over normal lip. Water flowing along the side of the outlet pipe instead of through the pipe. How to Fix: Contact an excavation contractor to discuss methods and price. Weeds Excessive plant growth along the pond edge or deep in the pool causes an unsightly or unhealthy pond. Mechanical Control: Plants are physically removed from the pond either by hand or excavation equipment. Biological Control: Organic methods are used to inhibit or kill undesired plants. Chemical Control: Chemicals specifically designed for aquatic plants are used to kill or inhibit growth of pond weeds. Wildlife Wildlife causing damage to pond structure or eating a large amount of stocked fish. Contact Richland County Wildlife Officer for proper methods and permits for removal of nuisance wildlife. ODNR Wildlife Customer Service Center Additional Links for Existing Ponds Ohio Pond Management Handbook – ODNR: Fish, Wildlife, Plants OSU Ponds, Fisheries and Aquatic Management ODNR – Division of Wildlife (Wildlife Nuisance) Aquatic Plant Identification – Texas A & M University #### Press Releases 2023 220105 Conservation Creation Workshop PSA 220117 Farmland Preservation Open Enrollment 220121 Romantic Wreath CC Workshop 220124 H2OHio Pizza Dinner 220127 Board Supervisors Swearing In 220202 Pond Clinic PSA 220211 Leprachaun’s Decor CC Workshop 220303 Rain Garden and Rain Barrel Workshop 220309 Tree Seedling Sale 220321 Fish Sale 220406 Milkweed Seed Distribution 220408 Cost-Share Conservation Grants 220408 Richland County MS4 Program 220412 Native Plant Workshop and Sale 220412 Podcast 220421 Soil and Water Stewardship Week 220422 Flower Paper Paper Conservation Creation 220429 Lake Monitor Training 220505 MS4 Celebration 220512 MWCD Cover Crop and Livestock Inclusion Fencing 220607 Family Fun on the Farm 220726 Nutrient Management Plans 220801 Richland County Fair Nature Park Events 220922 Volunteer of Year Tree Planting 220929 Milkweed Seed Pod Collection 221006 Annual Celebration PSA 2022 220105 Conservation Creation Workshop PSA 220117 Farmland Preservation Open Enrollment 220121 Romantic Wreath CC Workshop 220124 H2OHio Pizza Dinner 220127 Board Supervisors Swearing In 220202 Pond Clinic PSA 220211 Leprachaun’s Decor CC Workshop 220303 Rain Garden and Rain Barrel Workshop 220309 Tree Seedling Sale 220321 Fish Sale 220406 Milkweed Seed Distribution 220408 Cost-Share Conservation Grants 220408 Richland County MS4 Program 220412 Native Plant Workshop and Sale 220412 Podcast 220421 Soil and Water Stewardship Week 220422 Flower Paper Paper Conservation Creation 220429 Lake Monitor Training 220505 MS4 Celebration 220512 MWCD Cover Crop and Livestock Inclusion Fencing 220607 Family Fun on the Farm 220726 Nutrient Management Plans 220801 Richland County Fair Nature Park Events 220922 Volunteer of Year Tree Planting 220929 Milkweed Seed Pod Collection 221006 Annual Celebration PSA 2021 210118 Virtual Conservation Story Time 210121 New Board and Meeting Times 210128 Ditch Petition Press Release 210202 Black Fork Ditch Petition 210309 Pastures for Profit Grazing School 210317 Fish Sale 210324 Tree Seedling Sale 210503 Local Food 210506 MWCD Cover Crop Program 210607 Native Plant Sale 210608 Family Fun on the Farm 210618 Manure & You 210727 Richland County Fair – RSWCD 210729 Richland County Fair Nature Park Events 210812 Rain Garden and Rain Barrel Workshop 210902 Farm Science Review 210924 Board Supervisor Election 211004 Milkweed Seed Pod Collection 21 211012 Annual Celebration PSA 211021 Intern Positions 211105 Native Star Workshop 211118 Conservationist of the Year 211123 Volunteer of the Year 211202 H2Ohio Dec and Jan Breakfasts 211222 2021 Accomplishments #### Programs Envirothon What is the Envirothon? 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. Learn more about the June 4 and 5, 2026, Teacher Workshop and the Envirothon with this document. 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 July 19 to 25, 2026: International Envirothon, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi How Can My School Participate? A team consists of five students, all from the same high school. High Schools can register up to 3 teams to compete. An adult advisor(s) will complete the Team Registration Form, but is not permitted to assist the team during the competition. 2026 Area II Envirothon Team Registration Form 2026 Area II Envirothon Student Release Form 2025 Area II Envirothon School Team Flyer 2025 Area II Program The Current Environmental Issue for 2026 is “Non-Point Source Pollution: It begins at home!” Resources Envirothon Website Learning Objectives Study Guides Envirothon iNaturalist CEI Study Guide for 2026 2026 Area II Rules & Regulations 2025 Area II Envirothon Team Results 2025 Soils Test and Answers 2025 Forestry Test and Answers 2025 Wildlife Test and Answers 2025 Aquatics Test and Answers 2025 CEI Test and Answers Want to Get Involved? It is our hope, as resource professionals, to push the minds of young people to realize the interrelationship of all living things and to look towards the future of resource management. We are always looking for Envirothon volunteers, mentors, and sponsors. If you or your business are interested in becoming involved, please contact us. Common Milkweed Seed Pod Collection To help foster the creation of habitat for the monarch butterfly, Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative (OPHI), in cooperation with Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Districts organizes a statewide Milkweed Pod Collection each fall. Last year 3,425 gallons of pods were collected state-wide! This came out to 225 pounds after they were cleaned. Since December, OPHI donated enough milkweed to cover 55.8 acres of Monarch supportive habitat!  Please join us in collecting Common Milkweed seed pods each year from October 15 to October 31 or until 30 gallons of pods are collected. The yellow and green collection bin is located outside our office door. Milkweed is essential to the survival of monarch butterflies in Ohio, which is a priority area for monarchs. The monarch butterflies that hatch here in the summer migrate to Mexico for the winter and are responsible for starting the life cycle all over again in the spring. Milkweed is the only host plant for the Monarch butterfly for egg laying and caterpillar rearing. It also serves as a food source for Monarchs as well as many other pollinator species. The disappearance of milkweed across the U.S. has contributed to an 80% decline of the eastern monarch butterfly population over the last 20 years. Here Are a Few Guidelines for Collecting Common Milkweed Seed Pods Become familiar with common milkweed to avoid harvesting pods from similar plants such as hemp dogbane and swamp milkweed. If you are unsure of the species, do not put them in the bin. To collect the seed pods from a Common Milkweed plant it is best to pick them when they are dry and gray or brown in color. If the center seam of the pod pops with gentle pressure, they can be picked. Don’t collect pods that are already open, as they might be infested with insects. Do not drop off pods that are damp because it can cause mold and damage all the pods collected. Please don’t rubber band your pods together. They can damage the equipment used to remove the seeds from the pods and we will be held liable. Place collected pods inside the bin that will have a large paper bag. Do not keep your pods in the bag you used to bring them in. Instead, please add all common milkweed seed pods collectively in the large paper bag.  Keep the pods in a cool, dry area until you can deliver them to the Richland SWCD office. Only collect from your property or property you have been given permission to go on; do not trespass. 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 any more pods.  During the winter, seeds from the milkweed seed pod collection will be removed from the pods and returned to Richland SWCD in the spring to be distributed for planting. Resources How to Identify Common Milkweed Plants How to Collect Milkweed Seed Pods Flyer Backyards for Butterflies Milkweeds and Monarchs Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative Website Other SWCDs Collecting Common Milkweed pods Check with your local Soil and Water Conservation District to see if they are collecting Common Milkweed pods. However, you can always take them to any district’s collection, they do not have to go to the county you collected them in or live in. Lending Library Children’s Books We put together a list of children’s books related to soil and water conservation that are fun and educational! If you want to borrow a book, please call 419-747-8685 or email Contact@richlandswcd.net. At the bottom of the list, are books we don’t have, but you may be able to find at your local library. This House is Home Written by Deborah Kerbel | Illustrated by Yong Ling Kang Picture book | K – 3 | Hardcover | 32 pages Anthropomorphic rabbits whose home gets surrounded by concrete roads. Rooftop Garden Written by Danna Smith | Illustrated by Pati Aguilera Picture Book with added non-fiction pages | K – 3 | Paperback | 24 pages | Torn back cover Colorful book with rhyming text. Friends and family grow a rooftop garden. Online access to audio/video. Construction Site: Farming Strong, All Year Long Written by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Ag Ford Picture Book | K – 3 | Hardcover | 48 pages Colorful book with rhyming text. Describes farming equipment used in different seasons. Construction Site: Road Crew Coming Through! Written by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Ag Ford Picture Book | K – 3 | Hardcover | 44 pages Colorful book with rhyming text. Describes building a highway. Part of the series Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site. The Little House Written by Virginia Lee Burton Picture Book | K – 3 | Paperback | 40 pages Classic book and author, published in 1942. Similar in theme to This House is Home. City builds up around house. Erosion Written by Darcy Pattison | Illustrated by Peter Willis Non-fiction | K – 3 | Paperback | 32 pages How Hugh Bennet saved America’s soil and ended the Dust Bowl. Includes Glossary and additional resources. Also by this author: Pollen: Darwin’s 150 Year Prediction. The Very Hungry Caterpillar Written by Eric Carle Board book | K – 3 | Unpaged – Consider purchasing the picture book version Describes food the caterpillar ate. Shows metamorphosis. Hero for the Hungry: The Life & Work of Norman Borlaug Written by Peggy Thomas | Illustrated by Sam Kalda Paperback | Ages 10 – 15 | 157 pages Borlaug received 1970 Nobel Peace Prize for developing disease resistant plants. Includes activities, timeline, resources. The Soil Quilt Written by Amanda Radke | Illustrated by Michelle Weber Realistic Fiction | Grades 4 – 8 | 59 pages Child spends summer with grandmother. Helps on the farm. Learns about conservation. Includes glossary, activities, resources. The author and illustrator are Ag Professionals. Modern Farms Written by Jackie Nix | Illustrated by Jackie Nix and Karen Light Non-fiction Picture Book | K – 3 | Paperback | 33 pages Introduces children to food production and farm life in the 21st century. Rhyming text. The author is an Ag Professional. My Family’s Corn Farm Written by Katie Olthoff | Illustrated by Joe Hox Non-fiction | K – 3 | Paperback | 32 pages Farm girl narrates the busy life of a modern, working corn farm. Colorful illustrations and photographs. Includes glossary and link to educational activities. Also in the series: My Family’s Soy Bean Farm. About Habitats: Rivers and Streams Written by Cathryn Sill | Illustrated by John Sill Non-fiction | K – 3 | Paperback | 48 pages Includes diagrams, labeled illustrations, additional content, glossary, resources. Excellent reviews. Suitable for classroom. About Habitats: Wetlands Written by Cathryn Sill | Illustrated by John Sill Non-fiction | K – 3 | Paperback | 48 pages Includes labeled illustrations, additional content, glossary, resources. Excellent reviews. Suitable for classroom. Where Does My Poo Go? Written by Jo Lindley | Illustrated by John Sill Non-fiction | K – 3 | Paperback | Unpaged What happens after you flush. Colorful, labeled illustrations and diagrams. Glossary. Martha Milkweed Has No Friends Written and Illustrated by Flora Caputo Picture book | K – 3 | Paperback | 32 pages Includes resources and activities. Tree Full of Wonder Written by Anna Smithers | Illustrated by Martyna Nejman Picture book | K – 3 | Paperback | 30 pages Introduces children to the unbreakable bond between people and trees. Rhyming text. Includes activities. From Seed to Plant Written by Gail Gibbons Non-fiction picture book | K – 3 | Paperback | 32 pages (unpaged) Classic children’s non-fiction author. Pollination, seed formation, germination. Colorful labeled illustrations. Includes glossary and activities. The Little Farmer Written by Joanne Baker-Smith | Illustrated by Sophie Appel Picture book | K – 3 | Paperback | 28 pages Book about urban farming. Good read aloud. Text encourages discussion. Includes activities. Greenhouse Adventures Written by Su Ssu Yeh | Illustrated by Frederick A. Murphy Picture book | K – 3 | Paperback | 43 pages Children learn about the plants and flowers in the greenhouse and start their own gardens. Illustrated with drawings and photos. When it Rains Written by Rassi Narika | Translated from Indonesian Picture book | K – 3 | Paperback | 32 pages Children explore their town in the rain and make a map of the adventure. Similar content to When the Rain Falls. When the Rain Falls Written by D. Nadya Marie Sotnychuk | Illustrated by Raymond Sotnychuk Picture book | K – 3 | Paperback | 26 pages Child explores the outdoors during a rainstorm. Similar content to When it Rains. Over and Under the Pond Written by Kate Messner | Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal Picture book | K – 3 | Hardcover | 48 pages A woman and boy in a canoe view the wildlife and plants in an Adirondack pond at twilight. Good read aloud. Includes further readings, information on ecosystems and pond animals. Contains mixed media illustrations and interesting language. The Giving Tree Written by Shel Silverstein Picture book | K – 3 | Hardcover | 64 pages A tale of few words and simple line drawings by a classic children’s author. Story of the relationship between a boy and a tree over a lifetime. Logan’s Greenhouse Written by JaNay Brown-Woof | Illustrated by Samara Hardy Picture book | K – 3 | Hardcover | 32 pages Logan searches in the greenhouse for carrots; comparing characteristics of other foods. Interactive read aloud. Other books in the Where in the Garden Series are: Amara’s Farm, Miguel’s Community Garden, and Linh’s Rooftop Garden. All include a recipe. YouTube cooking videos are available. The Street Beneath My Feet Written by Charlotte Guillain and Yuval Zommer Juvenile non-fiction | Grades 2 – 4 | Hardcover | 20 pages Sturdy double-sided foldout book. One side shows the ground beneath a city, the other the ground beneath the countryside. Other Recommended Children’s Books The Mystery of the Monarchs: How Kids, Teachers, and Butterfly Fans Helped Fred and Norah Urquhart Track the Great Monarch Migration Written by Barb Rosenstock | Illustrated by Erika Meza Picture book | Preschool – 3rd grade | Hardcover | 40 pages How the Urquharts’s started the movement to track the monarch butterfly migration, and how kids, teachers and others helped. The Great Lakes: Our Freshwater Treasure Written by Barb Rosenstock | Illustrated by Jamey Christop Picture book | Preschool – 3rd grade | Hardcover | 40 pages About the 5 great lakes, including Erie. Follow a drop of water on its journey to the ocean. Recommended Adult Books The Tree Collectors: Tales of Arboreal Obsession Written by Amy Stewart Fifty vignettes of remarkable people whose lives have been transformed by their obsessive passion for trees. Accompanied by author’s watercolor portraits of these extraordinary people and their trees. Education Kits To help foster conservation education in the classroom and with youth, a Richland Soil and Water Conservation District Volunteer created and funded a Stream Monitoring Trunk based on Project Wet: Water Quality? The Mansfield/Richland County Public Library donated the books in the kit. It is best suited for middle and high school students. Cultivating Minds Project Kits The kits below are also available for checkout through the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library and were delivered to many elementary schools throughout Richland County during the 2024-2025 school year. The kits focus on agriculture and natural resource youth education and literacy for K – 6th grade. Schools, individuals, homeschools, scout troops, and church groups are encouraged to check them out. The kits were provided through a collaboration between Richland Soil and Water Conservation District and Richland County Farm Bureau with financial support from the Richland County Foundation Gift of Grain Fund, private donations, and the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library. Kit Descriptions Freddy the Fish K – 6th grade Description: Participants listen to the story of Freddy the Fish. He decides to travel downstream and witnesses pollution being dumped into his environment. Students are asked how Freddy feels as more pollution is added and come to realize that pollution can add up and impact our environment. Depending on the age of the participants, they can read the story and/or pour the pollutants in the fish bowl to make it interactive. The kit includes a lesson plan, two books children or an adult may read, Rocket Says Clean Up and The Great Lakes donated by the Mansfield Richland County Public Library. Let’s Raise a Barn 3rd – 5th grade Description: Participants listen to Barn at Night, a book about an after-dark journey out to the barn on a cold winter evening. The instructor provides background information from the lesson plan, engages students in discussion and shows videos for types of barns. Additionally, the students can move on to the Hay Barn Engineering lesson and design a barn to meet the needs of a specific farm animal. Search for the Source K – 2nd & 3rd – 5th grade Description: Participants listen to Right This Very Minute, a table-to-farm book about food and farming. The instructor provides background information from the lesson plan and engages students in discussion about everyday items. Relay teams fill the Source Baskets with everyday items. The instructor then invites discussion about the TRUE source of items. The relay can be repeated with just the Farm and Natural Resource baskets to further student comprehension (additional workshop activities are included in the 3 – 5 grade plan). Rain Gardens Rain gardens are attractive, landscaped areas planted with perennial native plants which don’t mind getting ‘wet feet.’ They are beautiful gardens, built in depressions, which are designed to capture and filter stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces around the home, such as rooftops and driveways before it flows into storm sewers, creeks and rivers. A rain garden is one way residents can protect our drinking water while decreasing harmful effects on waterways from flash flooding, erosion, and pollution. Storing water temporarily in a rain garden allows it to draw down slowly, preventing the possibility that it will pick up pollutants and carry them to the nearest stream. Water is naturally filtered as well: gardens remove and degrade contaminants through microbial processes, plant uptake, exposure to sunlight, and absorption to soil particles. Properly designed rain gardens capture the first inch of rainfall and drain within a day. Since most storms produce less than one inch of rainfall, capturing it reduces pollutants significantly. Source: Franklin SWCD Using native plants provides beauty to the landscape as well as food and shelter for birds, butterflies and other animals. Remember, just because it is a native plant, does not mean it is a good choice for a rain garden. Refer to the plant list in the Rain Garden Manual for Homeowners. The district provides a presentation on Rain Gardens to the public and local groups. If you want to attract birds to your feeders, watch this video with Gail Laux, Founder and Executive Director of the Ohio Bird Sanctuary. Gardening Gloves The Atlas gardening gloves are durable and comfortable. A pair may end up being your favorite! Cost $5.00 + tax. Purchase Gardening Gloves Resources Rain Garden Manual for Homeowners Purchase Native Seed Packets Watch the Benefits of Native Plants Video Learn How to Make Milkweed Seed Bombs Northeast Ohio Rain Garden Plant List Ohio and National Native Plant Month Ohio State University Native Plant List 2020 Native Plant Catalog Ohio Native Plant Suggestions for Horticultural Plantings Upland Woods Species Rain Barrels What is a Rain Barrel? A rain barrel is a container used to collect and store rainwater from your roof that would otherwise be lost to runoff and diverted to a storm drain or out onto your property. The collected water in the rain barrel can then be utilized for watering landscapes, lawns, and gardens, reducing water consumption and pollution. Why use a Rain Barrel? Water Conservation Approximately 60% of our municipal water supply goes directly to watering our lawns. By using rain barrels, you lessen the amount of water flowing into our storm drains, sewer systems, and ultimately local waterways. This water can then be used during hot or dry spells to water your garden. Protection of Local Watersheds Seventy million pounds of pesticides are applied to lawns each year, contaminating storm water (rainwater) runoff. Fertilizers and pesticides are a primary source of water pollution. By collecting rainwater, you prevent that runoff from picking up and carrying these harmful pollutants into our local waterways. Natural Gardening Using rainwater to water your garden is natural and healthy. Plants and beneficial microbes in the soil like rainwater because it is naturally soft – free of chlorine, fluoride, and other chemicals. Did You Know? Believe it or not, for every inch of rain that falls on a catchment area of 1,000 square feet, you can expect to collect approximately 600 gallons of rainwater. Ten inches of rain falling on a 1,000 square foot catchment area will generate about 6,000 gallons of rainwater! That’s right, 6,000 gallons! Was that more than you were expecting?! Resources Buy a Rain Barrel Rain Barrel Brochure Watch How to Assemble a Rain Barrel Pollinators What is a Pollinator and Why are They Important? Our friends at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources help explain. A pollinator is Animals that move from plant to plant while searching for protein-rich pollen or high-energy nectar to eat. Fertilize plants as they move, allowing the plant to form seeds, berries, fruits and other plant foods. Over 100,000 invertebrates (butterflies, wasps, moths, bees, flies, beetles) and over 1,000 mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians act as pollinators. Over 75% of plants rely on pollinators More than 150 food crops depend on pollinators, including almost all fruit and grain crops Pollinators are responsible for 1 out of 3 bites of food we take each day Pollinators Overall Continue to Decline Why the Decline? Grassland/Wetlands/Shrub Lands converted to Cropland More lawns being planted Herbicides not only kill weeds, but may also drift into killing plants Insecticides killing pollinators like bees How Can You Help? Plant native plants. Native plants do well in our climate and soil. Because of this, they do well, don’t require a lot of maintenance and extra water. They have better root systems, so they also help prevent soil erosion and help reduce stormwater runoff. They also look great and attract pollinators! Fun Fact The Midwest represented 38% of the monarch population that over-wintered in Mexico over 38 years and Ohio is in the core monarch breeding area. Ohio and the Midwest are important to pollinators. Milkweed is the host plant for Monarch butterflies. This means Monarch butterflies need milkweed to live, eat and reproduce. A way you can help monarch butterflies is to plant milkweed, especially common milkweed, which is native to Ohio. We participate in the Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative with many other Soil and Water Conservation Districts throughout the state. The primary purpose is to provide enough milkweed for monarch butterflies so their population can grow. Each year from approximately October 1 through about the first week of November, we ask Richland County residents to collect Common milkweed seed pods and drop them off at our office. Over the winter, volunteers remove the seeds from the pods and package them with planting instructions to be given away and planted. Bee Friendly Resources Pollinator Partnership Richland Area Beekeepers Association Tri County Beekeepers Association Knox County Beekeepers Association ODNR Milkweed & Monarchs PowerPoint ODNR Pollinators PowerPoint Part I ODNR Pollinators PowerPoint Part II USDA Pollinator Fact Sheet Native Plants When considering plants in your landscaping, choose native plants first. Native plants are plants that are acclimated to our climate, require less water and have a strong root system which helps prevent soil erosion. Invasive plants are plants that are non-native, crowd out native plants and cause decline in habitats. Of the approximately 2,300 vascular plant species growing in the wild in Ohio, about 78 percent are native. The other 22 percent—more than 500 species—are not native to Ohio, having been introduced from other states or countries. Most non-native plants have been introduced for erosion control, horticulture, forage crops, culinary and medicinal use, wildlife foods, and by accident. The majority of these species never stray from where they were introduced, yet some become very invasive and displace native plants in woodlands, wetlands, prairies, and other natural areas. Non-native, invasive plants cause a decline in species diversity in these habitats. A diverse, healthy ecosystem is important for clean air and water, soil stability, and food and shelter for wildlife. Invasive plants are a major threat to the health of our ecosystems and to the viability of rare species. Planning Your Yard Choose helpful plants native to our region, like Scarlet or Trumpet Honeysuckle (non-invasive, good for to wildlife) vs. Bush Honeysuckle (not native, harmful Invasive). Do not take plants from the wild; Avoid wildflower mixed seed packets that may contain Invasive plants Native Plant Seed Packets Woodland Edge Seed Packet Have a shady spot in your yard and don’t know what to do with it? The Woodland Edge packet is perfect for that area where you don’t think anything will grow. All of the species in this mix are native to Ohio and are commonly found on woodland edges and in open meadows. Lower light levels are welcome. Performs well in areas that are not too wet or dry. Learn More Rain Garden Seed Packet This Rain Garden native seed mix is composed of native grasses and wildflowers that can tolerate wet events and dry areas based on season and the amount of rainfall. Also filters stormwater runoff. Beneficial and beautiful, the Rain Garden creates diverse color and is attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. Learn More Butterfly / Hummingbird Seed Packet It doesn’t get better than this mix for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. The 3 different species of Milkweed contained in this mix are host plants for the migrating Monarch butterfly. Watch in amazement as they complete their life cycle on these plants and use them as a source of nectar. Hummingbirds will love the bright colors and tubular flowers. The grasses contained in this packet add structure and diversity. Perfect to get kids involved! Learn More Pollinator Partnership Native Seed Packet Help pollinators get the job done with this native seed mix packet designed with our friends at Pollinator Partnership. This seed mix has been designed for situations where first year color is desired and contains only wildflowers and no grass component. Year one will be mainly annuals but provide pollinators a much needed place to land. Year two will see some annuals, biennials and perennials, and by year three a beautiful mix of perennials will bloom all season and provide a healthy and sustainable area for pollinators. This mix can be used alone, over existing grass plantings, or combined with any of our grass only mixes. Learn More Native Short Grass and Wildflower Mix Grasses and wildflowers work together in harmony to create a pocket prairie to be proud of. This popular mix will provide first year color and then take about 3 years to fully mature. Create a backyard nature preserve that you will enjoy for years to come. Learn More Septic Field Seed Packet The native seed in this mix will become plants that help, in some cases, increase transpiration in your septic field. This blend of native grasses and native wildflowers prefers drier soils, with their root systems drawing moisture to help better utilize nutrients. Learn More Purchase Details for Seed Packets Each seed packet contains 1 PLS (1 Pure Live Seed) oz. of seed which is enough to cover 250 square feet. Detailed instructions on planting your seed packet are included with each purchase. The cost for the seed packets is $16 + tax. Please add a 3% processing fee if you choose to purchase with a credit card. All sales are final. Order Online Download Order Form Learn How to Make Milkweed Seed Bombs Native Plant Resources Ohio and National Native Plant Month Ohio Natural Areas & Preserves Association Ohio Native Plant Suggestions for Horticultural Plantings 2020 Native Plant Catalog Ohio State University Native Plant List Native Plant Video Native Plants for Wildlife Ohio Native Growers Ohio Native Upland Woods Species Wildflowers of Ohio, Robert L. Henn, Quarry Books, ISBN 978-0-253-21951-0 Plant Native (select Ohio) Pollinator Partnership (click on Planting Guides and enter your zip code) National Wildlife Federation (NWF) Wild Ones Native Plants, Natural Landscapes NWF Garden for Wildlife Certification free info packet: call 800-822-9919 M-F 8:30-5pm EST Bringing Nature Home Updated & Expanded, Douglas W. Tallamy, Timber Press, ISBN-13: 978-0-88192-854-8 Remove Invasive plants: Worst in Ohio Learn more about Invasive Species Wildlife injured or problems? Ohio Wildlife Center, Rehabilitation, 614-793-9453: ohiowildlifecenter.org Wildlife removal – no kill, central Ohio area, “Scram! Wildlife Control” 24-hr 614-763-0696: scramwildlife.org Backyard Conservation Backyard conservation can really reduce storm water problems. When rain falls on roadways and rooftops, it can’t soak gently into the ground as it once did. Instead, it flows down gutters and into storm sewers, picking up pollutants as it goes. Besides affecting the quality of water in streams and rivers, this runoff can cause flooding more quickly. Here are some examples of easy conservation practices that you can incorporate at home. Rain Gardens Wildlife Habitat Landscape Garden Soil Testing Composting Tree Planting Irrigation Mulching Download the Backyard Conservation Booklet New Landowner / Homeowner Guide Get the Landowner / Homeowner Guide Impervious Areas Impervious Areas are man-made areas that cannot absorb water from rain or snow. Impervious Area Examples: Roofs Roads Driveways Parking Lots Sidewalks Learn More About Impervious Areas Watersheds A watershed is an area of land where water flows or drains to the same point. Rainfall and snow melt that isn’t absorbed into the soil (runoff) eventually finds its way to a river, lake or ocean. See the Watersheds of Richland County Water Data Map See the Water Data Map #### Reminisce Stroll down memory lane through the pages of Reminisce. Volunteers scan and edit photos dating back to the 1960s and you will find thousands of historical photos documenting the history of Richland Soil and Water Conservation District and Richland County with respect to the District’s involvement. If you have photos you wish to share with us from 1943 to the present or can provide us with dates or a description for some of the photos, please contact us. We appreciate you helping to fill in the missing pieces. Agriculture Aerial Churches Education Forestry Family Fun on the Farm Festival Land Issues Nurseries Miscellaneous People Places Richland SWCD Services Urban Youth Watersheds #### Report a Land Concern This form may be used if you would like the District to respond to a concern regarding the Stormwater Regulations i.e.: mud being tracked onto county roads, unstable slopes, approval of fill site, and sediment coming from a development site. This inquiry form may also be used by property owners who are experiencing problems regarding erosion, drainage, sinkholes, landslides and would like assistance from the District on how to resolve these situations. Please complete the entire form before submitting it so that we can properly help you. Neighborhood Drainage Issues Neighborhood drainage issues are becoming a major county issue in populated areas. Here is an explanation of what you can do and how we can help. Resolving Drainage Issues Assistance We Provide with Neighborhood Drainage Issues Neighborhood drainage issues are becoming a major county issue in populated areas. In our experience, landowners want to involve our agency as an intermediary between neighbors. Our agency does not work with property owners to settle disputes. When neighbors agree to work together, then we can provide recommendations for solutions. If the drainage concern is complex, a civil engineer should be consulted at the landowner(s) expense. Our agency is not an enforcement agency, but we do explain the parameters of Ohio Drainage Law when surface water issues arise. Ohio Drainage Law is specific. In short, surface water is owned by the state of Ohio and landowners that receive surface water must not impede or block the natural flow of water. Many of our recommendations include slowing surface flow by diverting or retaining water while the discharge flows naturally, the way nature intended. Also, we can consult and recommend practices to be installed to minimize drainage concerns. These are verbal recommendations and it is up to the landowner to implement the practices suggested. We can provide examples of practices for landowners to follow. In addition, we cannot walk onto neighboring properties to investigate drainage concerns. When there are issues between neighbors, we must be invited to go onto the property. Above all, it is the responsibility of the two parties/neighbors to come up with an agreeable solution. When drainage issues cannot be resolved between landowners, we offer the option of the parties getting together in our office with a mediator. The goal of mediation is to develop a mutual agreement between neighbors. The court driven mediation will help minimize confusion and promote a solution. The mediation is at the expense of the parties. In an ideal situation, both landowners involved in a dispute share the expense of implementing a solution. This solution will not only benefit them; it will benefit all landowners in the community. When neighbors cannot communicate and mediation is unsuccessful, the only recourse is to proceed with civil court. When a landowner considers civil court, it is important that their claim(s) warrant the complaint on the basis of damage to life, property, equipment. Is it life threatening? Is the drainage devaluing my property? Is the drainage a seasonal moisture issue that disappears when rainy periods diminish? Is this drainage issue affecting my quality of life, or well-being of my property (buildings, basements, foundations, etc.)? Am I in a floodplain or wetland? It is important to remember that there are federal and state laws in place to protect natural resources. Many of our complaints are temporary issues; they involve ponding or the holding of surface water during seasons of high rainfall. Finally, we encourage landowners who experience drainage issues to document with dated pictures, videos and receipts of repairs resulting from stormwater damage in a dated folder. This information will be important if the landowner chooses to resolve the concern in civil court. Please contact us if you have further questions at 419.747.8684 or go to our contact page. Drainage Assistance Example Neighbors Work Together to Resolve Drainage Situation We want to share with you a recent example of three (3) neighbor’s working together to resolve a drainage situation. One neighbor invited Richland SWCD to meet with himself and his neighbors to share what has been happening, to discuss possible solutions and hear recommendations from Richland SWCD. Matt Wallace, District Technician, and Erica Thomas, District Administrator met with the group. Background: Adam Wade, NeighborForeground: Matt Wallace, SWCD Technician To provide you with some background, one neighbor has a farm and the other two neighbors are home and landowners. Two neighbors have lived in their homes several years and the third built a home with driveway a few years ago. The neighbor who recently built a home, also inherited a ditch from a previous owner that was intended to drain into the farm field. The farmer does not want the water to drain onto his field. The other homeowner has been experiencing septic back-ups into the home and some basement flooding. How can this be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction? The new homeowner suggested removing part of a dike along the manmade channel to eliminate septic saturation and back-up, basement flooding and keep it from draining onto the farm field. This solution will allow water to flow back to an open meadow that was naturally wet before a past owner decided to channel it in one direction. To reduce a potential mosquito problem, Matt recommended building bat and swallow houses. The benefit is two-fold. Building and installing it will be great family project, plus it uses natural methods instead of chemicals. By the time Matt and Erica were ready to leave, the neighbors were discussing how to get started on the project. In the end, everyone seemed pleased and were ready to work toward achieving the same goal. We consider this a great day and visit and appreciate being invited to join in the discussion. A drainage issue like this one, is a civil matter. If you invite Richland SWCD to a meeting like the example above, we will schedule a time to meet the parties involved at the site and provide recommendations. Sometimes an intermediary like Richland SWCD who isn’t directly involved in a situation can help find a satisfactory resolution. Richland SWCD does not settle disputes and is not an enforcement agency. However, you may forge a stronger relationship with your neighbor. To learn more, call 419-747-8686 or go to our contact page. June 15, 2020 Drainage Rights From Jack Van Kley, Van Kley & Walker, LLC December 21, 2016 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT YOUR DRAINAGE RIGHTS: Flooding from high stream flows or heavy unchanneled runoff from land can cause substantial damage to property. Disputes between neighbors can arise when a landowner on higher ground increases the volume or rate of flow onto another landowner’s property, or when a landowner on lower ground blocks the flow from another landowner’s higher land. Drainage problems, and disputes over drainage problems, can occur on land that is used for any purpose. [n rural areas, drainage disputes can arise when one farmer’s fields are flooded by rainfall or snow melt flowing off another farmer’s fields, or when poor drainage on one farmer’s fields blocks effective drainage from another farmer’s fields. In urban areas, the construction of paved parking lots, buildings, roads, and other impervious surfaces can prevent the percolation of precipitation into the soil and increase the storm water runoff onto adjoining properties. The increased storm water runoff can erode the soil and flood basements, yards, gardens, and septic systems. This article explains the drainage rights possessed by Ohio landowners in the form of questions and answers. This information is applicable to drainage in all types of land use, whether industrial, commercial, residential, recreational, or agricultural. The references to “landowners” in these questions and answers also apply to renters and other persons who occupy a property. True or False? An upper (uphill) landowner always has the right to drain all of his surface water onto a neighbor’s downgradient (downhill) land, regardless of the flow volume and the amount of damage it causes on downgradient land. Answer: False. If the drainage causes an unreasonable amount of damage to downgradient land, then the upper landowner is liable for encroaching on the downgradient neighbor’s property rights. Ohio’s courts have adopted a “reasonable use” doctrine that the com1s use to determine whether a landowner’s drainage activities have violated another landowner’s property rights. This principle allows a landowner to develop or modify his prope11y in a manner that increases the drainage onto a neighbor’s land, but only if the increased drainage does not unreasonably interfere with the neighbor’s drainage. A project that interferes with drainage is unreasonable if its hann to other landowners outweighs the project’s benefits. This is a subjective standard that is based on fairness and common sense. This balancing test evaluates the following facts to determine the seriousness of harn1 to the landowners adversely affected by the interference with drainage: the extent of the harm; the character of the harm; the social value of the use or enjoyment that is harmed; (d) the suitability of the damaged use or enjoyment to the character of the locality; and (e) the burden on the hanned landowner if she has to fund and implement the actions necessa1y to avoid ham1 from the other landowner’s drainage. This balancing test evaluates the following facts to evaluate the value of the project that interferes with drainage: (a) the project’s social value; (b the project’s suitability to the character of the locality; whether it is impracticable to prevent or avoid the interference; and whether it is impracticable to maintain the project if its owner is required to bear the cost of compensating for the interference with drainage. A judge or jury will use these factors to compare the seriousness of the harm caused by the project with the project’s value to determine whether the project unreasonably interferes with drainage. Generally, a landowner’s interference with another landowner’s drainage will be found unreasonable if most citizens would find the interference to be unfair or offensive. True or False? An upper landowner is allowed to increase his drainage onto a neighbor’s land even if the higher volume of drainage exceeds the highest flows that have historically occurred from her land. Answer: True, as long as the increased flow is reasonable as determined by the balancing test described in the previous answer. True or False? An upper landowner can always increase the speed of surface water flow onto downgradient land without liability as long as the total volume of water does not increase. Answer: False. Even if an upper landowner does not increase the overall amount of water drained onto a neighbor’s land, the upper landowner is liable if he accelerates the speed of drainage in a manner that unreasonably floods or interferes with drainage on his neighbor’s land. True or False? If surface water has historically flowed in a stream or over the ground surface from a landowner’s land onto someone else’s land, the landowner has an unlimited right to increase the flow even if it harms a neighbor’s property. Answer: False. Even if the route of a flow has existed for centuries, an increase in flow is governed by the reasonable use doctrine. The upper landowner can increase the flow, but only if it is reasonable. True or False? A landowner is not allowed to construct developments (such as buildings or parking lots) or make other unnatural changes to his land that increase the surface water flow onto neighboring land that is greater than the land’s natural flow. Answer: False. A landowner is allowed to develop his land in any manner that does not cause an unreasonable interference with the drainage of other landowners, even if the increased flow exceeds historic levels. However, the landowner is liable if the increased flow unreasonably damages the downgradient landowner. True or False? A landowner can be liable for interfering with a neighbor’s drainage even if she takes no purposeful action to interfere with the flow. Answer: Trne. If conditions on a landowner’s property interfere with a neighbor’s drainage, the landowner can be liable for the drainage interference even if she did not intend to interfere with the neighbor’s drainage. True or False? If vegetation or debris plugs a tile or pipe on a downgradient landowner’s land and floods an upper landowner’s land, the downgradient landowner can be liable for the damage even though the downgradient landowner took no action to plug the tile or pipe. Answer: True. The downgradient landowner is required to properly maintain his tiles and pipes to allow proper drainage on the upper property. However, if vegetation or debris flowing from the upper landowner’s property clogs the downgradient landowner’s tile or pipe, the upper landowner may be responsible for the problem. True or False? A landowner is allowed to dig a trench in a marsh or other wetland to improve the drainage on his land. Answer: False. Generally a landowner is prohibited from digging, filling, or moving soil in a wetland for any purpose, unless the landowner has a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and/or the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Protected wetlands include marshes, swamps, bogs, and similar areas that possess saturated soil. Some woodlands are wetlands if they are saturated during a portion of the year, even if they are dry for the rest of the year. Before clearing or digging in a saturated area, it is important to find out whether it is a wetland. True or False? A downgradient landowner has an absolute right to prevent an upper landowner from discharging surface water onto the land of the downgradient landowner by erecting a wall or taking other action to block the flow. Answer: False. An upper landowner has the right to discharge surface water on downgradient land, as long as the flow is reasonable. The downgradient landowner cam1ot block this flow so long as it is reasonable. However, the downgradient landowner can take reasonable action to reduce the flow if necessary to protect the downgradient landowner’s land from unreasonable damage. True or False? Under some circumstances, a downgradient landowner is allowed to interfere with the natural flow of surface water from an upper landowner’s land even though it causes some harm to the upper landowner’s property. Answer: True. A downgradient landowner is allowed to restrict the flow from upper land if the interference is reasonable. True or False? If a tile, ditch, or other drainage structure on downgradient land deteriorates and impairs an upper landowner’s drainage due to no fault of the downgradient landowner, the downgradient landowner is required to repair the structure at his own expense. Answer: Generally true, unless the upper landowner has entered into an agreement or easement with the downgradient landowner agreeing to pay for or share the expense. For another exception to this principle, see the next question and answer. True or False? A landowner can defray the expense of improving or restoring the effective drainage of her land by initiating action requiring other landowners to share in the expense if their lands also benefit from the improved drainage. Answer: True. A landowner can submit a petition to the county commissioners to initiate proceedings for constructing, modifying, repairing, or maintaining ditches, dams, reservoirs, walls, tiles, and other drainage or flood control structures. If the county commissioners detennine that a project is necessary, feasible, and cost-effective, they have the authority to approve, fund, and construct it. The costs of the project are assessed to the benefitting landowners in proportion to their benefits, whether or not they supported the petition. Petitions also can be submitted to the local Soil and Water Conservation District, which evaluates and approves the projects and then refers the projects to the county commissioners for ultimate approval and implementation. True or False? Ohio has enacted a state law that establishes a landowner’s drainage rights. Answer: False. Ohio has no state law that provides a landowner with the right to drain surface water from the landowner’s land, nor does state law prohibit ;;;omeone from discharging surface water on a landowner’s land. For that reason, no state agency has the authority to stop someone from violating a landowner’s drainage rights. However, the Supreme Com1 of Ohio has established the reasonable use doctrine for drainage that is described above. This doctrine enables landowners to file private lawsuits to enforce their drainage rights against persons who unreasonably damage their property. Ohio does have a law that prohibits a person from obstructing the drainage in watercourses and ditches along public highways. The purpose of this law is to prevent the highways from flooding, but keeping these drainage ways open also benefits adjoining landowners. Some counties, townships, or municipalities have enacted laws that govern drainage. These laws may provide local government with limited authority to address drainage issues. True or False? Richland County has enacted laws regulating all drainage activities in the county. Answer: False. State law authorizes counties to regulate drainage on some types of property, but not on other types. For example. state law does not authorize counties to regulate drainage on land used by public utilities, railroads, and agriculture. Counties cannot regulate drainage on crop fields or other agricultural land. In addition, the county does not have authority over drainage activities inside the City of Mansfield and some other municipalities. The Richland County Board of Commissioners does have the authority to regulate, and does regulate, surface and subsurface drainage from the construction of single-family, two-family, and three-family dwellings and any other building or structure that disturbs at least 3,000 square feet of soil, creates at least 2,000 square feet of impervious surface, or disturbs soil within 100 feet of a stream, a wetland, or Special Flood Hazard Area. The Richland County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) administers these drainage requirements for the county commissioners. Any person who develops a regulated project must install an effective drainage system to prevent drainage problems. Permits issued by the county identify the drainage controls that must be installed and operated. A person may change the pre-existing surface or subsurface drainage on the developed property, but only to the extent that these changes do not flood or saturate upgradient or downgradient properties or otherwise harm any person or property. Article VII of the county’s Stormwater Management and Sediment Regulations provides additional details about these requirements. A copy of these regulations can be found on this web site at this link [install link]. True or False? The Richland County Board of Commissioners and the Richland County Soil and Water Conservation District (S\VCD) have the authority to decide disputes between landowners over drainage issues. Answer: Generally false. State law limits the county’s jurisdiction over drainage. The county commissioners have only the authority to enforce Article VII of the Stom1water Management and Sediment Regulations against anyone who is causing a drainage problem in violation of those regulations. Any other drainage issue is not subject to county authority. The SWCD is not an enforcement agency, but we assist the county commissioners with technical advice in implementing and enforcing these regulations. In addition, the SWCD can provide landowners with technical advice to help them solve their drainage problems if they are willing to work with us. The article at this link [install link] provides you with additional infonnation about how we can help. This article has been prepared by Jack A. Van Kley of the law firm of Van Kley & Walker, LLC, 132 Northwoods Boulevard, Suite C-1, Columbus, OH 43235. Mr. Van Kley can be contacted at (614) 43 t-8900. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide legal advice as individual situations will differ and should be discussed with a lawyer. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship between the author and the reader. Knowing Your Water Rights Here are additional questions and answers about water rights. Since there are a fair number of them, you may wish to create a new page for them. I. What are the rights of the public to use a stream (such as a river or creek) or lake? Answer: The public has the right to use any navigable stream or lake for boating and fishing. The public has no right to use a navigable stream or lake for swimming, wading, bathing, hunting, or other purposes unless the owner of the bed of the stream or bed has agreed to allow that access. The public has no right to use non-navigable streams or lakes for any purpose without the permission of the landowner. How can I tell whether a stream or lake is navigable? Answer: A stream is generally navigable if canoes or other boats can navigate it under natural conditions and if it is accessible from publicly owned land. A lake on private property is unlikely to be classified as navigable even if canoes or other boats can navigate it, unless the lake is of great size. Does the public have the right to go onto private property in order to reach a navigable stream or lake? Answer: No, that would be a trespass on the landowner’s land. The public must use publicly owned land to reach the navigable water or obtain a private landowner’s permission to use her land for that purpose. Does the public have the right to walk on the bank of a navigable stream or lake? Answer: The bank is not part of a navigable stream or lake. A person has no right to walk on the bank, fish from the bank, or do anything else on the bank unless he owns the bank or has been given the landowner’s pennission to use it. The public can use the bank if it is on government property (such as a park or wildlife refuge) and the governmental owner has provided access to the public. Does the public have the right to fish, wade in, or engage in any other activity in a non-navigable stream, lake, or pond if the water is accessible from public property? Answer: A person has the right to use a non-navigable stream, lake, or pond only if she owns it or has been given permission by the owner to use it. If a person owns land under a stream or lake, for what purposes can he use the stream or lake? Answer: A person who owns the bed of a stream or lake, or any part of it, can use the water in the stream or lake for boating, fishing, irrigation, swimming, drinking, and other purposes. His use of the water must be conducted in a reasonable manner that does not deprive other owners of their rights to use and enjoy the water. For example, one landowner is not allowed to use so much water for irrigation or other purposes that other landowners are unable to boat on it. Ohio courts have not provided clear direction on whether the owner of part of the bed of a privately owned lake has a right of access to the entire lake for boating and other purposes, or has access to only the portion that he owns. A landowner’s rights can be affected by easements, covenants, or contracts that restrict or enlarge her rights to use a stream or lake. If a landowner’s land is separated from a stream or lake by someone else’s land, does the landowner have a right to use the water? Answer: A landowner whose land is separated from a lake or stream by any other person’s land has no more right to use the lake or stream than any other member of the public. Can the government stop my neighbor from taking too much water and drying up my well, lake, or stream’? Answer: No. Government agencies have no authority to restrict the amount of water pumped from a lake or stream. However, Ohio law does authorize a landowner to file a lawsuit to protect the landowner’s own water supply. This article has been prepared by Jack A. Van Kley of the law firm of Van Kley & Walker, LLC, 132 Northwoods Boulevard, Suite C-1, Columbus, OH 43235. Mr. Van Kley can be contacted at (614) 431-8900. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide legal advice as individual situations will differ and should be discussed with a lawyer. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship between the author and the reader. Stream Debris and Obstruction Removal A proactive landowner’s guide to maintaining a free-flowing stream. Download the Debris Removal Guide Ohio State University Extension Surface Water Drainage Rights Bulletin Download the Drainage Rights Bulletin Stream Maintenance Guide Download the Maintenance Guide #### Report An Accessibility Concern URL: https://richlandswcd.net/report-an-accessibility-concern/ #### Residential The Grass Looks Greener on the Other Side Because It’s Native Grass! Learn about the benefits and how to establish Ohio native grasses.Read More Strategies for Building Up Organic Matter in Soil What is organic matter, why do we want it in our soil, and how can we increase levels.Read More Hot Weather, Heavy Rains, and Ponds Learn how to manage a stressed pond.Read More All Your Stormwater Permit Needs Get the forms and documents you need regarding stormwater. Ohio Drainage Laws Learn about Ohio drainage laws and neighborhood drainage issues. Programs Find out about our conservation programs. Soil Read about soil health, soil testing, backyard soil, and the different soil types in Richland County. Townships See the watersheds, rivers, and streams of Richland County’s townships. #### Richland County Food Producer List Now, more than ever, buying locally grown and produced food is vital to our community!  With the events of 2020 impacting some food availability, a free list is being assembled of where consumers may purchase food grown and produced in Richland County. The goal is to help the public find locally grown and produced food products and connect local food producers to consumers. Consumers may develop a better understanding of where their food comes from, how it is produced and get to know the people who have a passion for offering fresh food.  How can you get involved? Are you a local food producer? Get added to the list. See who is on the list. To learn more about the list, visit Richland County Grower and Producers List. This effort is supported by: Destination Mansfield-Richland County North End Community Improvement Collaborative OSU Extension – Richland County Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development Richland County Farm Bureau Richland Soil and Water Conservation District #### Rocky Fork Watershed Note: Impervious surface permit icons, land use icons, and livestock icons do not necessarily indicate exact locations. They are approximate locations on the same land parcel. View the Richland County Watersheds Map ROCKY FORK Begins near Mansfield/Ontario → goes through Mansfield → joins Black Fork River East of Lucas Soil Type in the Rocky Fork Watershed Shoals-Chili-Wheeling Fitchville-Luray-Bennington Pewamo-Bennington Rittman-Wadsworth Bennington-Cardington Wooster-Loudonville Lordstown-Loudonville Wooster-Canfield More Information on These Soil Types Impervious Areas Total Impervious Areas Created in the Rocky Fork Watershed*   4,357,150 sq. ft. Residential Permits (Homes, Pole Barns, Additions, etc.) PermitsYearLeast Area Created (Above 0)1,680sq. ft.2000Most Area Created264,353sq. ft.2003 Exemptions** (Less than 2,000 square feet created) PermitsYearLeast Area Created (Above 0)6,390sq. ft.2008Most Area Created152,605sq. ft.2025 Commercial Permits PermitsYearLeast Area Created (Above 0)5,255sq. ft.2025Most Area Created333,610sq. ft.2024 *This figure does not include impervious areas from prior to 2000**Agriculture is included in permit exemptions Learn About Impervious Areas Impervious Areas Created in the Rocky Fork Watershed by Year #### Sandusky Watershed Note: Impervious surface permit icons, land use icons, and livestock icons do not necessarily indicate exact locations. They are approximate locations on the same land parcel. View the Richland County Watersheds Map SANDUSKY Begins on western side of Richland County → Bucyrus → Lake Erie at Sandusky Bay Soil Type in the Sandusky Watershed Shoals-Chili-Wheeling Belmore-Haney Fitchville-Luray-Bennington Pewamo-Bennington Rittman-Wadsworth Bennington-Cardington Cardington-Alexandria More Information on These Soil Types Impervious Areas Total Impervious Areas Created in the Sandusky Watershed*   1,160,771 sq. ft. Residential Permits (Homes, Pole Barns, Additions, etc.) PermitsYearLeast Area Created (Above 0)1,900sq. ft.2008Most Area Created52,385sq. ft.2002 Exemptions** (Less than 2,000 square feet created) PermitsYearLeast Area Created (Above 0)468sq. ft.2020Most Area Created42,380sq. ft.2019 Commercial Permits PermitsYearLeast Area Created (Above 0 )871sq. ft.2023Most Area Created200,760sq. ft.2025 *This figure does not include impervious areas from prior to 2000**Agriculture is included in permit exemptions Learn About Impervious Areas Impervious Areas Created in the Sandusky Watershed by Year #### Search SearchSearch #### Shop URL: https://richlandswcd.net/shop/ #### Sitemap Home Learn about the Richland Soil & Water Conservation District. Shop Browse our collection of products and services available for purchase online. News Keep up with the latest news and updates from our newsletter. Events Join us for public events, meetings, and more. Search Find what you’re looking for. Help Get in touch with us. Residential All Your Stormwater Permit Needs Get the forms and documents you need regarding stormwater. Ohio Drainage Laws Learn about Ohio drainage laws and neighborhood drainage issues. Programs Find out about our conservation programs. Soil Read about soil health, soil testing, backyard soil, and the different soil types in Richland County. Townships See the watersheds, rivers, and streams of Richland County’s townships. Agriculture Agriculture Partners Find more agricultural resources. Agriculture Pollution Abatement Program This aims to reduce pollution of waters of the state by soil sediment, animal manure and residual farm products. Conservation Easements Conservation easements allow the landowner to maintain ownership of the land while limiting future development. Conservation Plans Conservation plans ensure that the land’s unique natural resources are managed in the best possible way, while maintaining sustainability and productivity. Cover Crops Learn about programs supporting the planting of cover crops and the many benefits of doing so. Farmland Preservation This program ensures farms remain permanently in agricultural production. H2Ohio H2Ohio is a state-funded grant program to help reduce or eliminate phosphorous runoff from agriculture fields to prevent algae blooms. Nutrient Management Managing the amount, placement, and timing of plant nutrients to get the best results and minimize surface and groundwater pollution risks. Ohio Department of Agriculture Farmland Preservation Program: Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (LAEPP) Farmland Donation Program: Agricultural Easement Donation Program (AEDP) Richland County Food Producer List This local food producer list helps connect local food growers and producers to consumers to purchase locally-sourced food. Richland County Pioneers Learn from previous generations of agricultural families and see how agriculture has evolved in Richland County. Soil Testing Find out what your soil needs in order to be healthy and fertile. USDA-NRCS Programs These provide technical assistance with natural resource concerns such as reducing soil erosion and protecting water quality. Stormwater & Drainage All Your Stormwater Permit Needs Get the forms and documents you need regarding stormwater. Continental Divide Tour Explore the Continental Divide in Richland County. EPA Best Practices Read about various methods of stormwater management. I Have a Project What to bring when applying for a Stormwater Permit. Impervious Areas See how impervious areas affect your watershed. NPDES/MS4 Learn about the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Floodplains Learn what a floodplain is and why you need to be aware of them. Drainage Learn about Ohio drainage laws, ditch petition, and neighborhood drainage issues. Ponds Read about types of ponds, new pond construction, and pond care and maintenance. Report a Land Concern Report a problem on your property you would like assistance with, or a concern regarding stormwater regulations. Stormwater Learn what stormwater is and how to manage better manage it. Townships See the watersheds, rivers, and streams of Richland County’s townships. Water Data Map See the average precipitation in the different watersheds with our interactive map. Watershed Map Learn about the unique watersheds of our county using our interactive map. Get Involved Backyard Conservation Learn about some easy conservation practices you can incorporate at home. Careers & Internships Find out about job and internship opportunities. Donate or Sponsor Support local conservation efforts. Volunteer Opportunities Do you have a passion for conservation? Consider joining our valued team of volunteers! Volunteer Portal Already a volunteer? Log in here. About Us Award Recipients See past and present award winners. Board of Supervisors & Staff Contact our team and learn more about our board. Conservation Partners Additional conservation resources. Contact Us Let us know your questions or concerns. Events Calendar Learn about our upcoming programs and sales. Forms Find the forms you need for your project. Mission, Vision, & History Learn about our commitment to the community. News Keep up with what’s happening in our area. Our Rich Land Podcast Bringing you stories and insight on conservation in our small corner of Ohio. Press Releases See press releases from RSWCD. Reminisce Browse historical photos and documents. Videos See videos about what we do. #### Soil Take the Soil Your Undies Challenge The “Soil Your Undies” challenge was originally created by Oregon farmers, working with their local Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) and the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS), as a fun way to build public interest in soil health.  With a name like “Rich Land”, Richland County is sure to have some holey undies indeed!  What did we do?    We selected a variety of sites in all 18 townships in Richland County and buried a pair of cotton underwear in early summer at those chosen locations, then dug the undies back up after 60 days. It’s the quick and dirty way to test the microbial activity in our soils and assess the health of the microbes. The more the underwear deteriorates, the healthier our soil! What are the steps for you to take the challenge? 1. Plant a pair of new, 100% cotton underwear. Don’t forget to mark their location! Start in early summer since the temperature of the soil is warm enough that the microbes wake up. 2. Wait at least 60 days before digging your undies up. This gives your soil microbes time to do their magic!  3. Share your results by sending a “planting” (before) photo and a “harvest” (after) photo along with a little info about your operation (e.g., farm, woods, garden, etc) to: Contact@richlandswcd.net! You can also post on social media and tag us! Take part in the National Resource Conservation Service’s Soil Your Undies Challenge! Help us put Ohio on the challenge map. Find out more at https://bit.ly/4cUWhxh. Microbial Action! Your undies won’t break down in just any soil. Healthy soil contains billions of microbes that consume the cotton fabric. In fact, one teaspoon of healthy soil contains more microbes than there are people on the planet. In addition to chowing down on organic matter like cotton, they also help soil resist erosion, cycle nutrients, and store water. Soil microbes are your best friends. The hungry microbes in your soil need food, shelter, and variety to thrive, just like us! You can take care of your microbial friends by following these four steps: 1. Avoid soil disturbance wherever and whenever possible. 2. Maximize soil cover with living plants (cover crops) and residue. 3. Maximize biodiversity by growing a variety of plants and managed integration of livestock. 4. Maximize living roots in the soil throughout the year.  Photo credit:  https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/conservation-by-state/montana/soil-your-undies-challenge Soil Health Healthy soil is rich in nutrients. These soils hold moisture and drain well. Soil life includes earthworms, beetles, bacteria and microorganisms. Healthy soil generally has a dark crumbly appearance and a rich pleasant earthy smell. If this doesn’t sound like your soil, read on for some tips on what you can do to improve the health of your soil. Tip #1: Add Organic Matter to Improve Your Soil’s Structure Regardless of your soil type (i.e. clay, loam or sand), adding organic matter is probably the single most important thing you can do to improve your soil. Organic matter supports the soil life that is the key to healthy soil. Together organic matter and soil life help bind the soil particles into various sizes of aggregates giving it the appearance of cookie crumbs. Compost is one of the best things you can add to your soil. The best compost comes from mixing a variety of ingredients. Kitchen trimmings from fruits and vegetables, coffee grounds, grass clippings, shredded leaves, chopped up yard waste and barnyard manures are all free sources of materials to compost. Add compost in the spring before planting, side dress plants or mulch with it during the growing season and add more in the fall when putting your garden to bed. Composting also keeps these materials from taking up expensive landfill space. Tip #2: Cover Crops Mother Nature never intended soil to become bare. Our civilization and weed free management counteracts the role that Mother Nature intended. Cover crops are a way to improve the health of your soil. While growing, cover crops crowd out weeds and reduce soil erosion from wind and rain. Tilling the green tops into the soil adds organic matter. The roots of cover crops add to the soil’s structure by leaving channels in the soil when they decompose, thus improving water and air infiltration. Tip #3: Do a Soil Test and Follow Recommendations Have your soil tested by a soil-testing lab. The lab will send you a report of the current state of nutrients in your soil and give recommendations of amendments that can be made depending on the intended use of the soil. Another important component of the soil test is the pH. Nutrient availability can vary with the soil’s pH. Most plants and the soil life prefer a soil pH between 5.5 and 6.5. If your soil’s pH is out of this optimal range, follow the lab’s recommendations for correcting it. Adjusting soil pH takes time; you should probably test your soil every 2 to 3 years. More information on soil testing may be found on the soil testing page. Tip #4: Protect Your Soil Avoid compacting the soil. Working the soil early in the spring when it is too wet can damage your soil’s structure. Soil should not be dug unless it is dry enough to crumble. Avoid foot traffic and heavy equipment on your lawn and garden beds since they crush the soil’s pores. Taking steps to work to improve the health of your soil can pay big dividends. Plants grown in healthy soil are much less likely to have insect and disease problems. As an added bonus, healthy soils reduce runoff, meaning streams will be healthier too. Richland County Soil Soil Associations of Richland County, Ohio Shoals-Chili-Wheeling Association Deep soils found on nearly level to moderately steep slopes. These are somewhat poorly drained and well-drained soils that are found on flood plains, terraces, and outwash deposits (from melting glaciers). Belmore-Haney Association Deep soils found on gently sloping to moderately steep slopes. These are well-drained to moderately well-drained soils that were formed in glacial outwash deposits mainly on kames and eskers (embankments & mounds left by melting glaciers). Fitchville-Luray-Bennington Association Deep soils found on nearly level to gently sloping slopes. These are somewhat poorly drained and very poorly drained soils formed in freshwater deposits and by glacial plowing. Pewamo-Bennington Association Deep soils found on nearly level to gently sloping slopes. These are very poorly drained and somewhat poorly drained soils formed by glacial plowing. Rittman-Wadsworth Association Deep soils found on level to moderately steep slopes. These are moderately well-drained and somewhat poorly drained soils that contain a hard dense layer called a fragipan. They were formed by glacial plowing. Bennington-Cardington Association Deep soils found on nearly level to gently sloping slopes. These are somewhat poorly drained and moderately well-drained soils that were formed by glacial plowing. Wooster-Loudonville Association Deep and moderately deep soils found on gently sloping to very steep slopes. These are well-drained soils that were formed by glacial plowing. Hanover-Titusville-Loudonville Association Deep and moderately deep soils found on gently sloping to steep slopes. These are well-drained and moderately well-drained soils that were formed by glacial plowing. Lordstown-Loudonville Association Moderately deep soils found on gently sloping to steep slopes. These are well-drained soils that were formed by glacial plowing and weathering (breaking down) of sandstone bedrock. Wooster-Canfield Association Deep soils found on nearly level to very steep slopes. These are well-drained and moderately well-drained soils that contain a hard dense layer called a fragipan. They were formed by glacial plowing. Cardington-Alexandria Association Deep soils found on gently sloping to very steep slopes. These are moderately well-drained and well-drained soils that were formed by glacial plowing. Richland County Soil Survey Soil in My Backyard The Soil Survey is useful to farmers, landowners, and people with natural resource interests and provides a broad view of soil conditions for planning purposes. Our District feels the Survey is a beneficial land-use planning tool so development and farming can be done in a way that is environmentally responsible. Click the button below to explore and learn more about your soil types and characteristics of your land, as well as other soils throughout the country. What Soil is In My Backyard? Additional Soil Information Click below for additional soil information from the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Ohio Department of Agriculture Soil Testing Have you considered having your soil tested?  In order to have good, healthy, productive plants you must start with fertile, healthy soil. Good soil retains water, releases nutrients and drains well. It must contain adequate nutrients, optimum pH and organic matter to be healthy and fertile. Guessing about additives for your lawn, garden or farm field usually means too little or too much fertilizer gets added. Too little fertilizer may result in healthy plants. Too much is wasteful and can threaten our lakes and wetlands. Also, soils vary within the state, your neighborhood, and even your yard or farm field. What may be good for your neighbor or brother’s lawn, garden or farm field may not be right for yours. Don’t guess or take someone else’s recommendations. Find out what your soil needs – take a soil test. A soil test will tell you what nutrients your plants or lawn need and will recommend the amount of fertilizer (N-P-K) to add to your soil. The N stands for nitrogen. Nitrogen encourages fast, green growth. The P stands for phosphorus. Phosphorus stimulates root development, rapid growth and quality plants. The K stands for potassium and promotes disease resistance, strong stems and winter hardiness. A soil test will also tell the current pH of your soil. Soil pH is a measure of soil acidity. Nutrient availability is influenced by the pH of the soil. Plants need an optimum pH to grow and be productive. Acidic soils have a pH lower than 7.0. Neutral soils have a pH of 7.0. And soils with a pH above 7.0 are called alkaline. Most plants will grow adequately p to a soil pH of 7.5. Some plants, such as blueberries and azaleas, love acidic soil while other plants, such as tomatoes and carrots, prefer alkaline soils.  The results of the soil test also include an analysis of the amount of organic matter in your soil. The amount of organic matter is important because the more organic matter you have in your soil, the better the water holding capacity, drainage, and tilth of your soil. To increase the organic matter level in your soil, you can add materials such as manure, compost or peat moss. Richland Soil and Water Conservation District offers soil testing for gardeners, hobby farms, lawn care and farmers. Taking a soil sample (see instructions below) is fairly straight-forward or we can pull the sample for you. If we pull the sample, an extra charge will apply and staff availability will determine when the sample is pulled. Please note: convenience fee applies when paying by credit card. How it Works First determine what you are going to be growing:  vegetables, flowers, trees, lawn, crops, etc… Take your own soil sample or have Richland Soil and Water Conservation District do it for you. Sample bags are available through Richland Soil and Water Conservation District. You can also use a quart-size, re-sealable plastic sandwich bag Write your name and contact info on the bag Complete an agriculture and/or turf soil testing form Return the sample and soil testing form(s) to Richland Soil and Water Conservation District The sample is sent to a lab for testing Soil analysis is sent to Richland Soil and Water Conservation District. The results and recommendations will be emailed. Garden and Turf Soil Testing: Fill out a turf form if testing gardens and turf For gardens, dig your sample 8 inches deep For lawns, dig your samples 4 inches deep Basic turf and ornamental test:  $22 per sample Basic turf with micronutrients test:  $28 per sample Complete turf test:  $53 per sample Agriculture Field and Pasture Soil Testing: For agriculture fields and pastures, fill out an agriculture form For agriculture fields, dig your samples 8 inches deep For pastures, dig your samples 4 inches deep Basic package:  $20 per sample Basic plus package: $23 per sample Complete package:  $29 per sample What Do the Tests Include? Basic Turf and Ornamental Soil Test Package:  Includes Soil pH, Buffer pH (when needed), Organic Matter, Available Phosphorous, Exchangeable Potassium, Calcium Magnesium, Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), Percent Base Saturation of Cation Elements. Recommendations for Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium, Magnesium and Lime by plant species on a special turf and ornamental soil analysis report with graphic display of results. Basic Turf and Ornamental Soil Test Package with Micronutrients:  Includes Basic Turf & Ornamental Soil Test Package plus Iron, Manganese, Zinc, and Copper. Recommendations for Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Magnesium, Lime, Iron, Manganese, Zinc and Copper by plant species on a special turf and ornamental soil analysis report with graphic display of results. Complete Turf and Ornamental Soil Test Package:  Includes Basic Turf and Ornamental Soil Test Package with Micronutrients plus Nitrate Nitrogen, Sodium, Sulfur, Boron and Soluble Salts. Recommendations for Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Magnesium, Lime, Iron, Manganese, Zinc and Copper, Sulfur and Boron by plant species on a special turf and ornamental soil analysis report with graphic display of results. Agriculture and Pasture Basic Soil Test Package:  Soil pH, Buffer pH, Organic Matter, Available Phosphorus, Exchangeable Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Cation Exchange Capacity, Percent Base Saturation of Cation Elements with recommendations Agriculture and Pasture Basic Plus Soil Test Package:  Basic Soil Test plus choice of any three of the following micronutrients:  Boron, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Sulfur and Zinc with recommendations. Agriculture and Pasture Complete Soil Test Package:  Basic Soil Test plus Boron, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Sulfur and Zinc with recommendations.   How to Interpret Your Soil Test Results and Nutrient Explanation Spectrum Analytic How to Take A Soil Sample Samples can be taken with a variety of tools, but we prefer a shovel. Make sure it is clean and isn’t rusty or galvanized, bronzed or brassed. Scrape any debris and thatch, including mulch, from the area you are sampling before you dig Dig out pieces of soil about 6 to 8 inches deep. If sampling your lawn, dig 3 to 4 inches deep. Randomly repeat in different parts of the area you want tested (approximately 10 -15 samples), so that the combined sample is a good representation of the entire area Put the samples in a clean, plastic bucket. Do not use galvanized or rubber buckets, because they will contaminate the samples. Use a trowel or smaller shovel to completely mix the sample. Fill the sample bag or quart-size re-sealable, plastic sandwich bag with the sample and label the bag with your name, contact information and the sample description. The soil can be wet or dry when you take a sample, but you will get better results with dry soil since it can be mixed easier. If you take it wet, allow it to dry and then mix. Break up all clumps before mixing. If we think the soil is too wet when you bring it to us, we will dry it out. It will take a number of days before the sample dries and will delay getting your results back. Bring the soil sample to Richland Soil and Water Conservation District Provide us with your contact information, how the soil was used previously, how you want to use the soil and a sample description. Do Not Sample: Dead or back furrows Fence rows, old or new Old roadbeds, or near limestone gravel roads Terrace channels Win breaks or snow fence lines Turn rows Spill areas Fertilizer bands including Anhydrous N Unusual or abnormal spots #### Stormwater What is Stormwater? Downstream flooding Stream bank erosion Increased turbidity (muddiness created by stirred up sediment) from erosion Habitat destruction Changes in the stream flow hydrograph (a graph that displays the flow rate of a stream over a period of time) Stormwater Damage Contaminated streams, rivers and coastal water Stormwater in Richland County The Richland County Commissioners adopted the Stormwater Management and Sediment Control Regulations for Richland County. The purpose of these regulations is to reduce Stormwater and erosion impacts from earthmoving and/or construction activities. Anyone within Richland County limits (not inside city/village limits, except Lexington Village) with a project that will entail earth disturbing or construction activity, must apply for a Stormwater Permit. The permit process requires the applicant to submit a site plan detailing how erosion and Stormwater will be handled during and after the project. The goal is to keep sediment from leaving the site and to handle Stormwater in a way to promote water infiltration into the soil and not create a drainage nuisance to neighboring properties. Larger commercial construction projects may be required to submit an engineered plan that will retain Stormwater onsite and release it at a controlled rate. Neighborhood Drainage Issues Neighborhood drainage issues are becoming a major county issue in populated areas. Here is an explanation of what you can do and how we can help. Resolving Drainage Issues Assistance We Provide with Neighborhood Drainage Issues Neighborhood drainage issues are becoming a major county issue in populated areas. In our experience, landowners want to involve our agency as an intermediary between neighbors. Our agency does not work with property owners to settle disputes. When neighbors agree to work together, then we can provide recommendations for solutions. If the drainage concern is complex, a civil engineer should be consulted at the landowner(s) expense. Our agency is not an enforcement agency, but we do explain the parameters of Ohio Drainage Law when surface water issues arise. Ohio Drainage Law is specific. In short, surface water is owned by the state of Ohio and landowners that receive surface water must not impede or block the natural flow of water. Many of our recommendations include slowing surface flow by diverting or retaining water while the discharge flows naturally, the way nature intended. Also, we can consult and recommend practices to be installed to minimize drainage concerns. These are verbal recommendations and it is up to the landowner to implement the practices suggested. We can provide examples of practices for landowners to follow. In addition, we cannot walk onto neighboring properties to investigate drainage concerns. When there are issues between neighbors, we must be invited to go onto the property. Above all, it is the responsibility of the two parties/neighbors to come up with an agreeable solution. When drainage issues cannot be resolved between landowners, we offer the option of the parties getting together in our office with a mediator. The goal of mediation is to develop a mutual agreement between neighbors. The court driven mediation will help minimize confusion and promote a solution. The mediation is at the expense of the parties. In an ideal situation, both landowners involved in a dispute share the expense of implementing a solution. This solution will not only benefit them; it will benefit all landowners in the community. When neighbors cannot communicate and mediation is unsuccessful, the only recourse is to proceed with civil court. When a landowner considers civil court, it is important that their claim(s) warrant the complaint on the basis of damage to life, property, equipment. Is it life threatening? Is the drainage devaluing my property? Is the drainage a seasonal moisture issue that disappears when rainy periods diminish? Is this drainage issue affecting my quality of life, or well-being of my property (buildings, basements, foundations, etc.)? Am I in a floodplain or wetland? It is important to remember that there are federal and state laws in place to protect natural resources. Many of our complaints are temporary issues; they involve ponding or the holding of surface water during seasons of high rainfall. Finally, we encourage landowners who experience drainage issues to document with dated pictures, videos and receipts of repairs resulting from stormwater damage in a dated folder. This information will be important if the landowner chooses to resolve the concern in civil court. Please contact us if you have further questions at 419.747.8684 or go to our contact page. Drainage Assistance Example Neighbors Work Together to Resolve Drainage Situation We want to share with you a recent example of three (3) neighbor’s working together to resolve a drainage situation. One neighbor invited Richland SWCD to meet with himself and his neighbors to share what has been happening, to discuss possible solutions and hear recommendations from Richland SWCD. Matt Wallace, District Technician, and Erica Thomas, District Administrator met with the group. Background: Adam Wade, NeighborForeground: Matt Wallace, SWCD Technician To provide you with some background, one neighbor has a farm and the other two neighbors are home and landowners. Two neighbors have lived in their homes several years and the third built a home with driveway a few years ago. The neighbor who recently built a home, also inherited a ditch from a previous owner that was intended to drain into the farm field. The farmer does not want the water to drain onto his field. The other homeowner has been experiencing septic back-ups into the home and some basement flooding. How can this be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction? The new homeowner suggested removing part of a dike along the manmade channel to eliminate septic saturation and back-up, basement flooding and keep it from draining onto the farm field. This solution will allow water to flow back to an open meadow that was naturally wet before a past owner decided to channel it in one direction. To reduce a potential mosquito problem, Matt recommended building bat and swallow houses. The benefit is two-fold. Building and installing it will be great family project, plus it uses natural methods instead of chemicals. By the time Matt and Erica were ready to leave, the neighbors were discussing how to get started on the project. In the end, everyone seemed pleased and were ready to work toward achieving the same goal. We consider this a great day and visit and appreciate being invited to join in the discussion. A drainage issue like this one, is a civil matter. If you invite Richland SWCD to a meeting like the example above, we will schedule a time to meet the parties involved at the site and provide recommendations. Sometimes an intermediary like Richland SWCD who isn’t directly involved in a situation can help find a satisfactory resolution. Richland SWCD does not settle disputes and is not an enforcement agency. However, you may forge a stronger relationship with your neighbor. To learn more, call 419-747-8686 or go to our contact page. June 15, 2020 Drainage Rights From Jack Van Kley, Van Kley & Walker, LLC December 21, 2016 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT YOUR DRAINAGE RIGHTS: Flooding from high stream flows or heavy unchanneled runoff from land can cause substantial damage to property. Disputes between neighbors can arise when a landowner on higher ground increases the volume or rate of flow onto another landowner’s property, or when a landowner on lower ground blocks the flow from another landowner’s higher land. Drainage problems, and disputes over drainage problems, can occur on land that is used for any purpose. [n rural areas, drainage disputes can arise when one farmer’s fields are flooded by rainfall or snow melt flowing off another farmer’s fields, or when poor drainage on one farmer’s fields blocks effective drainage from another farmer’s fields. In urban areas, the construction of paved parking lots, buildings, roads, and other impervious surfaces can prevent the percolation of precipitation into the soil and increase the storm water runoff onto adjoining properties. The increased storm water runoff can erode the soil and flood basements, yards, gardens, and septic systems. This article explains the drainage rights possessed by Ohio landowners in the form of questions and answers. This information is applicable to drainage in all types of land use, whether industrial, commercial, residential, recreational, or agricultural. The references to “landowners” in these questions and answers also apply to renters and other persons who occupy a property. True or False? An upper (uphill) landowner always has the right to drain all of his surface water onto a neighbor’s downgradient (downhill) land, regardless of the flow volume and the amount of damage it causes on downgradient land. Answer: False. If the drainage causes an unreasonable amount of damage to downgradient land, then the upper landowner is liable for encroaching on the downgradient neighbor’s property rights. Ohio’s courts have adopted a “reasonable use” doctrine that the com1s use to determine whether a landowner’s drainage activities have violated another landowner’s property rights. This principle allows a landowner to develop or modify his prope11y in a manner that increases the drainage onto a neighbor’s land, but only if the increased drainage does not unreasonably interfere with the neighbor’s drainage. A project that interferes with drainage is unreasonable if its hann to other landowners outweighs the project’s benefits. This is a subjective standard that is based on fairness and common sense. This balancing test evaluates the following facts to determine the seriousness of harn1 to the landowners adversely affected by the interference with drainage: the extent of the harm; the character of the harm; the social value of the use or enjoyment that is harmed; (d) the suitability of the damaged use or enjoyment to the character of the locality; and (e) the burden on the hanned landowner if she has to fund and implement the actions necessa1y to avoid ham1 from the other landowner’s drainage. This balancing test evaluates the following facts to evaluate the value of the project that interferes with drainage: (a) the project’s social value; (b the project’s suitability to the character of the locality; whether it is impracticable to prevent or avoid the interference; and whether it is impracticable to maintain the project if its owner is required to bear the cost of compensating for the interference with drainage. A judge or jury will use these factors to compare the seriousness of the harm caused by the project with the project’s value to determine whether the project unreasonably interferes with drainage. Generally, a landowner’s interference with another landowner’s drainage will be found unreasonable if most citizens would find the interference to be unfair or offensive. True or False? An upper landowner is allowed to increase his drainage onto a neighbor’s land even if the higher volume of drainage exceeds the highest flows that have historically occurred from her land. Answer: True, as long as the increased flow is reasonable as determined by the balancing test described in the previous answer. True or False? An upper landowner can always increase the speed of surface water flow onto downgradient land without liability as long as the total volume of water does not increase. Answer: False. Even if an upper landowner does not increase the overall amount of water drained onto a neighbor’s land, the upper landowner is liable if he accelerates the speed of drainage in a manner that unreasonably floods or interferes with drainage on his neighbor’s land. True or False? If surface water has historically flowed in a stream or over the ground surface from a landowner’s land onto someone else’s land, the landowner has an unlimited right to increase the flow even if it harms a neighbor’s property. Answer: False. Even if the route of a flow has existed for centuries, an increase in flow is governed by the reasonable use doctrine. The upper landowner can increase the flow, but only if it is reasonable. True or False? A landowner is not allowed to construct developments (such as buildings or parking lots) or make other unnatural changes to his land that increase the surface water flow onto neighboring land that is greater than the land’s natural flow. Answer: False. A landowner is allowed to develop his land in any manner that does not cause an unreasonable interference with the drainage of other landowners, even if the increased flow exceeds historic levels. However, the landowner is liable if the increased flow unreasonably damages the downgradient landowner. True or False? A landowner can be liable for interfering with a neighbor’s drainage even if she takes no purposeful action to interfere with the flow. Answer: Trne. If conditions on a landowner’s property interfere with a neighbor’s drainage, the landowner can be liable for the drainage interference even if she did not intend to interfere with the neighbor’s drainage. True or False? If vegetation or debris plugs a tile or pipe on a downgradient landowner’s land and floods an upper landowner’s land, the downgradient landowner can be liable for the damage even though the downgradient landowner took no action to plug the tile or pipe. Answer: True. The downgradient landowner is required to properly maintain his tiles and pipes to allow proper drainage on the upper property. However, if vegetation or debris flowing from the upper landowner’s property clogs the downgradient landowner’s tile or pipe, the upper landowner may be responsible for the problem. True or False? A landowner is allowed to dig a trench in a marsh or other wetland to improve the drainage on his land. Answer: False. Generally a landowner is prohibited from digging, filling, or moving soil in a wetland for any purpose, unless the landowner has a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and/or the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Protected wetlands include marshes, swamps, bogs, and similar areas that possess saturated soil. Some woodlands are wetlands if they are saturated during a portion of the year, even if they are dry for the rest of the year. Before clearing or digging in a saturated area, it is important to find out whether it is a wetland. True or False? A downgradient landowner has an absolute right to prevent an upper landowner from discharging surface water onto the land of the downgradient landowner by erecting a wall or taking other action to block the flow. Answer: False. An upper landowner has the right to discharge surface water on downgradient land, as long as the flow is reasonable. The downgradient landowner cam1ot block this flow so long as it is reasonable. However, the downgradient landowner can take reasonable action to reduce the flow if necessary to protect the downgradient landowner’s land from unreasonable damage. True or False? Under some circumstances, a downgradient landowner is allowed to interfere with the natural flow of surface water from an upper landowner’s land even though it causes some harm to the upper landowner’s property. Answer: True. A downgradient landowner is allowed to restrict the flow from upper land if the interference is reasonable. True or False? If a tile, ditch, or other drainage structure on downgradient land deteriorates and impairs an upper landowner’s drainage due to no fault of the downgradient landowner, the downgradient landowner is required to repair the structure at his own expense. Answer: Generally true, unless the upper landowner has entered into an agreement or easement with the downgradient landowner agreeing to pay for or share the expense. For another exception to this principle, see the next question and answer. True or False? A landowner can defray the expense of improving or restoring the effective drainage of her land by initiating action requiring other landowners to share in the expense if their lands also benefit from the improved drainage. Answer: True. A landowner can submit a petition to the county commissioners to initiate proceedings for constructing, modifying, repairing, or maintaining ditches, dams, reservoirs, walls, tiles, and other drainage or flood control structures. If the county commissioners detennine that a project is necessary, feasible, and cost-effective, they have the authority to approve, fund, and construct it. The costs of the project are assessed to the benefitting landowners in proportion to their benefits, whether or not they supported the petition. Petitions also can be submitted to the local Soil and Water Conservation District, which evaluates and approves the projects and then refers the projects to the county commissioners for ultimate approval and implementation. True or False? Ohio has enacted a state law that establishes a landowner’s drainage rights. Answer: False. Ohio has no state law that provides a landowner with the right to drain surface water from the landowner’s land, nor does state law prohibit ;;;omeone from discharging surface water on a landowner’s land. For that reason, no state agency has the authority to stop someone from violating a landowner’s drainage rights. However, the Supreme Com1 of Ohio has established the reasonable use doctrine for drainage that is described above. This doctrine enables landowners to file private lawsuits to enforce their drainage rights against persons who unreasonably damage their property. Ohio does have a law that prohibits a person from obstructing the drainage in watercourses and ditches along public highways. The purpose of this law is to prevent the highways from flooding, but keeping these drainage ways open also benefits adjoining landowners. Some counties, townships, or municipalities have enacted laws that govern drainage. These laws may provide local government with limited authority to address drainage issues. True or False? Richland County has enacted laws regulating all drainage activities in the county. Answer: False. State law authorizes counties to regulate drainage on some types of property, but not on other types. For example. state law does not authorize counties to regulate drainage on land used by public utilities, railroads, and agriculture. Counties cannot regulate drainage on crop fields or other agricultural land. In addition, the county does not have authority over drainage activities inside the City of Mansfield and some other municipalities. The Richland County Board of Commissioners does have the authority to regulate, and does regulate, surface and subsurface drainage from the construction of single-family, two-family, and three-family dwellings and any other building or structure that disturbs at least 3,000 square feet of soil, creates at least 2,000 square feet of impervious surface, or disturbs soil within 100 feet of a stream, a wetland, or Special Flood Hazard Area. The Richland County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) administers these drainage requirements for the county commissioners. Any person who develops a regulated project must install an effective drainage system to prevent drainage problems. Permits issued by the county identify the drainage controls that must be installed and operated. A person may change the pre-existing surface or subsurface drainage on the developed property, but only to the extent that these changes do not flood or saturate upgradient or downgradient properties or otherwise harm any person or property. Article VII of the county’s Stormwater Management and Sediment Regulations provides additional details about these requirements. A copy of these regulations can be found on this web site at this link [install link]. True or False? The Richland County Board of Commissioners and the Richland County Soil and Water Conservation District (S\VCD) have the authority to decide disputes between landowners over drainage issues. Answer: Generally false. State law limits the county’s jurisdiction over drainage. The county commissioners have only the authority to enforce Article VII of the Stom1water Management and Sediment Regulations against anyone who is causing a drainage problem in violation of those regulations. Any other drainage issue is not subject to county authority. The SWCD is not an enforcement agency, but we assist the county commissioners with technical advice in implementing and enforcing these regulations. In addition, the SWCD can provide landowners with technical advice to help them solve their drainage problems if they are willing to work with us. The article at this link [install link] provides you with additional infonnation about how we can help. This article has been prepared by Jack A. Van Kley of the law firm of Van Kley & Walker, LLC, 132 Northwoods Boulevard, Suite C-1, Columbus, OH 43235. Mr. Van Kley can be contacted at (614) 43 t-8900. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide legal advice as individual situations will differ and should be discussed with a lawyer. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship between the author and the reader. Knowing Your Water Rights Here are additional questions and answers about water rights. Since there are a fair number of them, you may wish to create a new page for them. I. What are the rights of the public to use a stream (such as a river or creek) or lake? Answer: The public has the right to use any navigable stream or lake for boating and fishing. The public has no right to use a navigable stream or lake for swimming, wading, bathing, hunting, or other purposes unless the owner of the bed of the stream or bed has agreed to allow that access. The public has no right to use non-navigable streams or lakes for any purpose without the permission of the landowner. How can I tell whether a stream or lake is navigable? Answer: A stream is generally navigable if canoes or other boats can navigate it under natural conditions and if it is accessible from publicly owned land. A lake on private property is unlikely to be classified as navigable even if canoes or other boats can navigate it, unless the lake is of great size. Does the public have the right to go onto private property in order to reach a navigable stream or lake? Answer: No, that would be a trespass on the landowner’s land. The public must use publicly owned land to reach the navigable water or obtain a private landowner’s permission to use her land for that purpose. Does the public have the right to walk on the bank of a navigable stream or lake? Answer: The bank is not part of a navigable stream or lake. A person has no right to walk on the bank, fish from the bank, or do anything else on the bank unless he owns the bank or has been given the landowner’s pennission to use it. The public can use the bank if it is on government property (such as a park or wildlife refuge) and the governmental owner has provided access to the public. Does the public have the right to fish, wade in, or engage in any other activity in a non-navigable stream, lake, or pond if the water is accessible from public property? Answer: A person has the right to use a non-navigable stream, lake, or pond only if she owns it or has been given permission by the owner to use it. If a person owns land under a stream or lake, for what purposes can he use the stream or lake? Answer: A person who owns the bed of a stream or lake, or any part of it, can use the water in the stream or lake for boating, fishing, irrigation, swimming, drinking, and other purposes. His use of the water must be conducted in a reasonable manner that does not deprive other owners of their rights to use and enjoy the water. For example, one landowner is not allowed to use so much water for irrigation or other purposes that other landowners are unable to boat on it. Ohio courts have not provided clear direction on whether the owner of part of the bed of a privately owned lake has a right of access to the entire lake for boating and other purposes, or has access to only the portion that he owns. A landowner’s rights can be affected by easements, covenants, or contracts that restrict or enlarge her rights to use a stream or lake. If a landowner’s land is separated from a stream or lake by someone else’s land, does the landowner have a right to use the water? Answer: A landowner whose land is separated from a lake or stream by any other person’s land has no more right to use the lake or stream than any other member of the public. Can the government stop my neighbor from taking too much water and drying up my well, lake, or stream’? Answer: No. Government agencies have no authority to restrict the amount of water pumped from a lake or stream. However, Ohio law does authorize a landowner to file a lawsuit to protect the landowner’s own water supply. This article has been prepared by Jack A. Van Kley of the law firm of Van Kley & Walker, LLC, 132 Northwoods Boulevard, Suite C-1, Columbus, OH 43235. Mr. Van Kley can be contacted at (614) 431-8900. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide legal advice as individual situations will differ and should be discussed with a lawyer. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship between the author and the reader. Stormwater Management The Rainwater and Land Development Manual offers Best Management Practices to Homeowners, Contractors, and Developers to properly design Stormwater practices. Get a copy of the Rainwater and Land Development Manual. Related Links Learn about Rain Gardens Learn about Rain Barrels Watch the Rain Barrel Video Learn about the NPDES/MS4 Program Rainwater and Land Development Manual Learn about Impervious Areas #### Stormwater & Drainage Summer Stormwater Report Stormwater updates & advice on seeding in the summer.Read More Stormwater Permits: How Many and Who’s Covered Spring permit numbers and a stormwater exemption reminder.Read More Project Helper Do you have everything you need to apply for a stormwater permit? Use the I Have a Project questionnaire to be sure!Read More All Your Stormwater Permit Needs Get the forms and documents you need regarding stormwater. Continental Divide Tour Explore the Continental Divide in Richland County. EPA Best Practices Read about various methods of stormwater management. I Have a Project What to bring when applying for a Stormwater Permit. Impervious Areas See how impervious areas affect your watershed. NPDES/MS4 Learn about the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Floodplains Learn what a floodplain is and why you need to be aware of them. Drainage Learn about Ohio drainage laws, ditch petition, and neighborhood drainage issues. Ponds Read about types of ponds, new pond construction, and pond care and maintenance. Report a Land Concern Report a problem on your property you would like assistance with, or a concern regarding stormwater regulations. Stormwater Learn what stormwater is and how to manage better manage it. Townships See the watersheds, rivers, and streams of Richland County’s townships. Water Data Map See the average precipitation in the different watersheds with our interactive map. Watershed Map Learn about the unique watersheds of our county using our interactive map. #### Tags CONTENTS #### Townships Click on a township in the map below to open a printable PDF of that township with watersheds, rivers and streams. (Or you can use the list.) Plymouth Cass Bloominggrove Butler Sharon Jackson Franklin Weller Sandusky Springfield Madison Mifflin Troy Washington Monroe Perry Jefferson Worthington Map of Entire County PDF Interactive Watersheds Map List of Township Maps Bloominggrove Butler Cass Franklin Jackson Jefferson Madison Mifflin Monroe Perry Plymouth Sandusky Sharon Springfield Troy Washington Weller Worthington #### Upper Kokosing Watershed Note: Impervious surface permit icons, land use icons, and livestock icons do not necessarily indicate exact locations. They are approximate locations on the same land parcel. View the Richland County Watersheds Map UPPER KOKOSING Begins in southern Richland County, west of Butler → Kokosing Lake → Walhonding River → Muskingum River → Ohio River → Mississippi River → Gulf of Mexico Soil Type in the Upper Kokosing Watershed Shoals-Chili-Wheeling Fitchville-Luray-Bennington Pewamo-Bennington Rittman-Wadsworth Hanover-Titusville-Loudonville Lordstown-Loudonville Wooster-Canfield More Information on These Soil Types Impervious Areas Total Impervious Areas Created in the Upper Kokosing Watershed*   527,436 sq. ft. Residential Permits (Homes, Pole Barns, Additions, etc.) PermitsYearLeast Area Created (Above 0)2,640sq. ft.2023Most Area Created45,370sq. ft.2002 Exemptions** (Less than 2,000 square feet created) PermitsYearLeast Area Created (Above 0)720sq. ft.2014Most Area Created11,380sq. ft.2019 Commercial Permits PermitsYearLeast Area Created (Above 0)2,224sq. ft.2011Most Area Created17,249sq. ft.2004 *This figure does not include impervious areas from prior to 2000**Agriculture is included in permit exemptions Learn About Impervious Areas Impervious Areas Created in the Upper Kokosing Watershed by Year #### Upper Olentangy Watershed Note: Impervious surface permit icons, land use icons, and livestock icons do not necessarily indicate exact locations. They are approximate locations on the same land parcel. View the Richland County Watersheds Map UPPER OLENTANGY Begins in Sandusky Township → Delaware Reservoir → Olentangy River → Scioto River → Ohio River → Mississippi River → Gulf of Mexico Soil Type in the Upper Olentangy Watershed Fitchville-Luray-Bennington Pewamo-Bennington Rittman-Wadsworth Bennington-Cardington Wooster-Canfield More Information on These Soil Types Impervious Areas Total Impervious Areas Created in the Upper Olentangy Watershed*   204,742 sq. ft. Residential Permits (Homes, Pole Barns, Additions, etc.) PermitsYearLeast Area Created (Above 0)905sq. ft.2021Most Area Created36,596sq. ft.2004 Exemptions** (Less than 2,000 square feet created) PermitsYearLeast Area Created (Above 0)198sq. ft.2014Most Area Created1,584sq. ft.2009 Commercial Permits PermitsYearLeast Area Created (Above 0)26,136sq. ft.2009Most Area Created26,136sq. ft.2009 *This figure does not include impervious areas from prior to 2000**Agriculture is included in permit exemptions Learn About Impervious Areas Impervious Areas Created in the Upper Olentangy Watershed by Year #### Upper Vermillion Watershed Note: Impervious surface permit icons, land use icons, and livestock icons do not necessarily indicate exact locations. They are approximate locations on the same land parcel. View the Richland County Watersheds Map UPPER VERMILLION Starts in the northeastern corner of Richland County → Lake Erie at Vermillion Soil Type in the Upper Vermillion Watershed Shoals-Chili-Wheeling Fitchville-Luray-Bennington Pewamo-Bennington Bennington-Cardington Cardington-Alexandria More Information on These Soil Types Impervious Areas Total Impervious Areas Created in the Upper Vermillion Watershed*   985,969 sq. ft. Residential Permits (Homes, Pole Barns, Additions, etc.) PermitsYearLeast Area Created (Above 0)800sq. ft.2018Most Area Created82,660sq. ft.2021 Exemptions** (Less than 2,000 square feet created) PermitsYearLeast Area Created (Above 0)128sq. ft.2025Most Area Created110,328sq. ft.2014 Commercial Permits PermitsYearLeast Area Created (Above 0)3,200sq. ft.2025Most Area Created175,630sq. ft.2018 *This figure does not include impervious areas from prior to 2000**Agriculture is included in permit exemptions Learn About Impervious Areas Impervious Areas Created in the Upper Vermillion Watershed by Year #### USDA-NRCS Programs USDA-NRCS The United States Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) helps America’s farmers, ranchers and forest landowners conserve the nation’s soil, water, air, and other natural resources. All programs are voluntary and offer science-based solutions that benefit both the landowner and the environment. Richland Soil and Water Conservation District works with USDA-NRCS to provide technical assistance to landowners or land managers with the purpose of addressing a natural resource concern such as reducing soil erosion and protecting water quality. NRCS.USDA.gov Agriculture Land Easements (ALE) https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/ale-agricultural-land-easements/ohio/agricultural-land-easements-ohio Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/wre-wetland-reserve-easements/ohio/wetland-reserve-easements-ohio EQIP The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers and non-industrial forest managers to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits such as improved water and air quality, conserved ground and surface water, increased soil health and reduced soil erosion and sedimentation, improved or created wildlife habitat, and mitigation against drought and increasing weather volatility. How It Works This voluntary conservation programs helps producers make conservation work for them. Together, NRCS and producers invest in solutions that conserve natural resources for the future while also improving agricultural operations. Through EQIP, NRCS provides agricultural producers and non-industrial forest managers with financial resources and one-on-one help to plan and implement improvements, or what NRCS calls conservation practices. Using these practices can lead to cleaner water and air, healthier soil and better wildlife habitat, all while improving agricultural operations. Through EQIP, you can voluntarily implement conservation practices, and NRCS co-invests in these practices with you. Benefits Some of these benefits include: Reduction of contamination from agricultural sources, such as animal feeding operations. Efficient utilization of nutrients, reducing input costs and reduction in nonpoint source pollution. Increased soil health to help mitigate against increasing weather volatility and improved drought resiliency. 2018 Farm Bill EQIP Updates Historically underserved (HU) participants are eligible for advance payments to help offset costs related to purchasing materials or contracting services through EQIP. HU participants may elect to receive an advance of not less than 50 percent of the EQIP conservation practice payment amount. Participants who receive advance payment must expend the funds within 90 days of receiving the advance. The 2018 Farm Bill expanded eligibility criteria to allow water management entities who assist private agricultural producers with managing water distribution or conservation systems to apply for EQIP. These entities are defined as State, irrigation district, ground water management district, acequia, land grant-merced, or similar entity that has jurisdiction or responsibilities related to water delivery or management to eligible lands. The 2018 Farm Bill requires that nationally 10 percent of mandatory program funding be targeted towards source water protection. States will identify priority source water protection areas and may offer increased incentives and higher payment rates for practices that address water quality and/or water quantity. Beginning in 2020, States may provide increased payment rates for high-priority practices. In consultations with the State Technical Committee, State Conservationists may designate up to 10 practices to be eligible for increased payments. Eligible high-priority practices include those that address specific causes of ground or surface water impairment relating to excessive nutrients, address the conservation of water to advance drought mitigation and declining aquifers, meet other environmental priorities and priority resource concerns identified in habitat or area restoration plans, or is geographically targeted to address a natural resource concern in a specific watershed. Popular Practices Cover Crops: Growing a crop of grass, small grain or legumes primarily for seasonal protection and soil improvement. Learn more about cover crops. Grassed Waterway: A grassed waterway is a shaped or graded channel that is established with suitable vegetation to convey surface water at a non-erosive velocity using a broad and shallow cross section to a stable outlet. Learn more about grassed waterways. Fences: A fence is a constructed barrier to livestock, wildlife, or people. Learn more about fences. Forest Stand Improvement: Forest stand improvement involves the manipulation of forest species composition and structure by cutting or killing selected trees and understory vegetation. Learn more about forest stand improvement. Heavy Use Area Protection: Heavy Use Area Protection (HUAP) is a way to stabilize a ground surface that is frequently and intensively used by people, animals, or vehicles. Learn more about Heavy Use Area Protection. Prescribed Grazing: Prescribed grazing involves managing the harvest of vegetation with grazing and/or browsing animals. Learn more about prescribed grazing. Irrigation. Learn more about irrigation. Waste Storage Facility: To store manure, agricultural by-products, wastewater, and contaminated runoff to provide the agricultural operation management flexibility for waste utilization. Learn more about waste storage facilities. Watering Facility: Its proper location will improve animal distribution and vegetation. A watering facility is sometimes installed to keep livestock out of streams and other surface water areas where water quality is a concern. Learn more about watering facilities. EQIP Initiatives High Tunnel Initiative On-Farm Energy Initiative Organic Initiative Air Quality Initiative Landscape Conservation Initiative Conservation Innovation Grant (National, State, On-Farm Trials) CSP Most agriculture producers that participate in the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) have already implemented conservation practices on their land.CSP offers additional opportunities to expand on existing conservation efforts by offering conservation practices, enhancements, bundles, and other conservation activities. For example, if you have been planting a cover crop, you may decide to try an enhancement for multi-species cover crop or implement a deep-rooted cover crop to break up soil compaction. If you decide to enroll in CSP, the local NRCS conservation planner will have a one-on-one consultation with you to evaluate your current management system and the natural resources on your land. Then the NRCS conservation planner will present a variety of CSP conservation activities for you to consider implementing on your land in order for you to address additional natural resource concerns. The variety of CSP conservation activities offered give you a lot of freedom to select enhancements, practices, or bundles that help you meet your management goals. These improvements help bring out your land’s best potential. Once you choose the conservation activities that best fit your operation, CSP offers annual payments for installing these activities on your land and operating and maintaining your current conservation efforts. USDA Services – Farm Bill Farm Bills are annually adjusted to prioritize USDA programs and offer services within the budget cycle of the funding year. The 2018 Farm Bill recently became law, providing funding for the nation’s major conservation programs. As the federal government’s primary agricultural and food policy tool, the Farm Bill supports many USDA programs. This includes the conservation programs that provide farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners with technical and financial assistance to address resource concerns on their land. Assistance includes both technical expertise and funding to help put conservation practices on fields and in forests in Ohio and across the country. For example, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service helps farmers conserve water with more efficient irrigation systems and improve soil health with cover crops. NRCS works with landowners and land managers to heal eroded farm fields and improve surface water quality. NRCS works to promote rotational grazing systems which enables pastures to grow better food for livestock while keeping grass in place to prevent soil erosion. Small farm assistance such as High Tunnel production of vegetables and fruit are available also. This assistance is made available through a variety of conservation programs. Key changes with the 2018 Farm Bill include: Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) FSA began accepting applications on June 3, 2019, for certain practices under the continuous CRP, offering a one-year extension to existing CRP participants who have expiring CRP contracts of 14 years or less, and reopening enrollment for existing Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) agreements. FSA plans to offer a General CRP sign-up in December 2019. Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP): On April 26, 2019, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) released guidance to State committees to identify RCPP coordinators in each State. Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP): On May 10, 2019, NRCS posted guidance for state conservationists regarding the handling of participant requests to apply for new contracts, as well as extending unexpired contracts from 2014. Additional guidance was posted regarding changes needed for existing RCPP partnership agreements to enroll in new CSP contracts. Technical Changes to NRCS Conservation Programs: On May 6, 2019, NRCS published an interim final rule to make existing regulations consistent with the 2018 Farm Bill. These include: Waiving duplicative requirements under the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program; Expanding the purposes of the Healthy Forests Reserve Program to allow protection of at-risk species and allowing permanent easements on Tribal lands; Authorizing that certification of technical service providers be through a qualified non-federal entity; and Requiring that $3 million of funds to implement the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program be used to encourage public access for hunting and other recreational activities on wetlands enrolled in the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program. Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG): On May 15, 2019, NRCS announced that it is investing $25 million per year over the next five years to help support On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials, part of the CIG and available to farmers eligible to participate in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. NRCS will accept proposals through July 15, 2019 for the new On-Farm Trials. On May 30, 2019, NRCS announced the availability of $12.5 million to support CIG on agricultural lands. NRCS will accept proposals through July 30, 2019. The USDA is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. #### Videos Board Supervisors Learn How to Become a Richland SWCD Board Supervisor Do not display Agriculture Farmland Preservation 590 Standard Nutrient Management Windbreaks Spring Development Do not display Stormwater Only Rain Down the Drain How to Assemble a Rain Barrel Introduction to Stormwater Permits Residential Stormwater Permits Agriculture Stormwater Permits Working With Your Neighbors Water Bars Sample of Logjams Drone Footage of Black Fork Ditch Petition Area Do not display 75th Anniversary Celebration Videos Jeff VanLoon, District Program Administrator First SWCD Director 1974 – 1979 Jeff Wilkinson, District Program Administrator 1980 – 1989 Mike Switzer, SWCD Board Supervisor 2010 – 2016 Matt Christian, SWCD Technician 2000 – 2017 Jason Ruhl, USDA-NRCS District Conservationist 2008 – Present Do not display Miscellaneous For the Birds How to Make Milkweed Seed Bombs Benefits of Native Plants Fish Sale Internships Do not display Richland County Pioneers Dave Bell Kenny Adams Dave Carto John Culler Roger Fulk John Scherer Award Recipients Volunteer of the Year 2025: Elaine Oswald Do not display 2024: Robert E. Donaldson 2023: Leonard N. Fox 2022: Marilyn Roe 2021: Ella Hafenstein Cooperator of the Year 2025: The Ohio State University Do not display 2024: Watershed Ranch 2023: William R. Flanegan Jr. 2022: Roger Baird 2021: Kingwood Center Gardens #### Volunteer Application URL: https://richlandswcd.net/get-involved/volunteer-opportunities/volunteer-application/ #### Volunteer Opportunities 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: Gorman Nature Center 2017: Ginnie Baker: near blue bridge in Bellville by B&O Bike Trail 2018: Linda Collins: Gorman Nature Center 2019: Mark Meinzer: Gorman Nature Center 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 Lexington 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 DistrictC/O Community Relations Coordinator1495 W. Longview Ave., Suite 205BMansfield, OH  44906 Get Volunteer Forms 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. #### Volunteer Portal Water Data Map #### Water Data Map Quick Tips for using the map: Click on the layers icon () to choose map or satellite view. Check the box next to Precipitation (), Streams (), Agricultural Streams (), or Lakes () to view the data that volunteers have reported. All maps may be viewed individually or jointly. To hide the view of a map, un-check the box that corresponds to that particular map. Hover over a watershed to get the average precipitation from all volunteers in that watershed. Type in an address in the “search for address” box to quickly find a particular location. Change the date range of precipitation you wish to view by clicking on the dates in the top right corner. Use the + and – buttons or scroll within the map to zoom in and out. Precipitation Monitor volunteers measure and record the water equivalent of snow. Are you a volunteer? Volunteer Log In #### Watersheds of Richland County What is a Watershed? A watershed is an area of land where water flows or drains to the same point. Rainfall and snow melt that isn’t absorbed into the soil (runoff) eventually finds its way to a river, lake or ocean. Our volunteers faithfully track this precipitation, and you can find the results of their efforts on the water data map, as well as data that Lake Monitor and Stream Quality Monitor volunteers record. When water runs off of rooftops, driveways and roads (impervious surfaces), problems like flooding, soil erosion and polluted water may occur. We all need to work together to prevent these problems. What’s Your Watershed Address? In addition to your postal address, you have a watershed address. Enter your home or work address on the watershed map below to find your watershed address!    To learn more about your watershed, click on the watershed name below the map. Eight Unique Watersheds Originate in Richland County Click on a watershed to find out more about that watershed’s livestock, impervious land, land use, soil types and rivers. Three Watersheds Flow to Lake Erie Huron Begins in northern Richland County near Plymouth → Lake Erie at Huron Sandusky Begins on western side of Richland County → Bucyrus → Lake Erie at Sandusky Bay Upper Vermillion Starts in the northeastern corner of Richland County → Lake Erie at Vermillion Five Watersheds Flow to the Ohio River Rocky Fork Begins near Mansfield/Ontario → goes through Mansfield → joins Black Fork River East of Lucas Black Fork Begins near Mansfield/Ontario → goes through Shelby → Charles Mill Lake → joins Rocky Fork River east of Lucas below Charles Mill Lake Clear Fork Begins in Richland and Morrow Counties → Clear Fork Reservoir → goes through Lexington, Bellville, Butler → joins Black Fork near Loudonville and becomes Mohican River → Walhonding River → Muskingum River → Ohio River → Mississippi River → Gulf of Mexico Upper Kokosing Begins in southern Richland County, west of Butler → Kokosing Lake → Walhonding River → Muskingum River → Ohio River → Mississippi River → Gulf of Mexico Upper Olentangy Begins in Sandusky Township → Delaware Reservoir → Olentangy River → Scioto River → Ohio River → Mississippi River → Gulf of Mexico Legal Authority for Waters of the State (Section 1501.30) “Waters of the state” includes all streams, lakes, ponds, marshes, watercourses, waterways, wells, springs, irrigation systems, drainage systems, and other bodies or accumulations of water, surface and underground, natural or artificial, regardless of the depth of the strata in which underground water is located, that are situated wholly or partly within or border upon this state or are within its jurisdiction. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Ohio River Watershed Lake Erie Watershed Need to Print a Watershed Map? Township Maps ### Products #### 30th Earth Stewardship Celebration URL: https://richlandswcd.net/event/earth-stewardship-end-of-year-celebration/ #### 78th Richland SWCD Annual Celebration URL: https://richlandswcd.net/event/annual-celebration-5/ #### Animal Mortality Composting Certification URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=26362 #### Annual Celebration URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=21857 #### Annual Celebration URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=8475 #### Bluegill 2-4″ Sold individually Note: All sales final with no guarantee of survival. To ensure the best survival rate of your new fish, please pick them up at the specified pick up date and time and immediately transfer them to your pond/lake. #### Buckeye Beauties URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=17906 #### Buckeye Beauties URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=31586 #### Butterfly / Hummingbird Native Seed Packet The bright colors and tubular wildflowers in this seed mix provide food and nectar sources for Butterflies and Hummingbirds. The Milkweed species are host plants for the migrating Monarch Butterfly and are guaranteed to attract them. Create your own suburban sanctuary with this mix. This is a diverse mix that will produce grasses that will blow in the breeze and flowers that produce blooms from spring to fall. Contains the following species: Grasses Schizachyrium scoparium – Little Bluestem Elymus canadensis – Nodding Wild Rye Bouteloua curtipendula – Side-oats Grama Elymus virginicus – Virginia Wild Rye Wildflowers Echinacea purpurea – Purple Coneflower Heliopsis helianthoides – Ox Eye Sunflower Chamaecrista fasciculata – Partridge Pea Dalea purpurea – Purple Prairie Clover Rudbeckia hirta – Black-eyed Susan Monarda fistulosa – Wild Bergamot Coreopsis tinctoria – Plains Coreopsis Liatris spicata – Dense Blazingstar Asclepias tuberosa – Butterfly Milkweed Asclepias syriaca – Common Milkweed Aster azureus – Sky Blue Aster Dalea candida – White Prairie Clover Solidago rigida – Stiff Goldenrod Eupatorium purpureum – Sweet Joe Pye Asclepias incarnata – Swamp Milkweed Zizia aurea – Golden Alexanders Eryngium yuccifolium – Rattlesnake Master Aster novae-angliae – New England Aster   #### Channel Catfish 4-5″ Sold individually Note: All sales final with no guarantee of survival. To ensure the best survival rate of your new fish, please pick them up at the specified pick up date and time and immediately transfer them to your pond/lake. #### Conservation Creation Arts & Crafts Workshop: April 2024 URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=8444 #### Conservation Creation Arts & Crafts Workshop: Horray for Herbs! URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=17914 #### Conservation Creation Arts & Crafts Workshop: Horray for Herbs! URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=17914 #### Conservation Creation Arts & Crafts Workshop: July 2026 URL: https://richlandswcd.net/event/conservation-creation-arts-crafts-workshop-3/ #### Conservation Creation Arts and Crafts Workshop: Long Live Leaves URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=11416 #### Conservation Creation Aw, Nuts! URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=31586 #### Conservation Creation Buckeye Beauties URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=11423 #### Conservation Creation October Workshop URL: https://richlandswcd.net/event/conservation-creations-arts-crafts-workshop/ #### Conservation Creation: Long Live leaves URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=17909 #### Conservation Creation: Long Live leaves URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=31575 #### Conservation Creation: Spring Seeds URL: https://richlandswcd.net/event/conservation-creation-arts-craft-workshop-spring-seeds/ #### Fathead Minnows Sold in quantities of 100 Note: All sales final with no guarantee of survival. To ensure the best survival rate of your new fish, please pick them up at the specified pick up date and time and immediately transfer them to your pond/lake. #### Field Day for Plain Growers URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=19644 #### Field Day for Plain Growers URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=19644 #### Field Day for Plain Growers URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=19957 #### Galentine's Day Ticket URL: https://richlandswcd.net/event/galentines-day-conservation-creation-workshop/ #### Gardening Gloves The Atlas gardening gloves are durable and comfortable. A pair may end up being your favorite! Gloves are picked up at our office located at 1495 W. Longview Ave., Suite 205B, Mansfield, OH 44906 #### General Admission URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=8415 #### General Admission URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=8427 #### Get Organized Conservation Creation Arts & Crafts Workshop URL: https://richlandswcd.net/event/get-organized-conservation-creation-arts-crafts-workshop/ #### Get the Dirt on Soil URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=27971 #### Grazing School URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=19320 #### Grazing School URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=19644 #### Hybrid Bluegill 2-4″ Sold individually Note: All sales final with no guarantee of survival. To ensure the best survival rate of your new fish, please pick them up at the specified pick up date and time and immediately transfer them to your pond/lake. #### Invasive Species URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=17923 #### Lake Monitor Volunteer Training URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=30913 #### Largemouth Bass 2-3″ Sold individually Note: All sales final with no guarantee of survival. To ensure the best survival rate of your new fish, please pick them up at the specified pick up date and time and immediately transfer them to your pond/lake. #### Local Work Group 2026 URL: https://richlandswcd.net/event/richland-county-local-work-group-meeting/ #### Native Plant Program Plus Sale URL: https://richlandswcd.net/event/native-plant-program-plus-sale/ #### Native Plant Workshop URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=19639 #### Native Plant Workshop and Sale URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=29907 #### Native Plant Workshop Registration URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=8478 #### Native Short Grass and Wildflower Mix Seed Packet When we describe one of our native seed mixes as short, we typically mean 3 to 5 feet tall. Our Native Short Grass and Wildflower Seed Mix was designed as a native grass planting with native wildflowers mixed in that have bloom times ranging from spring through fall once established. Pick up only. Attract Monarch Butterflies with Common and Butterfly Milkweed. Watch birds eat Ox Eye Sunflower and Yellow/Grey-headed Coneflower seeds. Wild Bergamot is a bee magnet and Little Bluestem is the larval host plant for many butterflies and moths. Some Things to Remember This mix of native grasses and wildflowers will take 2 to 3 growing seasons to fully establish. We do include annual wildflowers for color and foraging the first growing season. This mix performs best in well-drained soils and will need at least 4 to 6 hours of sunlight a day. Contains the following species: Grasses Schizachyrium scoparium – Little Bluestem Elymus canadensis – Nodding Wild Rye Bouteloua curtipendula – Side-oats Grama Elymus virginicus – Virginia Wild Rye Wildflowers Chamaecrista fasciculata – Partridge Pea Dalea purpurea – Purple Prairie Clover Coreopsis lanceolata – Lanceleaf Coreopsis Heliopsis helianthoides – Ox Eye Sunflower Gaillardia pulchella – Indian Blanket Echinacea purpurea – Purple Coneflower Asclepias tuberosa – Butterfly Milkweed Desmanthus illnoensis – Illinois Bundleflower Coreopsis tinctoria – Plains Coreopsis Monarda citriodora – Lemon Mint Rudbeckia hirta – Black-eyed Susan Monarda fistulosa – Wild Bergamot Asclepias syriaca – Common Milkweed Aster laevis – Smooth Aster Lespedeza capitata – Roundheaded Bushclover Dalea candida – White Prairie Clover Solidago rigida – Stiff Goldenrod Eryngium yuccifolium – Rattlesnake Master Ratibida pinnata – Yellow/Grey-headed Coneflower Penstemon digitalis – Foxglove Beardtongue   #### Nature’s Pond Conditioner Nature’s Pond Conditioner #### Ohio Pollinator Oasis Seed Packet Help pollinators get the job done with this native seed mix packet designed with our friends at Pollinator Partnership. This seed mix has been designed for situations where first year color is desired and contains only wildflowers and no grass component. Year one will be mainly annuals but provide pollinators a much needed place to land. Year two will see some annuals, biennials and perennials, and by year three a beautiful mix of perennials will bloom all season and provide a healthy and sustainable area for pollinators. This mix can be used alone, over existing grass plantings or combined with any of our grass only mixes. Pick up only. Contains the following species: Wildflowers Chamaecrista fasciculata – Partridge Pea Gaillardia pulchella – Indian Blanket Echinacea purpurea – Purple Coneflower Heliopsis helianthoides – Ox Eye Sunflower Asclepias tuberosa – Butterfly Milkweed Liatris spicata – Dense Blazingstar Monarda citriodora – Lemon Mint Ratibida pinnata – Yellow/Grey-Headed Coneflower Rudbeckia hirta – Black-eyed Susan Monarda fistulosa – Wild Bergamot Solidago rigida – Stiff Goldenrod Aster novae-angliae – New England Aster Coreopsis tinctoria – Plains Coreopsis Penstemon digitalis – Foxglove Beardtongue Eryngium yuccifolium – Rattlesnake Master   #### Optimal Fish Food 40 lb. Small pellet: 40% protein #### Pastures for Profit Grazing School URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=19973 #### Pastures for Profit Grazing School URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=19851 #### Plastic Bag and Tie . #### Pond Clinic URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=29737 #### Pond Clinic URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=8485 #### Pond Clinic '26 URL: https://richlandswcd.net/event/pond-clinic-6/ #### Pond Clinic Ticket URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=19314 #### Precipitation Monitor Volunteer Training URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=19320 #### Rain Barrel Comes with the barrel, lid (that can be flipped over and used to hold flowers), downspout diverter, black connection hose, inlet, spigot, drill bit with two hole saws, and plug for downspout winterization. Pickup only. #### Rain Barrel and Rain Garden Workshop URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=19323 #### Rain Barrel and Rain Garden Workshop URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=8483 #### Rain Garden and Barrel Workshop '26 URL: https://richlandswcd.net/event/rain-garden-and-rain-barrel-workshop-4/ #### Rain Garden and Rain Barrel Workshop URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=33037 #### Rain Garden Seed Packet A Rain Garden is an attractive, landscaped area that doesn’t mind getting “wet feet”. This seed mix is composed of species that are adapted to seasonal moisture changes ranging from “soaked” to “high and dry”. Once established, they will easily tolerate the extreme moisture levels and filter storm water runoff. As a bonus, they are beautiful and attract wildlife such as butterflies and hummingbirds. Read through our Rain Garden Manual for Homeowners to help you get started. Pick up only. Some Things to Remember Rain Gardens are a mix of native grasses and wildflowers that can take up to three growing seasons to fully establish. You will see germination the first growing season, but the plants will need some time to fully mature. Carex species are cool! These shorter growing grass like species are typically found in wetland and add interest to your Rain Garden Hummingbirds will love the tubular flowers of Cardinal Flower and Great Lobelia. Contains the following species: Grass and Grasslike Elymus virginicus – Virginia Wild Rye Carex vulpinoidea – Brown Fox Sedge Carex crinita – Fringed Sedge Carex lurida – Shallow / Lurid Sedge Carex comosa – Bristly Sedge Scirpus acutus – Hard-stemmed Bulrush Panicum (Dichanthelium) clandestinum – Deer-tongue Grass Glyceria grandis – Reed Manna / American Manna Grass Carex grayi – Gray’s Sedge Scirpus cyperinus – Woolgrass Wildflowers Echinacea purpurea – Purple Coneflower Liatris spicata – Dense Blazingstar Monarda fistulosa – Wild Bergamot Bidens aristosa – Tickseed Sunflower Physostegia virginiana – Obedient Plant – Purple Hibiscus moscheutos – Crimson-eyed Rose Mallow Rudbeckia subtomentosa – Sweet Black-eyed Susan Pycnanthemum tenufolium – Narrow Leaved Mountain Mint Lobelia siphilitica – Great Lobelia Lobelia cardinalis – Cardinal Flower Mimulus ringens – Monkey Flower Aster novae-angliae – New England Aster #### Rain Workshop Ticket URL: https://richlandswcd.net/product/general-admission-8/ #### Redear Shellcracker 2-4″ Sold individually Note: All sales final with no guarantee of survival. To ensure the best survival rate of your new fish, please pick them up at the specified pick up date and time and immediately transfer them to your pond/lake. #### RGRB Workshop '26 URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=35322 #### Richland County Zoning/Township Meeting URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=18464 #### Richland SWCD Annual Celebration 2025 URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=29909 #### Septic Field Seed Packet Make your septic field a thing of beauty with this mix. This mix has been designed using plants that prefer dry soil because the root systems of these draw moisture from the septic system helping to make it more efficient. Takes advantage of subsoil moisture when present, but also able to tolerate dry periods. ReGreen can be added in quick cover and erosion control situations. Birds and butterflies will be attracted to the flowers that bloom spring to fall. Pickup Only. Contains the following species: Grasses Schizachyrium scoparium – Little Bluestem Elymus virginicus – Virginia Wild Rye Elymus canadensis – Nodding Wild Rye Bouteloua curtipendula – Side-oats Grama Bouteloua gracilis – Blue Grama Koeleria macrantha – June Grass Wildflowers Chamaecrista fasciculata – Partridge Pea Echinacea purpurea – Purple Coneflower Gaillardia pulchella – Indian Blanket Senna marilandica – Maryland Senna Coreopsis lanceolata – Lanceleaf Coreopsis Desmanthus illnoensis – Illinois Bundleflower Monarda citriodora – Lemon Mint Heliopsis helianthoides – Ox Eye Sunflower Rudbeckia hirta – Black-eyed Susan Liatris spicata – Dense Blazingstar Dalea candida – White Prairie Clover Asclepias tuberosa – Butterfly Milkweed Verbena hastata – Blue Vervain Aster laevis – Smooth Aster Solidago rigida – Stiff Goldenrod Ratibida pinnata – Yellow/Grey-headed Coneflower Penstemon tubaeflorus – White Wand Beardtongue   #### Snowman Paint Party URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=29515 #### Solar Eclipse Suncatcher URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=17917 #### Story Time at Bellville URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=19323 #### TEST EVENT 2 URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=15766 #### Test Ticket URL: https://richlandswcd.net/product/test-ticket/ #### Testing (DO NOT PURCHASE!) URL: https://richlandswcd.net/product/testing-do-not-purchase/ #### TESTING AGAIN URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=15768 #### Using Community Resources in the Classroom URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=14802 #### White Amur 9-11″ Sold individually Note: All sales final with no guarantee of survival. To ensure the best survival rate of your new fish, please pick them up at the specified pick up date and time and immediately transfer them to your pond/lake. #### Women for the Land Learning Circle URL: https://richlandswcd.net/?post_type=tribe_events&p=19851 #### Woodland Edge Seed Packet While we call this mix Woodland Edge, the native grass and wildflower species it is comprised of can tolerate being planted in any area that is partially shaded and has well-drained soils. Partially shaded means that it will need at least 4 hours of sunlight a day. Finished heights on this mix will be 3 to 5 feet tall and we’ve included a wide range of wildflowers that bloom at different times of the growing season. This is a great mix for pollinator habitat and it contains Common Milkweed to attract Monarch butterflies. Pick up only. Some Things to Remember This mix of native grasses and wildflowers will need at least three growing seasons to fully establish. This mix does contain some annuals for color and foraging the first growing season. However, partial shade can mean cooler soil temperatures. This can lead to slower germination later on in the growing season. After the end of the growing season, you can leave this mix standing tall all fall and winter long as habitat. Native bees will winter in the hollow stems. Cut it back in the spring when it starts to green up to allow new growth to receive enough light. Contains the following species: Grasses Elymus canadensis – Nodding Wild Rye Elymus virginicus – Virginia Wild Rye Bouteloua curtipendula – Side-oats Grama Chasmanthium latifolium – River Oats Panicum (Dichanthelium) clandestinum – Deer-tongue Grass Wildflowers Chamaecrista fasciculata – Partridge Pea Echinacea purpurea – Purple Coneflower Heliopsis helianthoides – Ox Eye Sunflower Rudbeckia triloba – Brown-eyed Susan Liatris spicata – Dense Blazingstar Asclepias syriaca – Common Milkweed Monarda fistulosa – Wild Bergamot Bidens aristosa – Tickseed Sunflower Vernonia altissima – Tall Ironweed Thalictrum dasycarpum – Purple Meadow Rue Aquilegia canadensis – Wild Red Columbine Verbena hastata – Blue Vervain Eupatorium maculatum – Spotted Joe Pye Campanula americana – American Bellflower Polygonatum biflorum canaliculatum – Smooth Solomon’s Seal Lobelia siphilitica – Great Lobelia Agastache foeniculum – Anise Hyssop Aster divaricatus – White Wood Aster Aster novae-angliae – New England Aster Aster cordifolius – Symphyotrichum cordifolius – Heart Leaved Aster Mentensia virginica – Virginia Bluebells #### Yellow Perch Sold individually Note: All sales final with no guarantee of survival. To ensure the best survival rate of your new fish, please pick them up at the specified pick up date and time and immediately transfer them to your pond/lake. ### RC Pioneers #### Clarence Fackler and the Fackler Family History The Fackler family history in America extends far back to the eighteenth century. Between 1737 and 1890 at least twelve Facklers are believed to have entered America as immigrants from Europe including a member of Clarence Fackler’s family, Hans Jacob Fackler. The majority of Mr. Fackler’s relatives were of German and Swiss decent. Although the agricultural side of the Fackler family history doesn’t flourish until Henry F. Fackler, Clarence’s grandfather, their family’s history is riddled with successes dating back to America’s fight for independence. Abraham Fackler, Clarence’s grandfather’s grandfather, was born in Pennsylvania in 1777 after his father, Wendel Fackler, had emigrated from Germany. Years later, Wendel Fackler fought alongside General George Washington and colonial soldiers against the British at Valley Forge. Abraham carried on his father’s patriotic legacy by serving in many battles during the Civil War including Buffalo, New York, Baltimore, Maryland and others. Ultimately, Abraham settled in Richland County, Ohio in 1840; where the Fackler family name would stay. Fackler Family (1840s) Joseph Fackler, Clarence’s great grandfather and Abraham’s son, settled in Richland County in 1843, following his father’s return. Joseph brought a large family to Richland County when his family settled. Henry F. Fackler, one of Joseph Fackler’s sons and Clarence’s grandfather, started farming at a young age. After school, Henry began cultivating 107 acres in Jackson Township, which he added to regularly over the years. A string of purchases made from 1877 to 1908 gave Henry nearly 964 acres of farm land located in Franklin, Jackson and Cass townships. A segment written by A. J. Baughman, published in 1908 describes Henry F. Fackler by saying: “With the exception of one year devoted to carpentering in early manhood, he has given his entire life to agricultural pursuits, and stands today as one of the most prosperous farmers of this part of the state. His business methods have never been such as require disguise, but on the contrary have been in keeping with the most honorable and straightforward dealing, his prosperity coming to him as a reward of earnest, persistent labor.” Fackler Family Henry F. Fackler paved the way for the Fackler family legacy in Richland County and ensured their family with agricultural prosperity for centuries to come. He and his wife, Miss Elizabeth Laser, had fourteen children. Mr. and Mrs. Fackler provided their children with all the necessary means to live long, prosperous lives.  Henry F. Fackler’s son and Clarence Fackler’s father, A.C. Fackler, started farming out of his father’s growing agricultural opulence. Although Henry F. manufactured a farming legacy for the Fackler Family, it’s important to note that A.C. expected his family to do nothing less. Clarence Fackler has been a farmer in Richland County for decades. Over the years he has grown beans, corn, spelt and wheat; raising cattle and hogs in the process. At one time, Clarence was farming over 1,200 acres, some that he owned and some that he farmed for others. Now, he farms around 700 acres, which fluctuates with the price of land and the price of land tax. Louise Anderson, Clarence’s niece, noted that “You absorb it and you know it, but very few do you hear making a success of any kind of farming that weren’t born into it and understand it, as well as getting the land, it’s just too complex of an organization.” With land taxes increasing and crop prices dropping, farmers have been struggling. One positive aspect about progressive farming is that new technologies have made it easier to plant more crops, more efficiently. As a boy, Clarence remembers a time when he used a team of horses and a walking plough to till the ground. It wasn’t until the early 1940s that Clarence’s dad bought the family’s first tractor. Fackler Farm In 1950, the first year Clarence started farming, his father agreed to plant the field on conditions that it was Clarence’s responsibility every year after that. So, his fathered planted Clarence’s approximately 10 acres with team of horses. That following year, Clarence invested in a two-row planter from his cousin down the road to make the job easier. Like many farmers in the area today, Clarence farms with a twelve-row planter and a six-row combine. He has acknowledged progression but stayed within his means. Farming chemicals are no different. Clarence had always used small amounts of fertilizer when farming, but weed and pesticide control progressed more casually. 2,4-D, like most farmers of his generation, was Clarence’s first chemical that killed weeds, not grass. He also utilized 2,4,5-T which is a major chemical in Agent Orange – known to cause health problems. Over the years, Roundup became the most popular chemical used in agricultural field across the United States. Today nearly all farmers, including Clarence’s son, uses Roundup Ready seeds that will live through Roundup chemical treatments. Clarence stated, “It has probably been the biggest jump that we can have one chemical that does 90 percent of the control.” Even though modern advancements in chemicals and equipment have sprouted, hard work is crucial. When he first started farming, a day in the life of Clarence Fackler was filled with long nights on a two-row tractor. Though he spent many nights working by moonlight, nearly ninety percent of his time was taken up with equipment repairs and taking care of livestock. In addition, making maple syrup had been a longstanding tradition that was expected of farmers. Clarence’s son continues this legacy with an evaporator of his own. Whether or not Clarence would have chosen farming as an occupation if his father hadn’t expected him to, is a mystery. He had no interest in attending college when he graduated from Shelby in 1950, but football was his life. After school, farming wasn’t a choice – it was necessary. As important as farmers are today, if one is not born into an agricultural family; they stand little to no chance this business. Clarence was asked to advise young people who wanted to farm today; he explained that once a person accumulated enough equipment, tools and land to make a living in the market today their debt would be too high and unmanageable. Times have changed but there is no doubt that Clarence Fackler and the Fackler Family have made their agricultural mark on Richland County. “It’s a way of life that you’re gonna have to like.”Clarence Fackler #### Dale Broeske’s Dairy Enterprise At a young age, Dale Broeske dreamed he would be another Luther Burbank, an American horticulturist. In his teens, Dale worked on several local farms. After he completed one year of agricultural school at Ohio State, Dale was drafted into the Navy. When WWII ended in 1945, Dale returned to Ohio State and completed his Bachelor’s degree. He then worked at the Crawford County Farm Bureau for a few years and worked for his father in pliable packaging. Soon after, Dale’s father decided he wanted to farm and asked if his son would help. Dale Broeske lived in Columbus before he moved to Richland County in 1953. While living in Columbus, he and his father searched for a farm. Dale’s current property, one of the farms he looked at in the search process, was affordable and seemed like a good property for dairy farming. Before purchasing the 208 acres, Dale and his father inspected the fields; they heard from the neighbors that corn did remarkably well on that property. During the fall of 1952, the owner of the property reportedly hauled nearly 100 bushel of corn – great yields at the time. Dale did not have relatives living in Richland County when he decided to purchase his 1860’s farmhouse. However some of his distant family lived in Ashland County; they were not involved in farming, but operated a greenhouse. Over time, Dale purchased two more farms and rented two farms nearby. Looking back, he regrets not purchasing the two farms he rented because the price of land was low. Dale rented properties by paying a cash rental fee; it was not based on yields like some renting agreements are today. Farmers considered rented land their land. Even though Dale’s father helped him around the farm until his death in 1967, Dale did most of the work. He admitted that it was exceptionally hard starting a dairy operation with little money. Dale’s crops the first year were fairly standard among all farmers at the time; he planted corn, oats, wheat and grass. Most of these crops were used in the dairy operation. Dale used hay for the cows to eat and he ground corn and oats into feed. Farmers did not have huge dairy herds, just enough to survive. At his peak Dale owned a 50-head dairy cattle herd and a 50-head beef cattle herd. He also raised some sheep early on in his operation. Once herd numbers expanded, Dale sold leftover milk – along with crops. Leftover milk was transported and sold at the Page Dairy Company in Mansfield until it closed in 1975. Shortly after, Dale sold his milk at Lawson Milk Company in Akron. Initially, he took crop yields to Bellville to sell but later expanded to Mansfield and Marion when his yields grew.  Dale owned and operated one of the first milking parlors in Richland County. He mentioned that individuals from all over the county would come just to look at his operation. Dale’s brother owned a milking parlor in Allen County, which had a great influence on his decision to implement one into his own operation. Dale had an elevated parlor with a row of four stanchions angled to a walkway. Cows were manually forced in stanchion stalls but once milked, a gate would open at the other end of the stall letting the livestock back into the barn. Dale mentioned that it was often a challenge to get young cows in the stalls; grain was used as an incentive.   Unlike other dairy farmers at the time, Dale did not milk into individual cans; he used a pipeline that distributed milk into many cans that he eventually placed into a cooler. This process changed when Dale purchased a bulk tank. Instead of distributing milk into cans, piping transported milk directly into the tank. Because of this, milk was not handled as much and it ultimately improved the quality of the milk. Dale’s tank held 350 gallons of milk. While other farmers bought more efficient equipment over time, Dale did not upgrade his milk parlor. Except for feeding mechanisms in the parlor, he used the same system from day one until he stopped milking. Money was not the main factor for Dale not upgrading, he was satisfied with what he owned and the job that it did. The Broeske name has been synonymous with Allis Chalmers tractors over the years. When Dale was a teenager working on his neighbor’s farm he operated a WC Allis Chalmers tractor and worked with horses as well. The tractor was used for plowing and tilling; the horses were used to plant and mow hay. It was not until after WWII that Allis Chalmers started to manufacture tractors with hydraulics, like the WD model which was Dale’s first model tractor. Dale indicated that he stuck with Allis Chalmers because it was the first tractor he had ever used; it was dependable.  One man’s tractor also created a community-like atmosphere at the time. Dale mentioned that when he was a teenager, “Farmers all traded helped at thrashing time”. . . “Neighbors around would come in and you went there, you just traded help.” Dale and his son Ronald have been Allis Chalmers enthusiasts for many years now. Dale typically displays one of his restored Allis Chalmers tractors at the Richland County Fair every year. However, each year it becomes more difficult for Dale to perform the necessary physical requirements to restore the tractors.  Like his colleagues, Dale used fertilizer and chemicals on his crops. He started with 3-12-12 fertilizer and purchased it by the truckload. Around the third year Dale started farming he introduced chemicals into his operation. He was convinced after a neighbor used his Ford tractor to spray his fields; two days later, the weeds were gone. Dale’s son controls the farming operation today but Dale stated, “I’m not afraid of the genetically modified corn.” Although Dale does not dictate farming operation practices today, it is clear where he stands.  The Broeske’s have also implemented no-till techniques into their farming process. Dale’s son no-tills his bean fields and other grounds with insect problems. Because plowing disturbs insects, the Broeske’s no-till a field with a slug infestation. He mentioned that no-till can be beneficial in many instances, but with crops like wheat, yields are not as high.    The construction of Interstate 71 came as a surprise to the Broeske family. Surprisingly, Dale had no idea about the new interstate project until he observed workers putting flags in his land. They offered to buy Dale’s land, where the project was going to be, for 350 dollars per acre. Dale was not pleased with the price of the land but he had little choice; either accept the offer or go to court. Eventually, the constructed interstate split Dale’s land in half. The Broeske farm has provided many memorable stories over the years. One story was about the gentleman in charge of artificially inseminating Dale’s cattle. He got his car stuck in a flooded area on Dale’s property. Dale commented, “He got caught, I don’t know what he thought he was going to come through. . . He was sitting there with the doors open, his car was in the water and the water was running through.”  Dale’s first aerial photo taken of his property highlighted a significant change in equipment on the Broeske farm. That specific year Dale switched from a two-row corn planter to a four-row corn planter. Dale skipped a few rows due to equipment inexperience. He concluded that even though a four-row planter was more complex to operate, his planting time drastically decreased. The Broeske’s use a six-row planter today.   When asked about his own recommendations he would give young farmers today not born into an agricultural family Dale replied, “I don’t know how they do it if they don’t start out with a good base and a good piece of land.” Dale’s son was fortunate to have a good base.  Dale’s daughter, Becky, was also provided with a good base. She obtained land from Dale to open Beck’s Greenhouse. Her education and previous work experience provided her with the necessary experience to open her own business, but her parent’s support helped The history of Dale Broeske’s dairy enterprise is characteristic of a true agricultural pioneer. Dale had always been interested in plants, but when he and his father bought land in Richland County – their dreams became a reality. Dale will be forever highly regarded in the local agricultural community for his dairy operation and restored Allis Chalmers tractors. The Broeske family legacy will continue with Dale’s son and grandson. #### Dave Bell and Bellwood Nursery Like agriculture, nursery management and landscaping demand persistence. Dave Bell of Bellville, Ohio has made a living selling trees and plants, as well as taking care of them for other people. His hard work and dedication in the horticulture industry epitomizes what many landscape service entrepreneurs continuously go through on the way to success. Dave lived in Mansfield for 27 years before he and his wife Jane bought their current property in Bellville in 1958. Dave selected this property because unlike other available tracts of land, this property was once a dairy farm – it was clean. Other properties were overgrown and not conducive to growing plants, so this property seemed to be the best fit for horticulture purposes. He mentioned that when the Bell’s accumulated extra money they continuously invested it into home additions. Original walnut beams from the old farm’s trees still reside in their living room and kitchen. Dave Bell’s father bought the first 159 acres, one acre which was a cemetery dating back to 1843. Little by little tracts of land were available for sale around this property. So, Dave purchased more land until he eventually owned 230 acres. The land was important to Dave because he intended to make a business out of his horticulture background. Dave wanted to raise Christmas and shade trees for a living; horticulture was the closest college major to what he wanted to do, at the time. He graduated from college in 1955 and received his sales tax license in 1956. After college, Dave bought a sprayer and sprayed an orchard for five years – using entomology knowledge gained from school. Dave believes that his love for plants and nature is hereditary, his father was always in the woods or outside at some point. Dave was determined to make it in the Northern Ohio nursery industry. The Bell family was fortunate because they knew many local people. However, their first year of landscaping was hard; Dave and Jane talked to contractors and knocked on doors; they did whatever it took to get business. When asked about their reception among locals Dave explained, “Back in those days it was really good. We had a service that only a few other people were offering. We happened to be Johnny-on-the-spot, I guess.” Once landscaping jobs were contracted, as long as the Bell’s did a good job, they were re-hired. For at least ten years, the Bell’s put in 80-hour work-weeks. Gradually, the Bell family shifted from landscaping to nursery management by opening Bellwood Nursery in 1956. Plant varieties in which the Bell’s offered were dependent on companies that supplied them. They were supplied with the latest genetic modifications of trees like maples and oaks, which they in turn sold to their customers. Dave also mentioned, “I would plan like three or four years ahead. What am I going to plant? How many am I going to plant? Where am I going to put them? . . . that is why we had little plots here and there with different stuff.” The Bell family chose planting ground based on soil types and prior success. He also eluded that it was important to have genetically modified species of plants; native plants had far too many growing disadvantages in a competitive market. When Dave started his business very little equipment was available for those in landscaping. Some people even made their own equipment. Many of these people submitted their designs and early equipment manufacturers started producing landscape equipment. Dave, however, launched his business with a pickup truck, a wheel barrel and a shovel. As more and more jobs surfaced, Dave researched landscape equipment and purchased tractors, grading equipment and tree planters. Today, like farming, there are many types of landscape equipment available; however, it can be expensive. Dave commented that landscaping today is “Very difficult. You almost have to have an outside source of income to support you until you get going and you have to sacrifice until you get established.” Because land management was so important to Dave, his conservation practices he employed over the years are evident. He manufactured grass strips in between rows of trees at the nursery and created buffer areas to help stop runoff containing fertilizers. Many nursery owners had to drain their runoff into a separate pond, but because Dave had buffer strips he did not. In addition, instead of spraying the whole field for pesticides, Dave sprayed individual plants; this technique also cut down on runoff pollution. Charity and horticulture do not often go hand-in-hand; however to the Bell family, they do. Dave and Jan manage a greenhouse specifically for their garden. Today, they raise roughly 175 green pepper plants, 175 tomato plants, 3-4 pounds of sweet corn and 1,020 hills of potatoes. Dave admitted he does spray for bugs; having bugs in a garden is inevitable unless spraying is implemented. So, one can only be so organic before it is inefficient. Dave and his friends, Dave Fleming and Dave Kracker, mainly give their produce to the local Catholic Charity and an Episcopal church; these organizations anticipate produce from them each year. Interestingly enough, all three Daves are left-handed and have the same body size, this is a joke among them. Last year, in 2014, they gave away nearly 1,200 pounds of potatoes. Another year, they provided a church with 50 pounds of redskin potatoes to go with their pork roast dinner; all of the church’s meal profits went to buy Bibles for natives in New Guinea. Dave’s produce has won numerous first prize awards at the Bellville Street Fair. On gardening and giving, Dave concluded, “It’s difficult, it’s rewarding, and it has a lot of satisfaction.” The Bell’s no longer have any landscape employees. Instead, Dave subcontracts jobs to other businesses or offers advice to people regarding plant management. Now, Dave owns close to 50 acres, far lower than his previous 230. It was important to Dave that the buyers of his property wanted to keep the land in their family as one parcel and split it up. He mentioned that too many older farms were being split up, in order to provide children with starting ground. This idea of land stewardship is more important to Dave now than it ever was; he stated about his land, “I don’t need it to make money anymore and if you go back to my first real like of stuff it is wildlife and animals.” Through long 80-hour work-weeks and grueling sweat the Bell family successfully created a nursery and landscaping business from the ground up. Their family business history is not only a testimony to their entrepreneurial persistence, but it is also an important story in Richland County conservation. #### John Culler and the Culler Family History The Culler family was not originally from Richland County. However, they quickly adapted to life in Ohio and they are now considered one of the most storied agricultural families in the area. Jacob Culler settled in Frederick, Maryland after he and his family emigrated from Europe. Their exact arrival in Richland County, Ohio is up for debate. The 1820 United States Census showed the family living in Maryland and the 1830 Census confirmed their residence in Ohio. Jacob’s brother, Michael Culler, participated actively in the family church around 1818. Mt. Zion Church is still attended by the Culler family in Ohio. The main Culler Farm was purchased from Adam Wininger by Jacob on November 4, 1825. Jacob’s original 160 acres, now 157, sits across the road from where John and Sheri currently live, in Lucas. The family still has the original land deed that was signed by John Quincy Adams in 1827. Even though Jacob Culler made his first payment in 1814, deeds were not issued at that time until payment was paid in full. It is speculated that the original 160 acres cost approximately thirteen or fourteen dollars an acre. It was not enough to just purchase land; farmers had to have a water source. A natural spring is located along the Culler property, which is the most likely reason why Jacob Culler bought the land. At John’s uncle’s property there was a larger spring, so many of the Culler’s first buildings were built on this ground instead. Farm locations depended on water. Farming remained fairly generalized after the Culler family moved to Richland County. The family raised chickens, hogs, sheep and Milking Shorthorned Cattle, which were used as both beef and dairy cattle. As time passed, Guernsey cattle took the Milking Shorthorned Cattle’s place. John and his brother, Dave, can remember milking them throughout their high school years to this day. John noted that until the 1930’s, when his grandfather was farming, operations remained similar; families all grew identical crops and raised identical animals. It was not until the 1930’s that the milking industry changed. John’s grandfather had three sons and each were capable of milking cattle. Because of this, the Culler family expanded their dairy operation. Family size and farm size often went hand-in-hand. The Culler’s use diaries written by David Rugh Culler and Harlen Culler, once resident of the present Culler’s house, to recall memories around the farm long ago. However according to Sheri Culler, John’s wife, the diary talks about plowing fields, hauling and splitting wood and taking care of the orchard. Rarely does it ever mention milking a cow. If Harlen Culler ever participated in a dairy operation, it was one that merely provided milk for the family. Family came first; abundance, usually rare, may have been sold for extra money in order to pay land taxes. Agricultural changes and improvements are crucial in understanding the development of farming in the area. When asked about significant advancements in technology, John pointed to electricity and what a difference it made. The Culler family received electricity faster due to a nearby power plant, situated three miles away from the farm, along the Black Fork River. Once installed, electricity-powered milking machines, replaced milking by hand. Herd expansion and productivity followed. Impressed by their efficiency, John’s grandfather wrote his Surge milking manufacturer letters explaining how much their equipment helped the milking process. Another major transition in agriculture was going from horses to tractors. John’s grandfather was reluctant to give up horse-powered equipment, so both were often used simultaneously until tractors were permanently introduced. John’s father was born is 1920; shortly after, tractors became popular – most likely due to World War I’s industrial success. Because John’s grandfather liked Ford equipment, the Culler family purchased a Ford. The family still owns some older equipment; a reaper is housed in a barn at Dave’s house. John explained that a reaper was a horse-powered machine used to cut wheat, instead of cutting it by hand. This vastly improved the amount of wheat that one man could cut in a day; reapers were truly revolutionary pieces of equipment. After all, wheat was considered a cash crop. Like the reaper, the tractor powered plow also revolutionized farming in the first half of the twentieth century. John stated, “When you look at a tractor having 20 horse power, that would be the same as twenty horses and one man . . . that was really a big step, so it allowed them to do the tillage work so much faster and so much easier than they were ever able to do before.” With farming equipment continuing to get bigger, farmers today are having trouble transporting it on country roads. John believes that from now on size will be the “limiting factor” in how large equipment can be manufactured. Successful harvests often required preparation. The Culler family, like most farming families, used their livestock manure to replenish nutrients in the soil that crops had removed. They also added lime to the soil so that pH levels remained neutral – allowing nutrients to be absorbed by plants more efficiently. Over time, John learned to not till waterways because it only created ditches in fields and promoted erosion. The Cullers implemented No-Till earlier in their farming history; they had some success and some failure. Ultimately, they decided to reduce their tillage instead of strictly operating by No-Till practices. Today, John strip-tills one hundred percent of his corn harvest, which he admits is not as conservation-friendly as all No-Till, but it works for their operation. Pesticide and weed management was necessary on the farm. Like many farmers, John’s father’s first weed control chemical was 2, 4-D, a broadleaf weed controller used in the 1950’s and still today. Later on, the Culler’s adapted to Atrazine and other chemical advancements. Chemicals were not the only solution used to prevent unwanted plants in fields. Before tractors were introduced, the Culler family cultivated in diagonal patterns with horses in order to reduce grass in fields, which 2, 4-D did not treat. The only drawback with this method was that crop numbers were limited because the horse required more space in between crop rows. Atrazine controlled many types of grasses that 2, 4-D did not – “a dream come true,” according to John. Eventually, John and most farmers started using Roundup Ready seeds which made weed control even simpler. Over time, the Culler family transitioned from beef and dairy cattle to strictly dairy. Today, nearly 100 years after the family shifted its focus to the dairy industry, John milks between 150 and 160 dairy cattle. As far as crops are concerned, the Culler family raises corn, beans, wheat and alfalfa, in addition to livestock. When asked why he started farming John replied, “I pretty well had my heart set in doing whatever it took so that I could stay and work on the farm. I enjoyed working with the animals.” John’s youngest son, Adam, has taken over daily chore responsibilities; meanwhile, John still harvests crops. To John, crop farming was much more enjoyable than working with livestock. He explained, “It seems like you have to pay your dues so you can get to that point,” while laughing. His oldest son, Matt, is involved in soil sampling and fertilizer application based on the needs of particular soils at Ag Info Tech. Although John’s older son works for another company, he helps out around the farm with equipment and offers advice to his father and brother. When asked about his own advice on recommendations he would give young farmers today John replied, “The biggest problem with agriculture is the investment in land, equipment and resources. . . I’m not going to say that it’s not possible but its become increasingly more difficult.” After relocating to Richland County from Maryland, the Culler family planted strong agricultural roots in Lucas. Like most farmers in the area, John Culler does not farm for the money, he loves what he does; this is what makes the Culler family history so beneficial to the citizens of Richland County. #### John Scherer and the Scherer Family History John and Terry Scherer have always believed in hard work, even if that meant going above and beyond. Their persistence in No-Till Farming over the years, despite low yields initially, is a testament that the Scherer family has always put conservation first in farming. The Scherer family history in America began near Richland County and the family remains there to this day. John Scherer’s grandfather emigrated from Switzerland in the late 1800s. He lived in Tiro, Ohio for a short time before he purchased 35 acres where John’s son, Terry, now lives near Shelby, Ohio. The Scherer family rents their land from John’s brother, so it has been intentionally kept in the family. John’s house was built after his marriage in 1954 at a cost of 15,000 dollars. His mother taught in one-room school houses and devoted her time to the Ladies’ Aid Society.  John’s dad worked at Arcelormittal for a short period of time before he started farming and his mother kept the books at the schools – Morton School still stands today, west of Shelby. During his younger years, John’s parents started farming because they genuinely enjoyed it; every house on their road, West Smiley, housed a farmer. Farming not only generated money for families, it sustained them. After the Scherer family moved to Richland County they primarily focused on growing wheat, corn, hay, potatoes, oats and soy beans. John frequently traveled into town with his father and a bag of wheat so it could be ground into flour at Spring Mill. Some of John’s first memories include binding wheat and cutting hay in cool nights, because days were simply too hot. All manual labor eased after World War II when tractors came along. John’s family used both a team of horses and a tractor until after the war, when they retired horses and adopted more efficient technology.  Following the war, the Scherer family implemented many new advancements and added to their farming operation. Like many other farmers at the time, tile was added to fields, dairy cattle herds were made larger, and electric-powered equipment thrived. Luckily for John, Shelby Electric built a power plant in Shelby long before other cities could get electricity. Electricity vastly helped dairy farmers install machine-operated milkers and systems. John noted that Shelby Electric is famous for producing the Centennial Light, the world’s longest-lasting light bulb which is now used in Livermore, California as a part of a firehouse. Although electricity is often blamed for many barn fires during its conception, the Scherer family did not experience fires when it came to the implementation of electricity on the farm.  After John’s father died, John stopped raising dairy cattle and focused on beef cattle. Beef cattle prices fell soon after John’s focus switched and left the Scherer family wondering if they had made the right decision by getting out of the dairy business. Soon after, the Scherer’s stopped raising livestock altogether and focused on planting and harvesting crops. Luckily for John, selling crops was not as difficult for him as other farmers in Richland County. The Shelby Equity was located on Main Street in Shelby, Ohio – just minutes from John’s residence. Today, the Scherer’s take their grain to Sunrise in Crestline, Ohio because Shelby Equity is no longer in operation.  The advancements in crop chemicals over the years has not only been a major component of farming operations all over Richland County, it altered the farming process for many farmers at its time of introduction. John bought his first chemical sprayer in the 1940’s hoping to get rid of Spittle Bugs – known for wiping out acres of alfalfa at a time. Early on and even today, John’s family used 2, 4-D to get rid of thistles and weeds growing alongside crop rows in his field.  He noted that his family also did not use any chemical protection, like what is required today, and many chemicals used by the Scherer’s were banned because of health reasons. Today, the Scherer’s use Roundup Ready seeds, a popular choice among most farmers.  Although the Scherer family’s chemicals were similar to many other farmers at the time, their implementation of No-Till Farming has been greatly recognized. According to the Scherer’s, No-Till Farming is the process where field soil is intentionally not disturbed. Instead, farmers use special equipment to insert approximately two inch deep holes into the ground for their seeds. This method has shown to prevent weed seeds from being disturbed over time, leading to less weeds in fields. Also due to less soil compaction, soil that has not been tilled contains more oxygen and organic matter – conditions that encourage crops to flourish. On the negative side, some soils that contain clay may not be conducive to no-till practices and yield numbers may decrease at first. Ultimately, Terry Scherer decided to stick with No-Till Farming because it was easier and it saves the soil.  In addition to no-till, other conservation practices and local business has always been important to the Scherer’s. John pointed out that, “People who really do an excellent job at conservation don’t get rewarded enough for what they do.” Terry sacrificed time planting over the years implementing no-till, which requires farmers to plant slower and harvest later. He also operated a local vegetable stand at his house west of Shelby, but has since downgraded to a self-serve stand. When the Scherer’s first started raising vegetables Terry hauled them to the Mansfield farmer’s market. Now, he takes produce to Shelby’s market when he has a surplus.  The Scherer farm, west of Shelby, once made national news. The Secretary of Agricultural of the United States came to the Scherer residence to assess a major drought that struck the region in the 1980’s. Over a dozen news crews showed up from all over Ohio, not to mention the United States Secret Service. The weather conditions affected the crops so bad that year that nearly half of the Scherer’s crops failed to germinate.  There is no doubt that obstacles surfaced over the years on the Scherer farm, but their ability to continue No-Till Farming is nothing shy of commendable. Although small, their farm represents a legacy of rich farming heritage in Richland County, Ohio. #### Kenny Adams’ Farm Operation Kenny Adams’ earliest memory on the farm was with his father and two brothers. His father helped his uncle run a session rake while he and his brothers thrashed wheat in the fields. He also helped his uncle in the saw mill. Like many other farming families, the Adams family made maple syrup. Kenny has farmed nearly all of his life. Now, two of Kenny’s four sons, Jay and John, run the family farm operation. It is located on Plymouth Springmill Road, outside of Shelby. Kenny farmed the original 80 acres his father owned, but rented most of his acreage from other landowners. As Kenny’s sons got older, they bought and rented more land. At one time, they were farming nearly 3,000 acres. While the acreage they farmed grew, the Adams family also raised cattle. Kenny converted a chicken house into a 100-head cattle feed house. Today, the Adams’ raise between 350 and 400 head of cattle per year. The transition from helping his father farm and farming on his own was not an easy task for Kenny. His father died at age 58; Kenny was 23 and shifted to farming full-time. Despite the fact that Kenny’s father died at a young age, he showed Kenny everything he knew about agriculture. According to Kenny his father said, “I’ll show ya. If you need help, I’ll help ya again.” He admitted he learned more about farming through experience than by being told. Like so many of his farming colleagues, Kenny started farming with a two-plow tractor – a John Deere Model B. His father used a team of horses but Kenny rarely worked with them; he felt more comfortable operating a tractor. He inherited another two-plow tractor when his father died. After that, he updated tractors frequently and took advantage of more powerful machines. Kenny’s first tractor had 37 horsepower; he now rides in one with over 300 horses. Growing up, Kenny’s father owned chickens, milk cows, beef cattle, hogs, and sheep. The Adams family started out with farm animals out of necessity; they always had some type of animal living on the farm. Kenny concluded that milk cows were the hardest animals to take care of on the farm; they required a lot of attention, seven days per week. So, he switched to Holstein beef cattle. Kenny made more money from Holstein Cattle than any other breed. Kenny’s father milked cattle by hand. Eventually, he bought milking equipment, but the system still required someone to dump milk into bulk tanks. After Kenny took over the farm, he never upgraded milking equipment because it was far too expensive. After milking and harvesting, Kenny transported his products to local establishments for sale. Milk was hauled to Shelby Pure Milk and grain was transported to the Shelby Equity. Also, Kenny sold his cattle at the Cleveland Livestock Yard, which like the two companies in Shelby, is not there anymore. The Adams family was forced to sell their products in Shelby over the years because it was so close. Today, Kenny’s sons transport product to the place that gives them  the highest price. Not long after Kenny started farming, he met his wife Joyce. Today, they have been together nearly 57 years. Because Joyce grew up on a farm, she understood Kenny’s profession. However, other than gathering chicken eggs Joyce did not help on the farm. After Kenny worked for Cass Township and Firestone in Shelby for a few years, Joyce decided Kenny should be at home farming while she worked. Although Kenny started farming with a John Deere Model B, he and his sons have been avid Case IH owners for decades. For Kenny it was not about the brand, “I’ve always had good dealers; that was half of the bit was service and it still is today as far as I’m concerned.” Case IH dealers always treated Kenny well, so he remained loyal to them. Kenny tried no-till farming for a few years. After poor yields, he went back to plowing. Today, Kenny’s sons no-till their wheat fields and some bean fields; they noticed corn did not do as well when the earth was left untilled. Over the years, the Adams family created waterways in fields and installed tile to improve drainage. The Adams family has integrated these and other conservation practices into their farming. Kenny’s sons also vaccinate their own livestock. He mentioned, “They got medicine there for them; they know what to give them”. . . “After you’re around that stuff so long you know what’s wrong with them.” According to Kenny, experience is crucial while working on a farm. In the neighborhood around the Adams’ family farm everyone helped each other. Five or six different farms helped one another bail hay or do anything that needed done. Kenny stated, “That’s the way it was in the neighborhood; if you needed help, your neighbor would help you and if he needed help he’d come and get you and you’d go help him. That was the way it was.” In 2010, Kenny and Joyce moved from their farm to the city of Shelby. The move made things easier and more manageable for the couple. Kenny mentioned that it was not hard moving away from the farm; he can still return whenever he likes. He noted that young farmers have to like it in order to make it in farming today. Instead of having everything at once, new farmers have to start small and work their way up. The Adams family was not successful overnight. Kenny’s father started off with 80 acres and his sons expanded it to nearly 3,000 with approximately 400 beef cattle. Kenny enjoyed his time on the farm and worked hard, eventually passing it on to his two sons. The Adams family farm operation will continue to grow thanks to Kenny’s children and grandchildren. “The best teacher you can get is being out there and doing it; make a mistake.”Kenny Adams #### Roger Fulk and the Fulk Family Farm The Fulk family history started when Roger Fulk’s great grandfather moved to Richland County with a family of thirteen. His great grandfather rode in the cavalry division with General George Custer out West and even was present at his burial. Why Roger’s great grandfather chose Richland County as a place to settle remains a mystery, but the county is thankful he did. As a boy of five years, Roger Fulk can remember going down to the barn and watching his mother milk a single Guernsey cow by hand; she was special to his mother. Ever since he could walk, Roger followed his father around the family farm and rode with him on equipment; he drove a tractor as young as seven years old. Roger enjoyed the farm but every other Saturday he, his father, and two brothers had to clean the chicken house; this task was by far Roger’s least favorite job on the farm. Roger’s grandfather lived up the road from where Roger lives today. Also, a few of Roger’s uncles bought farms in the neighborhood. His grandfather and grandmother bought the farm Roger lives in today in the mid-1920s. The new couple suffered hardships during the Great Depression, but eventually moved to town in the 1970s after they retired. Roger’s father and mother lived across the street from Roger’s current residence, where they farmed a few hundred acres and were happily married for 61 years. Both Roger’s grandfather and father worked at Mansfield Tire & Rubber Company. At the time, there were 26 members of the Fulk family working at Mansfield Tire, making them the largest family employed at the company. Roger and his wife Deborah later had the opportunity to buy the original farm in 1991, when they started their own farm operation; they live there to this day. Roger’s grandfather operated a fairly typical farm. He milked approximately eight cows and raised sheep and hogs. When it came to planting season, he grew corn, hay, oats, and wheat – mainly enough to provide for his family. The first year after high school Roger shared his most memorable story on the farm. Growing up, the Fulk family had a moon-shaped bulk tank; he described the feeling when the tank ran over as “really cool.” Since then, The Fulks have upgraded to larger tanks, but the memory of their first milk tank running over will be remembered by Roger for the rest of his life. When crops were sold, Roger’s father dealt with various grain elevators in Ashland, Ohio. Mansfield’s elevators did not deal with moisture in crops because they did not have a dryer. At this time, the Fulk family transported wheat by pickup truck. Over the years, they upgraded to wagons, larger trucks and eventually semi-trucks to haul crops to grain elevators. Today, the Fulks transport their crops to Mansfield, where Roger explained there is a much more advanced system. As acreage and equipment increased, the Fulks adapted and grew their farm operation as a family. Shortly after Roger purchased land, one of Roger’s two brothers also bought close to 100 acres down the road. His brother currently works for Richland County and the road department, while farming and raising cattle. Roger’s land purchase in 1991 allowed him to greatly expand his production of soy beans. Before, the Fulks grew corn, beans, hay, oats, and wheat – all which went to feed the dairy cattle. Following the land purchase, more beans were planted and profits increased. Today, corn and hay are the Fulks most prominent crops. They use a lot of their yields to feed nearly 70 head of dairy cattle. Shortly after Roger started farming in 1974, he purchased a John Deere 3020 tractor, which he stills owns. He mentioned it did not take him long to realize the Fulks needed more tractors and equipment. After the blizzard of 1977-78, Roger’s father was determined to buy a tractor with a cab, so he traded in their 80 horsepower tractor for one with a cab. Behind his father’s back, Roger bought back that same 80 horsepower tractor and it remains on the farm today. For harvesting, Roger’s father operated a John Deere 2 Cylinder 620 with power steering. Roger mentioned that it was hard for him to steer the 620 model at 7 years old; he drove the hay bailer instead. The Fulk family used the same equipment until they upgraded when Roger was 12 or 13 years old. According to Roger, “There’s probably only one type of equipment and that’s probably green, John Deere.” He admitted, a farmer’s equipment brand is primarily based on their dealer. A good relationship between a farmer and dealer leads to future equipment purchases and loyalty. Like farm equipment, electricity altered the way Roger’s father and the community operated around the farm. Roger’s father talked about what it was like to turn on the lights for the first time in the 1920s. He described his father’s experience by saying, “They all hit the light switches that first night and he said you could look out and see half a dozen houses that had electricity at that moment; that was different.” In early 2015, the power company replaced the original transmission lines that powered early houses along Charles Road. Roger has experienced three fires from electricity, two in his barn from light bulbs and one in his house that was water related. Fortunately, he was at the scene each time. Crop chemicals have always existed on the Fulk family farm. At a young age, Roger remembers his dad driving a tractor with a barrel behind it; it sprayed 2, 4-D out of garden-like hoses. Later on, atrazine was implemented as a herbicide until weeds developed a resistance. Like most farmers, the Fulks use Roundup Ready seeds today, but recently weeds like Hippuris vulgaris (mare’s-tail) have started adapting. According to Roger, scientists will continuously have to come up with new chemicals to combat plant resistance. When the concept of no-till farming was introduced in the 1970s the Fulk family tested the method. However, Roger mentioned they like to mix manure into the soil – something that is not possible with no-till. Recently, the Fulks purchased a no-till grain drill for planting beans, which is operated by Roger’s son. Roger mentioned that yields fell with no-till so the family switched back to plowing. Today, the Fulks no-till very little ground but make conscious efforts to prevent erosion. Over the years the Fulk family has created buffer zones between fields and streams. Also, in the last 20 years they have put nearly 60-70 thousand feet of tile in their fields. Roger mentioned, “If I could afford it I’d put another 50 thousand feet in in the next year or two.” When asked about major challenges on the farm Roger hinted to weather being the most difficult thing to work with. Also, record prices in crops that generate record falls seem to be another unpredictable challenge. Many of Roger’s methods and techniques have been handed down through the family for years. Crop rotations are second nature to the Fulk family. Currently, Roger is a Trustee in Weller Township. He has always enjoyed this work and it allows him to interact with other farmers in the community. Roger’s son is extremely active on the farm. Roger joked that often he gets orders from his son these days. He and Deborah have five children together. Their oldest daughter teaches Ag in Kansas and their son works on the farm, but all five children have helped farm at one point in their lives. Roger decided to be a farmer at a young age. He thought, “When I grow up I want to be a farmer just like dad.” It is evident that the Fulk family farming legacy will continue to flourish in Richland County because of Roger’s children. #### The History of Snow Trails Snow Trails Winter Resort in Mansfield, Ohio is arguably one of the most popular ski resorts in Ohio. Nestled in the hills just South of Mansfield, the world renowned 50 acre resort has become a premiere attraction for those seeking winter fun – from skiing to tubing. However, the Snow Trails we think of today is much more advanced than the original resort. The history of Snow Trails testifies to the type of ingenuity and passion applied by its owner and founder, Dave Carto. Mr. Carto moved to Ohio from Fort Wayne, Indiana when he was a junior in high school. After high school, he attended Ohio Wesleyan University and was employed by two local companies, Ohio Brass and Westinghouse. Snow Trails was first conceived in the 1950s, but can trace its origins to the Mansfield Ski Club. Organized as a social club by Dave Carto, the early members of the Mansfield Ski Club routinely skied near Gambier, Ohio. With help from a friend and professor at Kenyon College, the ski club utilized Central Ohio’s hilly terrain to enjoy one of their favorite pastimes, skiing. The club’s members arrived early in the morning to pack down the snow with their skis. If someone didn’t help pack, they owed the club a dollar to ski. Early rope tows powered by Model-T chassis assisted skiers back up the slopes. After a while, people started showing up from all over Ohio and typically by 4:00 pm the snow had melted – leaving only grass exposed. Ultimately, Mr. Carto realized the interest that skiing generated and how far people were willing to travel for the skiing experience. Skiing interest also attracted business investors. When Mr. Carto heard about a group of investors attempting to build a commercial ski operation south of Mansfield he offered his advice. But interestingly enough, after the first day of meeting with the businessmen Mr. Carto also became a key investor. The original farm, where Snow Trails rests today, belonged to the Crosby family. Even though the Crosby farm was already 90-years-old when it was bought by Mr. Carto and other investors, it was an active farm and in good shape. In fact, Snow Trails continues to use the old Crosby barn as part of their ski lodge. Initially, the bottom section of the barn where the cattle were held was turned into the rental department and the hay loft was designated as the food service area and bar. Much has changed over the years. Today, the rental lockers are located on the ground level and the ceilings are vaulted in the upstairs level, where guests can order food or beverages. In fact, visitors can still enjoy the old barn beams that make up the ceiling on the ground level. With a growing number of guests, resort additions remained Snow Trails’ focus for many years. One-by-one Snow Trails started adding more space for guests and implementing more efficient technology. Rope tows and T-bar lifts were a cheap expense; after all, they got people up the hill. These were used until the resort invested in their first double chair lift in the early 1980s. It wasn’t until Mr. Carto started to become more involved in Snow Trails that the resort began investing heavily into the snowmaking process. After the first several years, Mr. Carto left his full-time job to manage Snow Trails and began buying out other shareholders. By the early 1970s, Mr. Carto owned 100 percent of Snow Trail’s shares and began to actively expand. A string of purchases made in the 1980s added significant amounts of land; it currently operates on 50 acres. The Ski Shop, which was built in 1982, was one of the first new buildings constructed on the resort grounds. This facility allowed individuals to buy their own equipment and make greater investments in winter sports. Adapting to the needs of customers and enthusiasts has always been a high priority for Mr. Carto. The snowmaking process was as crucial to the resort in its infancy as it is today. Mr. Carto described the process of making snow a “joke” compared to what it is now. Investments in snow guns, water piping and water supply have all greatly impacted Snow Trails ability to create more snow than ever before. Additionally, grooming has also improved over time.  An old Oliver tractor complete with wooden slates attached to the wheels was first used to drag a piece of culvert behind it in order to pack down the snow. Now, the resort has a fleet of four Snowcats equipped with Mercedes-Benz engines that operate by hydrostatic drive. Maintenance and replacements remain one of the resort’s most critical expenses. Snow Trails has numerous ski programs for children and adults. One program, TAASC (The Adaptive Adventure Sports Coalition), services handicapped individuals through an extensive network of volunteers on Saturdays and Sundays. Children-based programs benefit greatly from tubing hills and carpet lifts added nearly a decade ago. Instructors ensure that this portion of the resort is an exceptionally fun, safe atmosphere for all ages. Busloads of kids travel from all over to take advantage of these facilities and the refreshments available. This is what makes Snow Trails an asset to the city of Mansfield. Recent construction projects at Snow Trails include the Timberline trail and the rental center. The Timberline trail allows guests to glide down a forest-surrounded trail and offers exclusion from other busier parts of the resort. The new all-inclusive rental center takes guests through the equipment rental process step-by-step, while offering shelter from the elements. The exit door to the rental center is situated at the foot of the beginner’s portion of the resort so accommodations are met for all snow enthusiasts – advanced or novice. The Carto family has been actively involved in Snow Trails since it opened. It’s believed that every member of Mr. Carto’s family either helped out with or worked for the resort at some point. Mr. Carto’s daughter, Amy, runs the ski shop. Amy’s husband, Scott, is the resort manager and their son, Andrew, helps out with the maintenance department. Dave, Mr. Carto’s namesake, also helps out at Snow Trails. The resort will surely continue to flourish in the Carto family. Given the exact same opportunity today, Mr. Carto indicated that he definitely would invest in Snow Trials again. Skiing is his passion; a sport where relationships are formed and memories are made. Mr. Carto has always felt as though he was preserving nature; by creating it into a resort that people can enjoy, not tearing it down. Snow Trails’ water is recycled and the resort’s soil management has drastically improved parking lots. Full of rich, rural history; Snow Trails has blossomed in North Central Ohio. ### News #### 2025 Stormwater Numbers By Sam Foley Our final quarter of the year brought in fewer permits than the summer months, but that’s to be expected. Despite the unpredictable winter weather, we still issued 8 permits for commercial projects and 59 residential permits between October 1 and December 31, 2025. Of those 59 residential permits, 41 of them were some sort of exemption. In 2025 we issued a total of 385 stormwater permits and performed over 700 site inspections. Please remember, if you are moving soil in the unincorporated areas of Richland County you need to consult with us about a stormwater permit to ensure you are following the Stormwater Management and Sediment Control Regulations of Richland County. Reference Matt Christian’s article on what information and documents you need to obtain a stormwater permit. Stormwater Permits in 2025 by Quarter How about a stormwater minute? Even though colder weather is here, and the ground is mostly frozen, you can still find Zoe and I out and about performing site inspections. Frozen ground could maybe be considered temporarily stabilized, but as soon as the thaw comes, the potential for runoff and erosion concerns is very high! Snow melting can contribute to runoff volume and if you are unable to achieve permanent stability in the fall, chances are you are going to see some erosion and soil loss as the ground thaws. Please ensure that you are monitoring site conditions and add the appropriate sediment controls as needed. If you need advice on managing your site, please give us a call, we are happy to help. Be sure to have a plan in place for finish grading and seeding as the warmer weather returns in the spring. Please keep in mind that we don’t consider the permit requirements completed until your site reaches permanent stability.   Photo by Sam Foley #### 2026 Events Upcoming Events Sep 2 September 2 – October 1 Board Supervisor Election Sep 23 9:00 am – 10:00 am Board Supervisor Meeting Oct 1 11:30 am – 1:00 pm Annual Celebration Oct 12 All day Office Closed in Observance of Columbus Day Oct 13 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Conservation Creations Arts & Crafts Workshop: Things That Go Bump in the Night Oct 28 9:00 am – 10:00 am Board Supervisor Meeting Nov 11 All day Office Closed in Observance of Veterans Day Nov 25 9:00 am – 10:00 am Board Supervisor Meeting Nov 26 November 26 – November 27 Office Closed in Observance of Thanksgiving Dec 23 9:00 am – 10:00 am Board Supervisor Meeting View Calendar #### 2026 is Off to a Good Start By Theresa Sutter Winter is quieter in terms of our work, but it is a great time to plan, decide, and organize what we want to accomplish during the year.  We are assisted by following our Annual Plan of Work which ensures we stay on track. There are always speaking events, school requests and other items that pop up, but they make our days interesting. No day is alike and that’s the way I like it! We kicked off the year with our first Conservation Creation Arts & Crafts Workshop series in January.  Pete Porter of the Richland Solid Waste Management Waste Authority was our guest speaker, and he clued us in on what his organization does, what items to recycle, and where to recycle.  We transformed a nondescript recycled tin can into a pretty container. In February we collaborated with Kingwood Center Gardens and North Central Women Owning Woodlands (NCWOW) to offer a special Galentine’s Day event.  Abigail Kent of Emerald Bee directed us on how to make beautiful woodland-themed resin jewelry pendants. They turned out beautiful!  Katie Gerber and Karen Gotter of NCWOW told us about their organization, included fun tree facts and opportunities to win field guides, and sparked lively discussions.  Plus, we had fantastic food and beverages! January Conservation Creation Workshop February Galentine’s Day Event In March our thoughts turned to ponds and the annual pond fish sale. Both activities get us excited about the upcoming spring and summer seasons.  Steve Fender of Fender’s Fish Hatchery is an expert on pond management and stocking a pond. He has an easy-going style and instead of a classroom format our Pond Clinic is a Question-and-Answer session. The informality encourages questions and discussion, and everyone has their questions answered. Sometimes we don’t always know what questions, so the Pond Clinic is especially beneficial to those who are considering a pond. If you have a pond, one of the ways you might want to enjoy it is by stocking it with fish. Fishing is a wonderful way to bond with family and friends.  One service we offer is the opportunity to purchase fingerling fish through our annual pond fish sale. Fender’s Fish Hatchery out of Baltic, Ohio brings up the “fish truck” (try to envision the old ice cream trucks with freezer sections for the different varieties of ice cream only each section is for a different fish species.) If you haven’t been to Baltic, it’s a beautiful drive, but a bit of a distance. The sale eliminates the drive so saves customers time and money. This year’s deadline to order was April 2 and the pickup was April 10 at the Richland County Fairgrounds.  Watch our website and social media for next year’s sale. Pond Clinic 2026 Fish Pick-Up Our second Conservation Creation workshop was April 14.  We made seed tape and Beth Brown, Ohio State University Master Gardener, was our guest speaker.  She is a flower, herb, and vegetable gardener and shared her successes and challenges.  At each workshop we have trivia with the theme of the evening’s topic, which was seeds.  It’s amazing what you can learn while having so much fun! To help manage stormwater in a pretty and practical way, we recommend using Rain Gardens and Rain Barrels.  Rain gardens are planted with native plants in a saucer-shaped garden that collects rain off roofs, driveways, or yards so plants are watered whenever it rains. Rain Barrels collect rain off roofs, too, and the water may be used to water gardens. The rain barrels we sell also have a lid that may be used as a planter and filled with pretty plants. Although Rain Gardens and Rain Barrels are attractive, they fulfill their primary purpose of preventing runoff, especially polluted runoff that is unfiltered and ends up in local waterways. To learn more about the benefits and purposes of Rain Gardens and Rain Barrels we held a workshop April 15 to a full house at the Richland County Fairgrounds Nature Park. As part of the workshop, we gave attendees a free Rain Garden guide to spark their imagination and interest. April Conservation Creation Workshop 2026 Rain Garden & Rain Barrel Workshop Our final spring event I want to highlight is our Native Plant Workshop Plus Sale on May 12 at our office building located at 1495 W. Longview Avenue in Mansfield. This is a free workshop where you can learn more about native plants, plus purchase them. Our guest speaker is Rachel Coy-Mecurio of Pheasants Forever and she’ll discuss pollinator habitat establishment and management at the 6 pm workshop. Native plants are available for purchase from 5 to 6 pm and briefly after the workshop. The Native Yard Project and Wild Acre will also have tables. Reserve your seat for the workshop at https://richlandswcd.net/event/native-plant-program-plus-sale/. To find out about future events watch our website at https://richlandswcd.net/, our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/richlandswcd/ or Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/richlandswcd/?hl=en. #### A Fair Focus on Stormwater By Theresa Sutter We had fun interacting and engaging with Richland County Fair visitors the first week of August at the Nature Park! This year we highlighted stormwater management practices. We provided benefits and examples of cover crops, silt fences, native plants and rain barrels. First place winner in the rain drop contest was Kackie and she is now the proud owner of a rain barrel. Helena was the second-place winner and she won a basket of native plants. Kackie and her rain barrel! Helena and her native plants! Our stormwater cornhole provided visitors with an interactive experience that showed what happens in our waterways when pollutants go down the storm drain. It also incorporated practices that help prevent pollution. Stormwater cornhole. On Kids Day we worked with our partners to hold the scavenger hunt. Kids had fun walking through the exhibit space and nature park grounds to find clues and interact with exhibitors. Thanks to Richland County Solid Waste Management Authority for providing prizes for the three hourly winners. Pete from Richland County Solid Waste Management Authority with one of the winners! #### A Summer of Agricultural Outreach Thanks to the encouragement of our partners during our five-year strategic planning process in 2023, we at Richland Soil & Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD) saw a clear need to re-focus on agricultural outreach. In the past, our district has found it difficult to do this due to financial and staffing limitations. Now, thanks to community support, we are able to offer these services again. Most notably, support for these services was generously provided by a grant from the Richland County Foundation. St. Mary’s Farm Field Day We hit the ground running this summer. On May 28, as the school year drew to a close, Richland SWCD was invited to the McKown farm for St. Mary’s (Shelby) Farm Field Day. Technician Jordan Keller brought along the rainfall simulator to discuss how different land uses impact water quality. Each of the five groups of students ages K-6 grade buried a pair of (clean) underwear for our Soil Your Undies experiment. Locations where students buried the underwear included: Woodland Edge, Turf Grass, Conventional Tilled Cropland, Pasture, and a Hay Field. The students had a blast with the Soil Your Undies experiment and a pair of underwear seemed to end up on a kid’s head in every group.  Technician Jordan Keller with the rainfall simulator. Rainfall simulators show real-time effects of rainwater on different land uses and covers. Students planting undies for the “Soil Your Undies” experiment to test for soil health. What’s wrong with this photo? Pam McKown, explaining activities to students. Neil McKown (left) and a friend help bait fishing lines for students. Don’t forget to stop by our booth at the fair this year to check out our county wide “Soil Your Undies” challenge! What is this? Click or tap at the bottom of this page and scroll down the the article from the last newsletter! Grazing Field Day for Plain Growers On June 14th Richland SWCD hosted a Field Day for Plain Growers emphasizing grazing management practices. State Grazing Specialist, Megan Burgess – United States Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS), led a field day where participants enjoyed learning about pasture weeds and forage identification, grazing equipment, rotational grazing, and a pasture visit. A HUGE thank you to the Randy and Eileen Eisenhauer for letting us use their pasture, last-minute, for demonstrations on how to use a grazing stick. Randy was more than happy to discuss the management decisions he’s made on his pasture and highlighted how Richland SWCD and USDA-NRCS have assisted with improving his operation. If you feel like you missed out on your opportunity to learn about grazing, you’re in luck! Richland SWCD will be hosting a three-part grazing school series called Pastures for Profit Grazing School July 23rd & 25th from 6-9 pm with a pasture walk at Eisenhauer farm scheduled for July 27th from 9am-2pm. The cost is $30 for the series and includes a grazing stick and USB with course manual. Registration is requested by July 19. The Eisenhauer pasture. Learning how to use a grazing stick with State Grazing Specialist Megan Burgess (far left). Looking at different pasture plants. Links! Click or tap below: We’re Soiling Our Undies This Year! Pastures for Profit Grazing School #### Act Now: USDA-NRCS Conservation Incentives for 2025 The USDA-NRCS Environmental Quality Incentive Program and Conservation Stewardship Program for fiscal year 2025 sign-up deadline is January 31, 2025.  For more information, please contact the Richland office at 419-747-8691 x 3 or the website at Conservation Stewardship Program – Ohio | Natural Resources Conservation Service.  Feel free to check out Farmers.gov also. For email information, please contact Jason.ruhl@usda.gov or Jordan.miller@usda.gov .   USDA-NRCS is An Equal Opportunity Provider, Employer, and Lender #### Agriculture Program Updates – Summer 2024 H2Ohio | USDA-NRCS H2Ohio Update Spring and early summer have been an exciting time for H2Ohio in Richland County! Richland Soil & Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD) is happy to report that nine new producers have enrolled in the program this year, representing approximately 5,450 total acres! Enrollment will likely wrap up in the next couple of weeks, so if you are still interested or know someone who might be, talk to us as soon as possible. In other news, technicians Jordan and Evan have been steadily finishing 2023’s practice verifications, completing field checks, and getting ready to dive into 2024 nutrient management meetings with current participants. If you are interested in seeing the impact of H2Ohio across the state, tap or click the “H2Ohio Progress Maps” button below to see some fascinating maps developed by the State (this will take you to the main H2Ohio site, scroll down to the “H2Ohio Dashboards on the DataOhio Portal”. Our H2Ohio Page H2Ohio Progress Maps H2Ohio Practice Highlight: Conservation Crop Rotation – Small Grains Just in the last few weeks, farmers that grow wheat or other winter annuals (like rye or spelts) for grain have been harvesting it. For H2Ohio, farmers are allowed to enroll in a practice called “Conservation Crop Rotations – Small Grains”. Diversifying crop rotations includes many benefits: increasing soil and crop health, decreasing erosion and pest/disease pressures, covering the soil for longer periods of the year, increasing cash crop yields, and many more. For 2023, H2Ohio producers in Richland County completed about 770 acres of this practice. Here are a few resources for further reading:    “More Diverse Crop Rotations Improve Yield, Yield Stability, and Soil Health” – University of Nebraska-Lincoln “Building Soils for Better Crops – Diversifying Cropping Systems” – Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education “Diversifying crop rotations improves environmental outcomes while keeping farms profitable” – University of Minnesota Twin Cities USDA-NRCS Update The United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) helps people help the land. They offer and administer a wide range of voluntary, cost-shared conservation practices for farmers to implement on their land and homestead. Richland SWCD assists USDA-NRCS with technical assistance and some administration. So far this year, Richland SWCD technicians helped our USDA-NRCS partner with three conservation plans that have the objective of improving soil quality. The three plans encompass about 80 acres of Early Successional Habitat Development, Tree/Shrub Establishment, and Upland Wildlife Habitat Management. Richland SWCD technicians are available to assist producers interested in programs and practices available in Richland county. Our technicians also assist those who are not or do not want to be enrolled in USDA-NRCS programs but are still interested in related best management practices. Our USDA-NRCS Programs Page USDA-NRCS National Home Page #### Another Year in the Books – Richland SWCD’s Annual Celebration, 2024 Annual meetings or celebrations are where Soil & Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) share accomplishments, provide updates, recognize hard work, and meet the community. Additionally, annual meetings offer a time and space to hold elections for the Board of Supervisors that oversees the Districts.  On September 26th the Richland Soil & Water Conservation District held its Annual Celebration at the Hawkins Center in Ontario (at the Area Agency on Aging). Our Annual Celebration has historically been held in the evenings, but this was the first time it was held as a luncheon. It was a wonderful, event-packed time.  Director Matt Christian mingling with guests Technician Sam Foley at our info table Lunch is served! Staff Accomplishments Our staff started the afternoon by updating attendees on our various programs and all the hard work they did this past year. Programs covered included: the volunteer program; the Stormwater Permit program; the MS4/NPDES permit; agriculture pollution abatement; H2Ohio; Farmland Preservation, and more. Soil Your Undies challenge results! We had a lot of community support The McKowns receiving Cooperator of the Year Cooperator of the Year We also recognize a Cooperator of the Year every year: an individual, group of individuals, or entity who exhibits exceptional conservation in the County. Neil and Pam McKown of Watershed Ranch were recognized as the 2024 Richland SWCD Cooperator of the Year. Since the McKowns bought their farm they have transformed it into a paradise by implementing many conservation practices. Staff giving their updates and accomplishments. Theresa Sutter, Marketing and Volunteer Coordinator, giving her presentation. Bob Donaldson, Volunteer of the Year, with his wife Kathy Presenting Lanny Hopkins, Richland SWCD Board Supervisor, with his Service Award Volunteer of the Year In addition to a Cooperator of the Year, we recognize a Volunteer of the Year. Bob Donaldson of Mansfield received the award this year. Bob is one of our rain gauge monitors, but he also made a big difference this past year by sharing his Microsoft Excel expertise with us. By doing so he helped us improve and update many of our organizational spreadsheets. Our workflows and data-capturing are now more efficient and organized thanks to Bob!  As a “thank you” for his contribution, a Black Gum tree was planted in his honor in Centennial Park, Lexington. Tom Holmes, Ohio Department of Agriculture, facilitating the vote for the Board of Supervisors Richland SWCD Board with County Commisioners Tony Vero (3rd from right) and Cliff Mears (2nd from right). Board of Supervisors are, left to right, Jean McClintock, Greg Timberlake, Lanny Hopkins, and Leonard Fox. Richland SWCD Volunteers that attended, with Theresa Sutter (Marketing and Volunteer Coordinator) on the far right. Supervisor Election and a Thank You to Lanny Hopkins This year’s supervisor election featured two open seats.  Existing Board member, Lanny Hopkins, decided not to run for reelection while existing member, Jean McClintock, ran for reelection.  Pam McKown ran for the other vacant seat.  After tallying the votes, Jean was reelected and Pam McKown was elected to her first term. Terms run for 3 years and begin in January. Lanny Hopkins has served on the board since 2018, serving two terms, and has decided to step down. Lanny was most passionate about Black Fork clean-up/log jam removal and continues to work on the initiative. He was presented with a service award as a small token of our appreciation. If you attended our Annual Celebration, thank you so much! If not, maybe we will see you there next year! #### Apply for the MWCD 2024 Cover Crop Cost Share Program Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD) is partnering with the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) on the cost share program for producers who plant cover crops. In 2023, the MWCD cover crop cost share program assisted in getting cover crops planted on 140.73 acres of Richland County farmland. The benefits of planting cover crops include preventing and reducing erosion, improving soil health, increased crop productivity, and farm profitability. Applications are due by July 9, 2024. Items of Importance: The 2024 MWCD Cover Crop program cost share is $12.00 per acre. The general cap is 200 acres per participant unless cover crops are planted in the Charles Mill or Pleasant Hill Lake watersheds. The 200-acre cap applies across multiple counties if the landowner is signing up in multiple counties. This program cannot be enrolled in another program to receive funding for the same cover crop such as the United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) or H2Ohio. There are no exceptions to the United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) seedling dates and rates. If a mix is going to be planted, the earliest seeding date of the species within the mix is the date that it must be planted by such as radishes. Wheat is allowed and can be harvested. 2024 Cover Crop Application MWCD Assessment Area To get more information contact Matt Wallace by phone at 419.747.8687 or email. #### Applying Soil Health Principles & Leveraging Conservation Programs By Jordan Keller Soil and water conservation in Richland County is closely tied to the management of working lands within our unique landscape. The county lies along the continental divide, meaning runoff generated locally contributes to two major watershed systems: Lake Erie and the Ohio River. As a result, conservation practices implemented in Richland County play a role not only in local resource protection, but also in downstream water quality across much larger basins. At the field scale, conservation systems are guided by four core soil health principles: minimizing disturbance, maximizing soil cover, maintaining continuous living roots, and increasing biological diversity. These principles improve infiltration, nutrient cycling, and aggregate stability, allowing soils to better resist erosion and store water under variable weather conditions. In Richland County’s dominant corn–soybean crop rotations, these outcomes are typically achieved through reduced tillage, diversifying crop rotations, and integrating cover crops. Conservation Programs Supporting Implementation A range of federal, state, and local programs are available to support landowners in implementing these practices: H2Ohio (Ohio Department of Agriculture) H2Ohio is Ohio’s statewide, data-driven water quality initiative focused on reducing nutrient loading and improving water quality. Through local SWCD offices, the program provides financial incentives and technical assistance for producers to adopt best management practices (BMPs) such as: Voluntary Nutrient Management Plans (VNMPs) Overwintering cover crops Subsurface phosphorus placement Manure incorporation and utilization Participation requires development of a nutrient management plan, and cost-share payments are available to offset implementation costs. Practices are verified by SWCD staff before payments are made. USDA-NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) EQIP is a voluntary federal program that provides technical and financial assistance to address specific resource concerns such as soil erosion, water quality, and nutrient management. Producers work one-on-one with NRCS to develop a conservation plan and receive cost-share assistance for practices including: Cover crops and conservation tillage Nutrient management systems Livestock infrastructure (e.g., fencing, waste storage, water systems) Erosion control measures and structural practices EQIP is often used as an entry point for producers adopting new conservation practices and can cover a significant portion of implementation costs. USDA-NRCS Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) CSP is designed to build on existing conservation systems by rewarding producers who maintain and enhance ongoing stewardship practices. Unlike EQIP, which targets specific issues, CSP takes a whole-farm approach and provides annual payments for: Expanding conservation practices across additional acreage Improving system performance (e.g., advanced nutrient management, precision agriculture) Integrating multiple practices into a comprehensive conservation system CSP is particularly beneficial for producers who have already implemented foundational BMPs and are looking to improve long-term sustainability. Local Implementation & Technical Assistance The Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) serves as a key local partner in delivering these programs. The district provides technical assistance for conservation planning and works directly with landowners to identify appropriate practices and funding opportunities. Given Richland County’s position within dual watershed systems and its mix of agricultural and developed land uses, the integration of soil health principles with structured conservation programs is essential. Programs such as H2Ohio, EQIP, and CSP provide both the technical framework and financial support needed to implement effective conservation systems at scale. By combining science-based management with available funding opportunities, landowners in Richland County can improve soil function, reduce nutrient loss, and contribute to long-term water quality improvements—both locally and across the broader watershed network. Contact Jordan if you’re interested in any of the programs highlighted in this article. #### Are you a gardener? If so, did you know you’re also a livestock farmer? That’s right! Just not the type of livestock you’re probably thinking of. Instead of cows, pigs, or chickens, you’re farming macro and microorganisms. A teaspoon of healthy soil can contain BILLIONS of microorganisms. Microorganisms in the soil are things such as bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes. Many of these organisms are essential for building healthy and resilient soil systems, which give us healthy and resilient plants in return. Organisms like mycorrhizal fungi, for instance, will attach to a plant’s root and effectively become a root itself, transferring nutrients and capturing water through a symbiotic relationship. Certain types of bacteria in the soil can transform unavailable forms of nutrients (such as nitrogen) into a form the plant can then uptake. Healthy soils will also contain various macroorganisms. These are organisms you can see in the soil without a microscope, such as earthworms. Macroorganisms, called shredders, help break down detritus on top of the soil and pull/incorporate organic matter and nutrients into the subsurface layers of the soil. Earthworms create pore spaces within the soil which bring air to the subsurface and create voids where roots can grow. They also promote a nutrient-rich casting called globules which help with the aggregate stability of the soil. All these organisms and many more play a role in soil health and sustainability and should be looked after as one would look after their traditional livestock. Cover cropping, no tilling, avoiding compaction, and increasing biodiversity are among the main strategies to keeping your soil and soil-livestock healthy. #### Attend Animal Mortality Composting Certification July 10 Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD) is hosting an Animal Mortality Composting Certification class on July 10, 2024, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at 1495 W. Longview Ave Mansfield, Ohio. Before you compost dead livestock, you must obtain an Animal Mortality Composting Certification. The certification is a legal requirement per the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Rule 901: 13: 1 – 13. The complete Rule is found at https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code/chapter-901:13-1. The Certification presenter is Glen Arnold with the Hancock County Ohio State University Extension. Mr. Arnold has specialized in manure nutrient management since 2012. His work has involved subsurface swine manure applications into wheat, side dressing corn with liquid livestock manure on emerged corn and replacing commercial side dress nitrogen with liquid manure on emerged corn. The cost to attend the Certification is $15.00 per person and includes pizza, a copy of Mr. Arnold’s material, and a certificate showing proof of certification. Reservations and payment is due by July 8. To register for the certification please send an email to Wallace.Matt@richlandswcd.net or call 419.747.8687 with your name, organization name, phone number, email address and animal species. Make payment payable to Richland SWCD and mailed, or dropped off at the Richland SWCD office located at 1495 W. Longview Avenue, Suite 205B, Mansfield, OH 44906. Questions may be directed to Matt. #### Blue is the New Yellow – Stormwater Program Notes A good-looking bunch. Credit: Richland SWCD Why Are We So Blue? We recently traded our old, yellow, high-visibility vests for new blue ones with our logo! These vests will help keep us safe and stand out when we do stormwater inspections or other fieldwork. Our Stormwater Technicians regularly inspect permitted projects, visiting projects in all 18 townships about once every other month. They also inspect storm sewer outfalls. If you see the blue vest, know that Richland Soil & Water is hard at work! Busy With Stormwater Permitting This quarter, our office issued 87 residential permits (this includes all residential & agricultural permits, fee exemptions, and permit exemptions), up from 66 last quarter. We also issued 6 commercial permits. We’re as busy as ever. Richland Soil & Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD) manages Richland County’s Stormwater Management and Sediment Control Regulations. For more info, click on the link below. Richland SWCD’s Stormwater Permit Page A dry weather screening in progress. Credit: Richland SWCD Successful Screenings – MS4/NPDES Update This quarter we focused on conducting dry weather screening of stormwater outfalls in Madison Township as part of our ongoing MS4 efforts. We successfully screened 4 outfalls for signs of illicit discharge or pollution. These screenings are an essential part of our work to ensure stormwater runoff remains clean and free from harmful pollutants. We only have 6 more dry weather screenings to complete this permit term! The MS4/NPDES permit is a crucial regulatory measure designed to manage and reduce pollution from stormwater runoff in urbanized areas. For more information, click on the links below. Richland SWCD’s MS4 Page More on MS4s from Penn State #### Brain Games for Sunny Days Spring 2025 Answers Spring 2025 Crossword AnswersDownload Spring 2025 Word Search AnswersDownload New Summer Puzzles Summer 25 CrosswordDownload Summer 25 WordsearchDownload #### Building Conservation Knowledge through Student Competitions By Matt Wallace On September 12 Richland SWCD and the Richland County office of the United States Department of Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) co-hosted the 2025 Land Judging Contest. Jordan Miller, Soil Conservationist from USDA-NRCS, and I oversaw the contest. This year we had four schools participate in the contest, which was held at Malabar Farm State Park, with a total of 47 students competing in the contest. The top students from each school will continue onto the District 2 Land Judging Contest with the opportunity to move onto the State Land Judging Contest. Students preparing for the competition Students judging one of three test pits Matt Wallace and Jordan Miller presenting the results On September 18, Richland SWCD hosted the 2025 District 2 Forestry Contest for the first time since 2008. 150 students from a multitude of schools competed in equipment identification, chainsaw part identification, tree identification, timber cruising, general knowledge, timber stand improvement, as well as tree and forest problem identification. The top team will go on to the State Forestry Contest held later this month at the Hocking College campus. The District 2 contest was held at the picturesque Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District’s (MWCD) Pleasant Hill State Park with the assistance of the Park Manager, Aaron Miller, and his staff. Without their assistance this contest would not have been as successful as it was. We thank the MWCD staff for all of their assistance, and we look forward to working with them on this contest again next year. Equipment identification table Chainsaw part identification table #### Buzzing Brain Games New Spring Puzzles Spring 26 CrosswordDownload Spring 26 Word SearchDownload Solutions to Winter Puzzles Winter 26 Crossword AnswersDownload Winter 26 Word Search AnswersDownload #### Catch Us at the Richland County Fair: Stormwater, Games and More! While at the Richland County Fair, join us behind the Nature Park stage to learn about stormwater management. We’ll be sharing simple steps you can take to prevent stormwater pollution and protect our waterways. Plus, play our stormwater cornhole game to see how polluted stormwater can change clear water into water you don’t want to swim in, bathe with or drink. The Nature Park exhibit space is open from 11:00am to 7:00pm daily, and we hope you stop by to visit with us and other exhibitors like Richland County Solid Waste Management Authority, Richland County Master Gardeners, Richland County Park District, Mansfield Litter Prevention and the Richland Area Beekeepers.  Stormwater Cornhole at Richland SWCD’s 2025 Soil Open House Richland County Fairgrounds Nature Park #### Celebrating 77 Years of Conservation in Richland County By Theresa Sutter We held our annual celebration on September 11, bringing together partners, volunteers, elected officials and community members to share the District’s mission and the past year’s accomplishments. The celebration included recognition of outstanding contributions, highlights of the District’s impact and the re-election of Leonard Fox to our Board of Supervisors. The Ohio State University at Mansfield Recognized as the 2025 Cooperator of the Year The Ohio State University at Mansfield was awarded the Cooperator of the Year award for their work at the EcoLab. In addition to their efforts being recognized by the District, the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA), Ohio Senator Mark Romachuk, Ohio Representative Marilyn John, Richland County Commissioners and Mansfield Mayor Jodie Perry provided proclamations, commendations and certificates of accomplishment. The award was accepted by Dr. Jason Opal, Dean and Director at The Ohio State University, and accompanied by Cynthia Callahan, Associate Dean of Student Enrichment and Professor of English and Gabriel Karns, Assistant Professor School of Environment and Natural Resources and EcoLab Director.  The EcoLab at The Ohio State University at Mansfield campus is an umbrella term inclusive of all the outdoor assets on campus.  Among other features, the Ecolab consists of a maple research sugarbush complete with maple syrup production, woodland and wildlife management showcase areas, Right-of-Way Pollinator demonstration plots, vernal pools, hiking trails with interpretive signage and the Grant and Mary Milliron Research Wetlands and Classroom. The EcoLab provides educational workshops and programs to the public. It also fosters partnerships with public and private entities on a range of natural resource and environmental topics. Dr. Jason Opal said The Ohio State University at Mansfield is intentional and forthright about their moral and ethical responsibilities to take care of the campus.  Congratulations to the Ohio State University at Mansfield on receiving this distinguished award and for being a good steward and example to others about responsible land management and education. L to R: Gabe Karns, Cynthia Callahan, Dr. Jason Opal, Matt Christian and Commissioner Banks Volunteer Impact & Volunteer of the Year Volunteers help monitor streams, lakes and precipitation. They volunteer at workshops, community events, photography and in the office. So far this year, 72 volunteers have donated over 2,000 hours and saved the general fund approximately $ 69,000.  Thank you, volunteers!  We appreciate the hard work and dedication of all volunteers, but each year we recognize an exceptional individual who has gone above and beyond to help us achieve our mission.  We’re thrilled to announce this year’s Volunteer of the Year recipient is Elaine Oswald. 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. Her contribution to the District was also recognized at the Annual Celebration by the Richland County Commissioners, Ohio Senator Mark Romanchuk, Ohio Representative Marilyn John and Mansfield Mayor Jodie Perry. Congratulations and thank you for volunteering with us, Elaine! Elaine with Commissioner Banks and RSWCD Director Matt Christian #### Clean and Green: How to Prevent Plastic Pollution Single Use Plastics In 2024, the focus of the MS4/NPDES permit theme is Pollution Prevention, highlighting its crucial role in protecting public health, preserving aquatic ecosystems, and ensuring clean water for future generations. Along with regulatory efforts, reducing the usage of single-use plastics emerges as a pivotal strategy in combating pollution. These plastics significantly contribute to stormwater pollution often ending up in waterways, where they harm wildlife and degrade ecosystems. Examples of single-use plastics include take-out containers, straws, cups/bottles, and grocery bags. When aquatic organisms encounter these items, studies show they frequently ingest them, mistaking them for food, or become ensnared. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes, “Scientists have observed ingestion or entanglement in plastic waste by at least 558 species” with this number expected to rise as more waste enters water bodies. Most plastics are non-biodegradable, breaking down into smaller pieces known as microplastics that persist indefinitely. National Geographic reports, “Microplastics have been found in marine life ranging from plankton to whales, in commercial seafood, and even in drinking water.” The impacts of microplastics are still being studied, but both aquatic animals and humans inadvertently consume them, posing a significant environmental and health concern. What Can You Do? How can individuals help prevent plastic pollution? Simple actions like recycling plastics and reducing your reliance on single-use plastics can make a profound difference. Opt for reusable grocery totes instead of plastic bags, switch to reusable water bottles instead of disposable ones, and explore alternatives like reusable sandwich bags, wraps, and straws. Going further, consider picking up plastic litter in your surroundings with gloves to prevent it from reaching waterways. Together, these efforts can significantly decrease plastic pollution in our waters and contribute to safeguarding aquatic environments for future generations. More info below! Click or tap! Our NPDES/MS4 Page More on Microplastics (National Geographic) More on Aquatic Trash (US EPA) #### Coming Soon: Events to Keep on Your Radar! Upcoming Events Sep 2 September 2 – October 1 Board Supervisor Election Sep 23 9:00 am – 10:00 am Board Supervisor Meeting Oct 1 11:30 am – 1:00 pm Annual Celebration Oct 12 All day Office Closed in Observance of Columbus Day Oct 13 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Conservation Creations Arts & Crafts Workshop: Things That Go Bump in the Night Oct 28 9:00 am – 10:00 am Board Supervisor Meeting Nov 11 All day Office Closed in Observance of Veterans Day Nov 25 9:00 am – 10:00 am Board Supervisor Meeting Nov 26 November 26 – November 27 Office Closed in Observance of Thanksgiving Dec 23 9:00 am – 10:00 am Board Supervisor Meeting View Calendar For our full list of upcoming events – including Board Supervisor meetings – go to our calendar by clicking the button below! Calendar of Events #### Conservation in Action! – Agriculture Program Notes H2Ohio Wraps Up for 2023 Program Year In H2Ohio, verifications for one year of the program don’t wrap up until halfway through the next. That is why we are sharing 2023’s impact instead of 2024’s. The Ohio Department of Agriculture designated over $2.7 million for Richland County farmers in H2Ohio. 2023 appropriated cost share alone totaled nearly $700,000. Our participating farmers worked hard in 2023 as you can see from the impact infographics below. Overall, H2Ohio farmers received north of $320,000 in cost share last year. The total cost share paid to date totals over $700,000. As we look ahead to the coming years we are excited to announce that 11 new producers were signed up for H2Ohio this year! This brings the total cropland acres enrolled through Richland County to 25,500, the most we have had since the program began! All numbers are approximate For more information on H2Ohio, visit these links! Our H2Ohio Page H2Ohio.gov Credit: Greg LaBarge, OSU Extension Agriculture Best Management Practice Highlight: Grassed Waterways Ever pass a farm field and wonder why a seemingly random strip of grass runs through the middle of it? Chances are, you are looking at a grassed waterway.   When a whole field is tilled and planted, there may be areas where two hill slopes come together (called a swale). When it rains, water will naturally flow to these swales and eventually to a stream or creek. In conventional cropping and tillage systems, these areas can erode into gullies and are difficult or impossible to cross with farm equipment. Furthermore, they will continue to erode as water carries the soil away. Grassed waterways are engineered, shallow grassed channels designed to handle concentrated water flows. The grass slows water down so it is less likely to carve gullies and the grass’s roots help keep the soil in place. If you think your field could benefit from a grassed waterway or two, we can help. Give our office a call at 419-747-8686. Credit: Richland SWCD Seeing Conservation in Action Over the spring/summer, Richland SWCD technicians helped our USDA-NRCS partners by performing practice check-outs. In other words, these practices were completed and needed to be verified that they were done correctly. As a result, our technicians saw some conservation practices in action! Technicians verified 7 acres of Grassed Waterways, 4 acres of Quail Buffer, 5 acres of Hardwood Tree Planting, and 25 acres of Tall Grass Prairie. The practices our technicians verified encompass nearly 40 acres and are helping to reduce soil erosion and promote wildlife habitat and diversity. The United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) offers and administers a wide variety of voluntary, cost-shared conservation practices for farmers to implement on their land and homestead. Richland SWCD technicians assist USDA-NRCS with technical assistance and administrative efforts and are available to help producers interested in programs and practices offered in Richland County. Our technicians also assist those who do not wish to be enrolled in government programs but want to implement conservation practices. Our USDA-NRCS Programs Page USDA-NRCS National Home Page #### Continental Divide Contest Underway While driving around Richland County, have you noticed new green and white signs with Continental Divide and our logo at the top? The signs are part of an initiative to create more awareness of the Continental Divide and watersheds in Richland County. The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) gave us a grant to have road signs printed showing when you are entering and leaving the Lake Erie and Ohio River Watersheds. Richland County Engineer Adam Gove and his staff placed the signs at designated spots along the Divide line. To further increase awareness, enter the Continental Divide Contest. All you need to do is take a selfie with your smartphone at a sign, post it to social media with the sign location and #RCD. Because we are expected to be in the path of the total solar eclipse slated for April 8, contest participants following the guidelines will receive a free pair of solar eclipse glasses. One entry per person due to the limited supplies of glasses. Glasses are available while supplies last and may be picked up at the office. To help with the contest and learn more about the Continental Divide in Richland County, visit our Drive the Continental Divide web page. The signs are one example of how we partner with other organizations for the betterment of the county. Thank you to MWCD and the Richland County Engineering Department to help bring the signs into fruition. #### Cover Crops at Work By Jordan Keller With assistance from the Ohio Department of Agriculture and cooperation from a local producer, Richland SWCD installed two overwintering cover crop demonstration plots after the harvest of a soybean crop in Fall of 2025. Following harvest, the field was lightly tilled by the producer to allow for better seed-soil contact. On September 24, 2025, we broadcast a rye/oat cover crop mix at a rate of ~60 pounds per acre (lbs/ac) across 0.1ac of the lightly tilled farmland. Then on October 8, 2025, we broadcast a rye-only cover crop at ~60lbs/ac on a 0.1ac plot directly adjacent to the first plot. The plots were monitored bi-weekly until going dormant at the end of November. The following is what we’ve observed so far: We initially had some volunteer soybeans act as a cover crop while our first planting of rye/oats got established. The volunteer soybeans died back after the first hard frost. The rye broadcast on Oct. 8 did not germinate well and that plot is sparsely covered as a result. Going into dormancy, the rye/oats plot had an estimated coverage of 44% with average height of the rye grass around 7 inches. It does not appear that the oats germinated. The rye-only plot had an estimated coverage of 2% with an average height of 2 inches headed into dormancy. We will revisit the plots this Spring as they come out of dormancy and continue our biweekly monitoring until the cover crops are terminated. For cover crop rates and seeding dates reference NRCS appendix A. The goal of the demonstration is to gain a better understanding of the overall impact of NRCS appendix A (download below) cover crop seeding dates and rates across Ohio. NRCS Appendix A Download #### Cozy up with Winter Puzzles: Solutions and New Brain Teasers Autumn 2024 Solutions New Winter Puzzles Winter CrosswordDownload Winter Word SearchDownload #### Cultivating Health Through Gardening By Sam Foley As winter comes to an end and spring arrives, growers everywhere are planning our plots and taking inventory of what we may need for this upcoming season in our gardens. Many of us are looking forward to being out in the sun and getting an increase in vitamin D. The winter blues are a real thing and what better way to break out of them than working outside in our gardens! There are many health benefits to gardening. It’s a physical activity that can help keep one fit. Digging in the soil and working up a sweat is a great feeling! Watching our plants flourish and eventually harvesting our fruits and vegetables is extremely beneficial to our diets. There’s scientific evidence that getting one’s hands in the soil can greatly benefit our immune systems. For me, the biggest benefit of gardening is the positive impact on my mental health. According to Harvard Health Publishing, gardening can be a mental tonic that soothes mood, sharpens the brain, and can even fertilize relationships. It’s easy to become caught up in the day-to-day hustle of our lives. Using gardening to connect with nature can decrease anxiety, stress, and even depression. In the garden we can become totally immersed in the day’s work of tending to our plants.  Distractions can be set aside temporarily while we sow the seeds of tomorrow’s harvest. Gardening stimulates the brain through focus and memory; even just a quick 20 minutes have been shown to improve brain activity. Gardening can also be a social experience. I’ve recently spoken to two community garden clubs in our county, and the social network I’ve seen is inspiring. These bonds have been built over the years and it’s a great opportunity to stay in touch with friends. Also, what better way to be a good friend than to share your bountiful harvest? Richland SWCD photo For me, just writing these articles has opened so many conversations with local growers and gardeners. Sharing our experiences and ideas with each other helps build relationships and teaches us all to be better gardeners. Chatting with folks who bring in soil samples and discussing the reports puts a huge smile on my face. I appreciate everyone who follows along with my articles and look forward to hearing about how gardening has enhanced your life and well-being! Learn More: Harvard Health Publishing #### Cultivating Minds Project Fosters Environmental and Agricultural Education Richland Soil and Water Conservation District and the Richland County Farm Bureau donated three environmental and agricultural literacy kits for Richland County elementary schools and the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library.  The kits provide a turnkey lesson plan for kindergarten through sixth-grade educators to instruct students about natural resources, food and agriculture. The kits include children’s books, lesson plans and items needed for an activity. A total of 75 kits were distributed throughout the county in December and this month. Volunteers Candy Brenner, Ella Hafenstein, Robert Donaldson, and Marilyn Roe, in addition to Richland County Farm Bureau volunteers helped assemble the kits and delivered them to schools. Individuals, homeschoolers, homeschool groups, scout troops, 4-H clubs and church groups are invited to check out the kits through the MRCPL. Financial support for the Cultivating Minds Project was provided by the Richland County Foundation Gift of Grain Fund, Richland County Youth and Family Council, private donations, and MRCPL. A private RSWCD donor assembled and funded an additional kit that simulates stream monitoring in an indoor setting. “Water Quality? Ask the Bugs” is a Project Wet lesson for middle and high school students. It may be checked out through MRCPL. Principal Libby Nickoli of Butler Elementary and a preschool student Kit Titles and Descriptions are provided below: Freddy the Fish: K – 6 grades Participants listen to the story of Freddy the Fish. He decides to travel downstream and witnesses pollution being dumped into his environment. Students are asked how Freddy feels as more pollution is added and come to realize that pollution can add up and impact our environment. Depending on the age of the participants, they can read the story and/or pour the pollutants in the fishbowl to add additional interaction. Let’s Raise a Barn: 3 – 5 grades Participants listen to Barn at Night, a book about an after-dark journey out to the barn on a cold winter evening. The students learn about different types of barns and design a barn to meet the needs of a specific farm animal. Search for the Source: K – 2 and 3 – 5 grades Participants listen to Right This Very Minute, a table-to-farm book about food and farming. The instructor engages students in discussion about everyday items. Relay teams fill the Source Baskets with pictures of items and discuss the true source of the items. For additional information, please contact Theresa. We also welcome discussions focused on other opportunities to work with young people. #### Did You Know that You Can Preserve Farmland in Ohio? Ohio’s Historic Family Farm Program Has your farm been in your family for more than a century? Would you like to preserve and honor that history? If so, Ohio’s Historic Family Farm Program might be a good choice. There are three designations for historic farms in Ohio: Century Farms (in the family for 100-146 years), Sesquicentennial Farms (in the family for 150-199 years), and Bicentennial Farms (200+ years in the family). For more information, you can call the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) at 614-752-4505 or email them (see below). agcentury@agri.ohio.gov Farmland Preservation Program Do you want to preserve your farmland as an agricultural asset in your community, in perpetuity? If so, look into the Farmland Preservation Program offered by the Ohio Department of Agriculture and sponsored by your local Soil and Water Conservation District. This program has two options for preservation: Clean Ohio Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (LEAPP) where you compete in a ranking process to enter the program. Agricultural Easement Donation Program (AEDP), which includes some tax benefits. There are similar programs offered by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS). You can enroll in them at the same time as ODA’s programs. Contact us or the Farm Service Agency for more information. #### Don’t Miss Out! Highlighted upcoming events for October, November, December, and January For our full list of upcoming events – including Board Supervisor meetings – go to our calendar by following the link at the bottom of this page! October Fri, Oct. 18 & Sat, Oct. 19 @ 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm The Great Pumpkin Glow & Children’s Carnival @ Kingwood Center Come find our booth on the first two days of this event for some Halloween fun! Admission is required for Kingwood’s event. Click here for more info on the Great Pumpkin Glow! November Mon. Nov. 18 @ 7:00 am to Tue. Dec. 3 @ 6:59 am Richland Gives: Early Giving Richland Gives is a local online giving campaign held once a year. It encourages people to contribute to local non-profits. Thanks to previous generous donors, Richland SWCD has benefited from this campaign. Want to donate to Richland SWCD or learn how to maximize your donation? See the links below! Donate to Richland SWCD! Info on Giving and Maximizing Your Donation Wed. Nov. 13 @ 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Cancelled: Stupendous Soils Open House Join us for some soil-themed fun for the whole family! Learn about soil health, watch out for hanging undies, and eat dirt (pudding)! The event is FREE and will be held at the Longview Center – 1495 W. Longview Ave, Mansfield. Contact us for more information. Tue. Dec. 3 @ 7:00 am – 7:00 pm Richland Gives: Day of Giving Richland Gives is a local online giving campaign held once a year. It encourages people to contribute to local non-profits. Thanks to previous generous donors, Richland SWCD has benefited from this campaign. Want to donate to Richland SWCD or learn how to maximize your donation? See the links below! Donate to Richland SWCD! Info on Giving and Maximizing Your Donation Our Full Calendar of Events Click here for Calendar! #### Educating the Educators: Realtors and Permitting Pleasant Hill Dam & Reservoir. Credit: Richland SWCD On August 8, we presented information on Richland County’s stormwater permitting process during a Lunch & Learn hosted by the Mansfield Association of Realtors. The purpose of the Lunch & Learn was to educate local realtors on the intricacies of permitting in the county so that they may better assist their clients. Also presenting was US Army Corps of Engineers Realty Specialist Eric Dowing who provided participants information on the Army Corps’ flowage easements. According to the Army Corp, flowage easements are non-federal lands where the U.S. Government has acquired rights to back up water if necessary (to a certain elevation). Flowage easements exist in Richland County and stretch for miles upstream from the Charles Mill and Pleasant Hill Dams. Knowledge of flowage easements is critical because land use within the easement is heavily restricted. Thank you to the Mansfield Association of Realtors for hosting the event and allowing us to speak with their members about permitting in Richland County! #### Election Notice The Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Commission will cause an election of Supervisors of the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) to be held in accordance with Chapter 940 of the Ohio Revised Code. Individuals who own or occupy land within the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District and are 18 years of age or older may vote for Supervisor. There are 3 ways an eligible voter can cast a ballot: 1.) At the SWCD office, 1495 W. Longview Avenue; Suite 205-B, Mansfield, from 8/14/2025 until 9/11/2025 during normal business hours; or 2.) At the SWCD Annual Meeting, which will take place at Area Agency on Aging- Hawkins Center located at 2131 Park Avenue West, Ontario  on 9/11/2025 from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM ; or 3.) Voting absentee from 8/14/2025 until 9/4/2025, by requesting the ballot application and election ballot from the SWCD office at the following address 1495 W. Longview Ave; Suite 205-B, Mansfield, OH 44906, by calling 419-747-8686, or email election@richlandswcd.net. Absentee ballots must be received by the SWCD office by 9/11/2025 at  8:30 AM.                                                                        Supervisors will be elected to a three‐year term commencing January 1, 2026 and ending December 31, 2028. The Board of Supervisors create an annual and long-term plan of operation that protects the District’s mission and vision and are interested, conservation-minded, local leaders who promote conservation of the county’s natural resources through education, planning and technical assistance which are key to the success of the District. Supervisors are elected to a three-year term as a public official and serve without pay. Supervisors advocate for the District, attend and participate in monthly board meetings, assist with District programs and services and attend area and state meetings. Nominees are: Leonard N. Fox Mr. Leonard Fox #### Extra! Extra! Fun Activities! Click the buttons below to download and print these word puzzles and have some fun! Hint: you’ll need to do a little searching in this issue to help with the crossword puzzle. Download Word Search Download Crossword #### Fall Into Fun Puzzles Summer 2025 Answers Summer 25 Crossword AnswersDownload Summer 25 Wordsearch AnswersDownload Fall 2025 Puzzles Autumn 25 CrosswordDownload Autumn 25 Word SearchDownload #### Falling Into Autumn Events Upcoming Events Sep 2 September 2 – October 1 Board Supervisor Election Sep 23 9:00 am – 10:00 am Board Supervisor Meeting Oct 1 11:30 am – 1:00 pm Annual Celebration Oct 12 All day Office Closed in Observance of Columbus Day Oct 13 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Conservation Creations Arts & Crafts Workshop: Things That Go Bump in the Night Oct 28 9:00 am – 10:00 am Board Supervisor Meeting Nov 11 All day Office Closed in Observance of Veterans Day Nov 25 9:00 am – 10:00 am Board Supervisor Meeting Nov 26 November 26 – November 27 Office Closed in Observance of Thanksgiving Dec 23 9:00 am – 10:00 am Board Supervisor Meeting View Calendar #### Field Nutrients & Floodplains By Matt Wallace Field Nutrients and You Application of nutrients prior to planting is common and may be seen throughout farm fields in Richland County. It is recommended that nutrients be placed on your field and tilled into the soil before you plant. If that can’t be done, apply nutrients once the crop begins to grow. Both options allow for the biggest return on your investment (fuel, time, wear and tear on equipment) and the best chance for waterways to not be polluted. Placing manure on snow covered, frozen, or rain-saturated ground is discouraged. Nutrients produced on your farm or brought in from other sources can readily leave your farm fields through melting snow or saturated soils.  A good rule of thumb is to not apply nutrients when there is a chance of a half inch of rain or more. Winter applications are only recommended if there isn’t any more manure storage space available. In that case, only apply enough to free up the amount of storage space needed. Additional best management practices include looking for tile blowouts and fixing them before nutrient application. During drier times when soil may be deeply cracked, utilize a tillage implement to close the soil cracks and keep nutrients from directly accessing field tiles. Setbacks are highly recommended by the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) to keep your nutrients on fields. The recognized setback standards to follow may be found in the United States Department of Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) 590-CSP-1 document. Click on the link below to access the document, pick up a copy in our office, or request it be emailed. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/guides-and-instructions/nutrient-management-ac-590-conservation-practice-standard Richland SWCD photo Floodplain 101 What is a floodplain? A floodplain is an area adjacent to a river, stream, or low-lying area that is adjacent to another water body that becomes overwhelmed with water during times of heavy and/or prolonged rainfall or when snow melts. Typically, these areas contain soils that are nutrient rich and identified as being hydric, or very wet. How are floodplains and maps determined?  These unique areas are determined by multiple factors such as topography, soils, proximity, engineering, historic floods, and photographs of historic floods. Floodplain maps, officially known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM), show areas of high, moderate, and low-flood risk which are shown as series of zones. Communities use maps to set minimum building requirements for coastal areas and floodplains; lenders use them to determine flood insurance needs and costs. Filling and building within the floodplain may come with many challenges which may be costly. Additional requirements for building in a floodplain may include but is not limited to hydraulic/hydrologic studies, additional permits, elevation of entire structures, and additional compaction. These construction standards can influence decisions like “Should I build here? or Should I purchase this property?”. Floodplain layer on the county auditor’s site. Flood zones are in blue. Each municipality and community has a set of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved regulations for their communities designed to help improve the safety of a community’s residents and plan future development. Regulations vary within Richland County due to each municipality adopting their own regulations.  Check the regulations of the municipality under consideration before purchasing or developing property.  Richland Soil and Water Conservation District serves as the Floodplain Administrator and Floodplain Manager for Richland County.  We encourage you to reach out to us before purchasing or developing a property. For a location of the flood zones in Richland County, visit  https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home. #### From Planning to Prevention: Spring MS4 Update By Zoe Baumberger The first quarter of 2026 focused on behind-the-scenes administrative work to prepare not only for the year ahead, but for the 2026-2030 permit term. This included submitting our annual report to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and closing out a successful 2025. Sam and I also created a map of the post-construction BMPs we’ll be inspecting this permit term. It was a bit of an undertaking and we’re proud of the result. Another key focus of Q1 was developing goals for the new permit cycle. We plan to update our outfall maps and collaborate with partner organizations to create new opportunities for public education and involvement. We have clear goals for the next permit terms and are excited to see them come to fruition. As spring arrives washing the winter salt off your car is a good maintenance practice. However, when you wash your car in your driveway or on other impervious surfaces, soap, oil, dirt, and salt can run off into storm drains. Runoff from vehicle washes can contain high amounts of nutrients, metals, and hydrocarbons that adversely affect aquatic ecosystems. What goes down the drain goes into the environment! So what can you do to protect local waters? Go to a commercial car wash facility that treats wash water Use a biodegradable, phosphate-free, water-based detergent Limit the amount of detergent used Wash cars in the yard Direct wash water to pervious areas like grass or gravel Use a car wash kit to protect nearby storm drains from wash water Together we can ensure that only rain goes down the storm drain! Learn more about green vehicle maintenance and car washing here: https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2023-01/bmp-vehicle-maintenance-and-washing.pdf #### From the News Desk Grant to Help Cultivate Young Minds in Richland County The Richland County Foundation Gift of Grain Fund Committee has awarded a grant to support Richland SWCD. The grant will fund a collaborative project called Cultivating Minds that brings together Richland SWCD, Richland County Farm Bureau, and the Mansfield Richland County Public Library. It will provide three agricultural and environmental literacy kits to every elementary school in Richland County and at the Mansfield-Richland County Public Library’s main branch. The goal is to teach elementary youth about agriculture, food, and natural resources. The agricultural kits include a children’s book, a teacher’s guide, and all items needed for a classroom activity. A total of 75 kits will be distributed throughout the county. Many thanks to the Richland County Foundation for making this possible! It’s Easy to Support Us With Richland Gives Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD) has served Richland County landowners since 1948—that’s 76 years! However, we have not made it this far without help. Richland Gives is a local online giving campaign held once a year. It encourages people to contribute to local non-profits. The Richland County Foundation hosts this campaign to grow philanthropy and strengthen the community. Thanks to generous, past donors, Richland SWCD has benefited from Richland Gives. We have turned some donations into grants for soil testing, rain barrels, and native seeds and plants. Donors like you can help us continue to provide a wide range of services – both technical and educational – to the residents of Richland County and conserve our natural resources. For more information, see the infographic or click the link below to the Richland Foundation. To give to Richland SWCD through the Richland Gives website, click on the GIVE link. Richland Gives Website – Richland County Foundation GIVE to Richland SWCD! #### From Volunteer Roots to Intern Boots: Welcome Daniel! We’re excited to welcome Daniel Karger, our new marketing intern, to the team! Daniel is a student at Ashland University where he is majoring in Marketing. He enjoys playing soccer, guitar and photography. He’ll be assisting us with graphic design, social media, promoting our programs to the community and more. He is the grandson of Donald and Roberta Karger. Donald is a Precipitation Monitor Volunteer for the District. We’re thrilled to have Daniel on board and can’t wait to see the creative ideas he brings to the table!  #### Fun Was Had on the Farm, Despite the Rain The Family Fun on the Farm Festival has been a Richland County tradition for four years. The event offers a family friendly and accessible atmosphere where visitors can learn about farm life, where their food comes from, and conservation. Visitors can learn to shoot arrows at the Ohio Department of Natural Resource’s (ODNR) archery trailer, go fishing in the pond below Louis Bromfield’s house, go on a wagon ride, get up close and personal with farm animals, and interact with local organizations (including yours truly, Richland Soil & Water Conservation District! – or Richland SWCD for short) Of course, everyone’s hope for an event as big as this one is for perfect weather. Unfortunately, there was no such cooperation from Mother Nature. It drizzled on and off during the festival held from noon to 4 pm on Saturday, June 29. It even poured once. However, despite the bummer weather, the Festival was still a huge success. Approximately three hundred people came out from the community to brave the rain. Smiles were still lighting up on kids faces as they planted their own green beans or got a fun farm animal stamp at the Richland SWCD booth. Visitors were very thankful we held the festival, co-sponsored with Malabar Farm State Park, and told us so. To all our partners who stood out in the weather for a few hours on a Saturday, thank you! Special thanks needs to go out to Malabar Farm State Park, ODNR, their respective staff and the many volunteers who hosted and assisted. And to our soggy but happy visitors, hats off to you. You are the reason we do what we do. The wagon ride! Getting up close with farmlife. Hoping for the big catch. Each vendor had a little activity or fun giveaway. Wet but smiling! Excited for hand stamps and stickers. #### Growing Participation, Growing Impact: H2Ohio Fall Update By Jordan Keller Happy Harvest Season! The deadline for H2Ohio participation in Crop Years 2026-2027 was September 15th, 2025. I am pleased to report that we have enrolled 40 producers with 31,367.8 acres through the Richland SWCD office. This is roughly a 45% increase from initial acreage enrollment numbers in 2021! Approximately 2,800 acres were added on the September 15th deadline, making for a sprint to the finish line. Next, we will be working with crop advisors and ag retailers to develop our H2Ohio participants 2026/2027 nutrient management plans by uploading soil test data and cropping information onto the MyFarms platform. I am currently working on wrapping up 2025 H2Ohio practice verifications as we make the transition to the 2026/2027 contracts. ODA Cover Crop Demonstration Plot With assistance from ODA and cooperation from a local producer, Richland SWCD will be doing a cover crop demonstration plot after harvest in 2025. We plan on hitting two cover crop seeding windows across an ~25’ x 350’ area. The first seeding window started on Sept. 21. On Sept. 23rd we broadcasted a rye/oat mix. Between Oct. 4– Nov. 1 we will be broadcasting straight rye. Cover crop rates and seeding dates reference NRCS appendix A. The goal of the demonstration is to gain a better understanding of the overall impact of NRCS cover crop seeding dates across Ohio. Jordan broadcasting rye and oat seeds Sowed rye and oat seeds #### H2Ohio Guidance for Cover Crops and Contract Renewal As the 2025 planting season is (hopefully) winding down, we’re also winding down on our 2025 practices. This will ultimately bring our first multi-year H2Ohio contracts to an end. If a producer is interested in continuing with the program in 2026/2027, there is some important information regarding cover crops after 2025 harvest. There are a couple of options/scenarios to consider: If planning cover crops this fall for your current H2Ohio contract but you do NOT want to re-enroll for Crop Years 26/27 (CY26/27): You don’t need to do anything other than let Jordan know you won’t be participating in H2Ohio for CY 26/27. If you’re planning cover crops this fall and you plan on enrolling in H2Ohio for Crop Years 26/27: Let Jordan know. We’ll need to do a termination agreement after all other 2025 practices have been completed. This will cancel the cover crop practice for CY25 on your existing H2Ohio contract and we’ll enroll those fields for a CY26 Cover Crop under the new H2Ohio contract for CY26/27. The benefit of doing things this way: The existing contracted payment for an overwintering cover crop is $25/acre. That same ground going into a cover crop this fall on a CY26 contract will pay $40/ac for cover crops on the same date you’d expect to start seeing payments go out on an existing contract CY25 cover crop (i.e. after March 15, 2026). A difference of +$15/ac for the same ground paid at the same time you would have received a CY25 cover crop payment. Crop Year 2026/2027 Manure Update 2026/2027 Manure Incorporation & Utilization If you’re planning on enrolling in the manure incorporation & utilization practice for CY26/27, there have been some changes from the current contract’s practice standard for manure incorporation. The practice is now called manure incorporation & utilization and has added ways for no-till operations to receive a manure utilization payment. Please take a look at the practice standard on our website or contact Jordan for a copy if you’re considering manure incorporation/utilization in CY26/27. Signups for H2Ohio Crop Years 2026/2027 (CY26/27) Continue Through Early August The application for H2Ohio CY26/27 is available now on our website. You can also email Jordan for a copy or with any questions about the program. Contracts for CY26/27 will start rolling out in late August 2025. Please submit your application and begin gathering the following information for nutrient management planning and development on the MyFarms platform: Up-to-date soil test information (i.e. 4 years old or newer). For CY 2026 soil test information from 2022-on are acceptable, for CY 2027 soil tests from 2023-on are acceptable. Planned crop types for CY26/27. Field maps for the eligible ground you’re interested in enrolling in H2Ohio (or field boundary files from your CCA or agronomist.) Prescriptions or fertility plan for CY26/27. *The soil test data, crop rotations, field boundaries/maps and fertility plan aren’t required to be submitted with the application, however, this information will need to be submitted prior to the contracting period coming August 2025. Also available on the website are the practice standards and work plans for CY26/27. The practice standards are the minimum requirements that producers need to meet in order to receive payment for completing the practices. Work plans were designed to help producers successfully implement the practices. If you’re interested in enrolling in H2Ohio for Crop Years 2026/2027, please submit your application as soon as possible. There is an enrollment cap of 800,000 total acres in the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) program area with the 2026/2027 contracts. As a reminder, Richland County is on the WLEB H2Ohio schedule meaning acres in the following counties will be eligible to enroll through our office for crop years 2026/27: Crawford, Erie, Huron, Marion, Ottawa, Richland, Sandusky, Seneca, Shelby, & Wyandot. If you have any questions about the program or application, please do not hesitate to contact Jordan. #### H2Ohio Program Updates: Important Reminders H2Ohio Reminders We’ve met with all of our current participants in the H2Ohio program and have been gathering the necessary information to verify crop year 2024 practices. 2024 Nutrient Management Documentation: If you have any outstanding documentation needed to complete crop year 2024 nutrient management, please get it to us as soon as possible. DEADLINE: January 31 – Last day to turn in information for 2024 Cover Crops/2024 Small Grain maps/locations: We have set a strict deadline for gathering cover crop and small grain establishment locations – January 31, 2025. Please provide us with planting maps or field names/locations by this date. This includes new producers to the program for crop year 2025 who planted overwintering cover crops by November 1, 2024. DEADLINE: March 15 – 2024 Cover crop, 2024 Small Grains, and 2024 Forage documents: March 15, 2025 is the last day to turn in 2024 cover crop/2024 forage seed tags, bills, tests, and/or total weight, and double crop seed bills (if you planted a double crop behind your 2024 small grains). Practice Specific Reminders Cover Crops Cover crops must be maintained until March 15. No fall or winter full-width tillage is permitted. Strip-till and tilling are allowed, but producers may not work-down tile lines until after March 15. Crop can be harvested as a forage or grazed after March 15. Manure and/or fertilizer, based on voluntary nutrient management plans (VNMP) can resume after March 15. Small Grains No full-width tillage or any Phosphorus-containing fertilizer and/or manure applications are allowed after the cover crop is planted or the double crop is harvested or until March 15. Exceptions apply for tile work and strip tillage fertilizer placement. Forage Requirements Forage fields shall be maintained until March 15. This means no full-width tillage and no Phosphorus-containing fertilizer and/or manure applications during this period.  Exceptions apply for tile work and strip tillage fertilizer placement. Payment will not be made if the overwintering forage residue is too close cut. The standard says that residue must be a minimum of 4 inches tall by October 15 each year. Payments for forages are to be made in the spring of the year following establishment and every spring it’s enrolled as a forage thereafter. Soil Tests for Nutrient Management Soil tests cannot be older than 4 years. If you are not on a regular schedule, please make sure that you check which fields require updated soil tests this fall. **As an H2Ohio participant, you are responsible for following the standards/guidelines for the above practices. If you need additional copies of the practice standards, we are happy to supply them. ** #### H2Ohio Sign-ups Open for Crop Years 2026/2027 Sign-ups for H2Ohio Crop Years 2026/2027 (CY26/27) have officially begun! The application for H2Ohio CY26/27 is available now on our website. Contracts will roll out in late summer/early fall 2025. Please submit your application and begin gathering the following information for nutrient management planning and development on the MyFarms platform: Up-to-date soil test information (i.e. 4 years old or newer). For CY26 soil test information from 2022-on are acceptable, for CY27 soil tests from 2023-on are acceptable. Planned crop rotations for CY26/27. Field maps for the ground you’re interested in enrolling in H2Ohio (and/or Field boundary files from your cca or agronomist). .If you want to get ahead of the game: prescriptions or fertility plan for CY26/27. Also available on the website are the practice standards and work plans for CY 26/27. The practice standards are the minimum requirements that you’ll need to meet to receive payment for completing the practices. Work plans were designed to help producers successfully implement the practices. If you’re interested in enrolling in H2Ohio for Crop Years 2026/2027, please submit your application as soon as possible. The soil test data, crop rotations and maps aren’t required to be submitted with the application, however, this information will need to be submitted prior to the contracting period coming late summer/early fall 2025. Richland County is still on the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) H2Ohio schedule meaning land in the following counties will be eligible to enroll through our office for crop year 2026/2027: Crawford, Erie, Huron, Marion, Ottawa, Richland, Sandusky, Seneca, Shelby, & Wyandot. If you have any questions about the program or application, please do not hesitate to contact Jordan at Keller.Jordan@RichlandSWCD.net or 419-747-8688. #### H2Ohio Spring Stats By Jordan Keller 2022-2025 Our initial H2Ohio contracts were completed upon verification of all practices with the latest practice for these contracts ending in March 2026. Practice completion rates and incentive payments will be calculated and shared at the 2026 Annual celebration this summer. 30 out of 33 producers re-enrolled for H2Ohio crop years 2026-2027. 2026-2027 11 Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMPs) were developed for producers with significant livestock operations. 27 Voluntary Nutrient Management Plans (VNMPs) were developed for producers without livestock. Our 38 H2Ohio producers have signed up 31,046.1ac for crop years 2026/2027. These contracts are projected to bring in 2.98 million dollars in incentive payments to producers who complete the best management practices per the H2Ohio standards. #### Harvesting the Numbers: Fall Stormwater Update By Sam Foley Our third quarter of 2025 brought in quite a few stormwater permits. We issued 5 permits for commercial projects between July 1 and September 30. We also issued 106 residential permits during that same time frame with 63 of those being some sort of exemption. Please remember, if you are moving soil in the unincorporated parts of Richland County you need to consult with us about a stormwater permit to ensure you are following the Stormwater Management and Sediment Control Regulations. And now for a Stormwater Minute: Did you know that the county’s Stormwater Management Regulations have a section outlining the requirements for soil stabilization? We’ve defined soil stabilization as “Vegetative or structural soil cover controlling erosion, including permanent and temporary seed, mulch, sod, netting, jute mat and silt fence.” Temporary stabilization should be provided for rough graded areas that will be idle for longer than 30 days. Upon achieving final grade, permanent stabilization should be installed within seven days. Any portion of a site within 50 feet of a stream, wetland, or other body of water should be stabilized immediately. Be sure to use appropriate measures for the time of year, site conditions, and length of use. If you need advice on seeding schedules, we are always happy to help. As summer ends and cooler weather rolls in, it is an ideal time to plant grass seed and stabilize your site. Please plan accordingly to prevent soil loss and stay in compliance with the Stormwater Management and Sediment Control Regulations. Seeded and mulched site with a silt fence #### Highlighted Upcoming Events – Summer 2024 July | August | September | October For our full list of upcoming events, click on the link to our calendar at the bottom of this page! July Pastures for Profit Grazing School Series Lecture Session #1: Tue. July 23 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Lecture Session #2: Thu. July 25 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Pasture Walk (Session #3): Sat. July 27 @ 9:00 am – 2:00 pm $30 per person covers all 3 days. Registration is requested by July 19. Click here for more info and to register August Mon. Aug. 5 – Fri. Aug 9 @ 11:00 am – 7:00 pm Richland SWCD Booth at the Richland County Fair Come visit us at the Nature Park! Click here for more info Wed. Aug. 28 – Wed. Sept. 25 – Voting open during Richland Soil & Water Conservation District’s business hours of 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, Mon. – Fri. and at the Annual Celebration September 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Board Supervisor Elections Richland Soil & Water Conservation District is under a five-person, publicly elected, supervisory board. Board members serve three-year terms. Richland County residents who are at least 18 and live or own land within the County are eligible to vote in this special general election. Click here for voting info/instructions September Thu. Sept. 26 @ 11:30 am Richland SWCD’s Annual Celebration! Come join us as we celebrate conservation in Richland County and the work we accomplished this past year with our partners and supporters. $20 a person at Area Agency on Aging – 2131 Park Avenue West, Ontario. Click here for more info and to register October Tue. Oct. 8 @ 6: 00 pm – 8:00 pm Conservation Creation Arts & Crafts Workshop: Buckeye Beauties $12 a person; Gorman Nature Center Click here for more info and to register Our Full Calendar of Events Click here for Calendar! #### Hot Days, Cool Events: What’s Happening This Summer Upcoming Events Sep 2 September 2 – October 1 Board Supervisor Election Sep 23 9:00 am – 10:00 am Board Supervisor Meeting Oct 1 11:30 am – 1:00 pm Annual Celebration Oct 12 All day Office Closed in Observance of Columbus Day Oct 13 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Conservation Creations Arts & Crafts Workshop: Things That Go Bump in the Night Oct 28 9:00 am – 10:00 am Board Supervisor Meeting Nov 11 All day Office Closed in Observance of Veterans Day Nov 25 9:00 am – 10:00 am Board Supervisor Meeting Nov 26 November 26 – November 27 Office Closed in Observance of Thanksgiving Dec 23 9:00 am – 10:00 am Board Supervisor Meeting View Calendar #### Hot Weather, Heavy Rains and Ponds With extremely hot weather and heavy rapid rains ponds can get stressed due to the potential for the water column to flip and/or an influx of nutrients from nearby properties. As a result, you might see rapid water level increases and algae or aquatic plants growing. These things may cause an oxygen depletion in the water column and could cause a fish kill. So, the question then becomes how do we fix some of these things? Algae blooms are driven by high nutrient loads within ponds which come from leaves, grass clippings, fertilizers and other material deposited into your pond. While a little bit of this material, commonly known as muck, is normal and can be broken down within the aquatic ecosystem, too much of it can be harmful. How do you tell if you have too much muck in your pond? Simply by walking around the inside edge of your pond! Pay attention to how much you sink into the inky black material and how it envelopes your feet and legs. The deeper you sink, the more of this highly nutritious, nutrient laden muck your pond has. The best way to help your pond digest muck is by adding beneficial bacteria, which are live active bacteria that help break down the muck and restore the volume back in your pond. Often the more muck that is in the pond, the more treatments you will need which are generally completed in the spring and fall of the year. Pond aeration can also help by increasing oxygen levels and boosting bacterial activity. For sparse rooting and floating aquatic vegetation adding species of fish like grass carp, tilapia (which will not over-winter in Ohio) or channel catfish that eat these plants will also restore volume to your pond. There are occasions where you may want to consider dredging your pond and we recommend that you contact a Richland SWCD technician who can help make recommendations. By increasing the volume and supplementing oxygen in the pond you will help make your investment not only look better but be more hospitable for the fish and other aquatic friends within. Some additional things you can do to help your pond is by leaving the grass taller around it to help filter out sediments and nutrients that could come in from overland flow. You can also utilize native switch grass plantings, often times marketed as ornamental grasses, in areas of high flow. In which they will help slow down water, increase water infiltration, and help reduce sediments and nutrients from overland flow. Wet Spots and Your Property Do any of these look familiar to you? When it comes to wet spots in yards and fields there are options for landowners to improve drainage. Some options may be more appealing due to financial cost, topographic feasibility or personal capabilities. In no particular order things that homeowners can choose from are: Installing a tile to remove surface water if you have an area on your property that can allow it to drain without causing you additional issues. Installing a French drain to help with potentially excessive rainfall inundation.   Adding soil amendments like gypsum, perlite and organic matter Reshaping the low spot so that it has positive drainage. These options can also help with areas that retain rainwater for long periods of time, we may recommend obtaining a soil test before selecting one of these potential solutions so that you get more bang for your buck. The Richland Soil and Water Conservation office can offer assistance over the phone but usually a site visit is recommended so that we can visually observe the entirety of your concern. Services like this are provided to the public for free. #### Hot Weather, Heavy Rains, and Ponds By Matt Wallace The combination of extremely hot weather and heavy, rapid rains can cause ponds stress, leading to a water column flip. An influx of nutrients can have the same effect. You will see rapid water level increases, algae blooms, and fishing piping at the surface. These things can cause an oxygen depletion in the water column and could lead to a fish kill. So, the question then becomes how do we fix some of these things? Algae blooms are driven by high nutrient loads within ponds which come from leaves, grass clippings, fertilizers, and other materials deposited into your pond. While a little bit of this material, commonly known as muck, is normal and can be broken down within the aquatic ecosystem, too much of this material can be harmful. How do you tell if you have too much muck in your pond? Simply by walking around the inside edge of your pond! The deeper you sink into the inky, black material, the more of this highly nutritious muck your pond has in it. The best way to help your pond digest muck is by adding beneficial bacteria, which is live active bacteria that helps break down the muck and restores the volume back in your pond. Often the more muck that is in the pond, the more treatments you will need; which are generally completed in the spring and fall. Pond aeration can increase the effectiveness of the beneficial bacteria. For sparse rooting and floating aquatic vegetation adding species of fish like grass carp, tilapia (which will not over-winter in Ohio), or channel catfish that can eat these plants will also restore volume to your pond. There are occasions where you may consider dredging your pond and we recommend that you contact a Richland Soil and Water Conservation Technician who can help make recommendations. By increasing the volume and supplementing oxygen in the pond, you will help make your investment not only look better but be more hospitable for the fish and other aquatic friends within. An additional, easy thing you can do to help your pond is leaving tall grass around the edges to help filter out sediments and nutrients that would otherwise enter the pond from overland flow. You can also utilize native switch grass plantings, often times marketed as ornamental grasses, in areas of high flow. In which they will help slow down water, increase water infiltration, and help reduce sediments and nutrients from overland flow. If you have questions or concerns about your pond, please don’t hesitate to reach out. #### Important Dates January 5Board Supervisor Meeting9:00 a.m. January 9Conservation Creation Arts & Crafts Workshop: Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me6:00 p.m.Longview Center$12 per person. Registration required. January 15Office closed in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. January 22 & 23Office closed for staff development January 25Plant Marauders of Water, Field and Forest: Invasive Species to Know and How to Control5:30 p.m.Longview Center$10 per person. Registration required. February 12Board Supervisor Meeting, 9:00 a.m. March 11Fingerling Fish Sale Begins March 12Board Supervisor Meeting, 9:00 a.m. April 5Clear Fork FFA Alumni Tree Seedling SaleClear Fork High School and Richland County Fairgrounds Nature Park. April 11Fingerling Fish Orders Due April 19Fish Sale Pick up10 – 11:30 a.m.Richland County Fairgrounds Horse Barn #### In Memoriam: Fred Cooke Photo L to R: Fred Cooke and Commissioner Cliff Mears. It is with heavy hearts, we share the sad news of the passing in December of Board Supervisor Fred Cooke. Fred has been a Board Supervisor since 2017, most recently serving as Treasurer. Among his many contributions, he assisted with the hiring of current director, Erica Thomas, was an advocate for the district and didn’t hesitate to offer suggestions for programs and services. Fred was a long-time farmer, member of Farm Bureau and a former Shelby Vo-Ag teacher and FFA advisor. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to Fred’s family and friends. Fred will be dearly missed. #### Keep Your Clippings Out of the Fast Lane By Zoe Baumberger Did you know that grass clippings can be a pollutant? Or that grass clippings can cause motorcyclists to slip and slide like they’re driving on ice? It’s best practice to sweep up any clippings that make it into the road. Large piles of clippings can clog storm drains, culverts, and pipes contributing to flooding. Remember, only rain is supposed to go down the storm drain! If grass clippings make it to our waterways, they will decompose and release nutrients into the water column. The pesticides and fertilizers we use on our lawns also enter waterways via grass clippings. This addition of nutrients can lead to toxic algal blooms, like the ones seen in the western basin of Lake Erie. Let’s work together to keep our roads safe and our waters clean! It’s as simple as sweeping up clippings or mowing in a direction where the discharge chute is aimed at the yard instead of the road. #### Know Your Nuisance: Controlling Invasive and Aggressive Plants This Season Springtime for ponds will bring about opportunities to make new memories with family and friends around your pond. But did you experience issues with various plants last year that you may have forgotten about? Some plants you might see this spring/summer include: Watermeal – Green floating granular plant Watermeal – Photo from The Pond Shop Duckweed – Small, lobed floating green plant with a tiny root Duckweed – Photo by Matt Wallace Cattails – Green in the summer and brown in the winter extending above the waterline Cattails – Photo from the Wisconsin Wetland Association Phragmite – Similar to cattails but seed heads are feather shaped while cattails resemble corn dogs Phragmites – Photo from Will County Forest Preserve District Broadlead Watermilfoil – Submerged leaves are finely dissected and cause the shoot to resemble to form of a raccoon tail, whereas leaves on the emergent bracts tend to be smaller and appear only in summer Broadleaf Watermilfoil – Photo by Matt Wallace All these plants have the potential to provide feeding, loafing and protective cover opportunities for waterfowl, fish and other mammals. But like so many other things they can become a nuisance, reduce plant biodiversity, create hypoxic zones and need to be controlled. Things like watermeal, duckweed and cattails should be treated in the early spring if they were an issue for your pond last year. All aquatic plants can be controlled with aquatic herbicides. If they become too prolific and for the cases where herbicides are ineffective, you may need to consider mechanical removal of the plants. These are just a few of the common pond plants found in Ohio and any aquatic herbicide that you use needs to have their directions followed exactly as the label specifies. Deviation from the product directions can cause unwanted and potentially harmful results. Landscaping Woes: Problem Plants and How to Handle Them Plants like multiflora rose, grapevine, poison ivy, poison hemlock and garlic mustard weed can have some wildlife benefit but can do more harm than good. Multiflora rose, with its white flowers and thorns, while providing habitat for wildlife can prove to be a nuisance around your property. It can be easily controlled with pruning, mowing, or herbicide application. Grapevine and poison ivy can provide wildlife with a food source but can be detrimental to people who are sensitive to oils and particulate matter from poison ivy. Vines can be detrimental to trees in inclement weather by providing additional, unnecessary weight and instability. These vines can be easily cut and sprayed with the appropriate herbicides to control them. Garlic mustard, when found, is best if it is pulled and placed onto a hard surface to dry out then disposed of in the trash. The most prolific undesirable plant that citizens see and call us about is Poison Hemlock. The main stem of this plant is green with a whitish fuzzy look to it when it is young. Its leaves resemble that of a carrot, but this is not edible (1). As the plant matures the main stem will become hollow and have green and purplish splotches with a glaucous coating over it (2). This plant will also have a flower head that appears yellow (3) when the flowers are not unfurled revealing a white (4) flower. If you suspect that you may have an adverse reaction to any plant or its parts, it is highly recommended that you take the appropriate precautions to protect yourself. If you plan on controlling any of these or other plants with mechanical or herbicide measures please read and understand the tools that you will be using for optimal results. For best results overall, undesirable plants are best controlled before they begin to flower and have the ability to spread seed. These plants can be found commonly in low lying wet areas where standing water is common. Many plants will re-sprout where you saw them last year so early removal, before they have a flower head on them, is crucial. Photo 1: Leaves by Matt Wallace Photo 2: Stalks by Matt Wallace Photo 3: Pre-opened Flowers by Matt Wallace Photo 4: Opened Flowers by Matt Wallace #### Leave the Leaves By Matt Christian Fall is officially here! Now we can look forward to cool-crisp temperatures, apple picking, Friday night football games, pumpkin spice and beautiful fall foliage. Let’s go back to that beautiful fall foliage though. The color change of tree leaves is one of the many perks we get for living in the northern part of the United States. The leaves of the deciduous trees lose their chlorophyll in the fall, exposing their natural brilliant colors. Unfortunately, those colors don’t hang around too long, those same leaves fall from the trees, lose their beautiful colors and become an issue for many property owners.  The most common, socially accepted solution to dealing with dead leaves is to get rid of them. Some people burn them, others bag them and have them hauled away with the garbage while some rake them to the road curb and have a city or township suck them up and haul them away. These are viable ways to rid yourself from these leaves, but I would like to suggest a few alternate and environmentally friendly options for you to consider. 1. Leave them- No rake This method is pretty self-explanatory.  When the leaves fall naturally from the trees onto your lawn or landscaping, it can offer many benefits. Oftentimes people are concerned that the leaves will choke out their grass or plants and kill them. However, when leaves fall naturally, they are not typically thick enough to kill any vegetation. The layer of leaves on the ground will offer habitat to many wildlife species and as they break down over fall and winter, they will provide organic matter and nutrients to your soil, benefiting your lawn and plants. 2. Leave them- Mow them If you’re concerned that the leaves will kill your lawn, you can let them fall, then mow over them instead of raking.The mowing (preferably a mulching mower deck) will break up the leaves, freeing your grass from a dense leaf blanket. This might not have as many wildlife benefits as not mowing them, but it will still begin the decomposition process and add organic material and nutrients to your lawn soil. 3. Pile them Not a fan of any leaves on your lawn?  Well, you could still rake or blow them off the lawn into piles. You could place these piles off the lawn and start a compost pile. This pile would have habitat benefits to many wildlife species but would also have the benefit of providing a high-quality compost material that could then be later placed on areas where you may want to improve structure and enrich the soil. You could also add branches or sticks to the pile and offer a complex wildlife habitat. 4. Mulch them Another option is to rake the leaves and use them as winter mulch on your flower beds.  The decomposing leaves will again offer great wildlife habitat, but they will help protect your plants’ roots, suppress weeds, preserve soil moisture and when they breakdown they will return nutrients to your soil. What I like to do in my own backyard is this; I have a large pine tree with a small circular bed constructed around it. When I moved in, my wife and I discovered that the soil in this bed was very hard with no organic material in it. We tried to plant flowers there, but even hardy plants could not survive. So, what I do is blow my backyard leaves into piles and suck them up with my leaf blower/vacuum. The leaf vacuum slightly chops up the leaves on their way into a bag. I then empty the bags and pile them on this bed with low quality soil. By the time summer rolls around, the thickness of the leaves has decomposed to only a couple inches thick.  My plan is to keep doing this until a nice organic layer has built up and eventually plant flowers there. My intention is to encourage people to take advantage of a free, renewable and valuable resource. Disposing of leaves can be very expensive and labor intensive, so why not utilize what is already available and at the same time improve soil on your property and benefit wildlife? #### Lessons From the Outside World At the beginning of the year I (Evan) decided to start taking a short walk outside each day during work. Since most of my day is spent in a chair or in a car, it’s nice to get out, stretch the legs, and breath fresh air for a few minutes. It does me good to look at something other than screens and cubicle walls. During one of these first walks, I had the idea to snap a photo of a particular part of my walk that leads behind a grove of conifers and sidles up next to a small urban stream. Soon after I decided to come back the next month, and the next, to repeat the photo. I wanted to see how the landscape changed month after month and if there would be any interesting occurrences in that regard. I finished taking my last picture in November of 2023, having collected my years’ worth of data. Time to look at the pictures! As you might imagine there wasn’t anything extremely surprising. The pale, dried grass and bare twigs of January and February gave way to a stronger tint of green in the lawn for March. In April the vibrancy of the grass increased one hundred-fold and buds on nearby bushes and trees began to show. In May there was again a vast change as bare branches filled with fresh leaves, an explosion of life. June and July saw the greens turn darker, and then August and September saw a blush of yellow as the dry, hot days of summer stretched on. Finally, in October, the sky gray as I photographed it, the trees had turned orange and yellow and the vegetation on the creek bank was dead and brown. In the final photo at the end of November the conifer trees had already turned their flame orange and dropped their needles, and the grass was littered with them and the dried leaves of the deciduous trees. This glorious cycle happens every year, has for thousands of years, and will hopefully for long into the future. I started taking these pictures because I have been feeling disconnected from nature this past year. The feeling is like having an old friend to which you haven’t talked in a very long time. Then one day you wake up to realize you wish you’d kept in touch more. The pictures, and the walks, gave me a small way to remain “in” nature in a way while viewing the process of the constant cycle of death and renewal. It is said in conservation that one must love nature first, then conserving it naturally follows. And what better way to learn to love nature than to spend time in it. That is why this coming year (2024) I am embarking on a quest to spend one hundred hours in nature, preferably alone in contemplation, and preferably in the woods which is my chosen place to solitude. Numerous studies and anecdotal accounts abound on the health benefits, both psychologically and physiologically, of spending time outdoors. Famous author Henry David Thoreau once wrote, “I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees.” Especially in this time of cold weather, world crises that are hard to digest, and personal worries, perhaps some more time in nature would be good for you also. In our ever-changing world and life nature is still there, constantly going through the same old cycles, the predictability comforting in a way. So, if you haven’t yet done so, I challenge you to fall in love with nature this year and see where it takes you. #### Local Students Showcase Environmental Knowledge at 2025 Area 2 Envirothon On April 9, Richland Soil and Water Conservation District proudly hosted the Area 2 Envirothon at Cooke Family Wildlife Conservation Park, welcoming over 200 students from across Northeast Ohio. This annual competition challenges students in five key environmental categories: Soils, Wildlife, Aquatics, Forestry, and Current Environmental Issues (CEI). For 2025, the CEI theme is “Roots and Resiliency: Fostering Forestry Stewardship in a Canopy of Change” encouraging students to explore the vital role of forests in environmental sustainability. Medals were awarded to the teams with the highest score in each of the testing categories. The station winners from Area 2 are: Aquatics: Laurel Gators – Green from Laurel School Wildlife: BBH Baobabs from Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School Soils: Boardman Channel Cats from Boardman High School Forestry: Beaver Leaf Legends from Beaver Local High School CEI: Beaver Leaf Legends from Beaver Local High School Beaver Leaf Legends The four teams with the highest overall score (all five station scores combined) will advance to the state competition at Wilmington College from June 2-4. The teams with the highest scores and going to state are: Boardman Channel Cats from Boardman High School Beaver Leaf Legends from Beaver Local High School BBH Ginkgos from Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School BBH Baobabs from Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School Boardman Channel Cats We wish them all the best! The winning team from the state Envirothon will go on to represent Ohio at the international competition in Alberta, Canada from July 20-26. Advisors were also able participate in the event by touring Fowler’s Woods with a representative from Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) or they could join an advisor team and also take the five tests. Advisor Team 3 won and was made up of the following members: Austin Saverko from Columbiana High School Caitlin Miller from Bedford High School Jodi Berger from Beaver Local High School Danielle Moon from Cardinal High School Chris Carman from Theodore Roosevelt High School Michael Cochran from Jackson Local High School Overall, the Area 2 Envirothon was a tremendous success! Students not only expanded their knowledge of environmental topics but also sharpened their decision-making and teamwork skills – all while enjoying a fun, hands-on learning experience. Of course, no event is complete without great food, and participants enjoyed a well-earned lunch of burgers and hot dogs grilled by Crestview FFA volunteers. Crestview FFA Volunteers We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors and many volunteers who made this event possible. Your support helps inspire the next generation of environmental leaders! Drone footage by Matt Wallace #### Looking Ahead Events for April, May, June & July! April 2024 April 30 | Rain Barrel & Rain Garden Workshop Time: 6:00 pm Place: Mansfield/Richland County Public Library – Main Location (43 W 3rd St, Mansfield) Cost: FREE Pre-registration: Please register below or call technician Jordan Keller (419.747.8688). This workshop is a great introduction to learning about rain barrels and rain gardens. Register for the Rain Barrel & Rain Garden Workshop May 2024 May 8 | Native Plant Workshop and Sale Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Place: The Longview Center – Main Conference Room, 1495 W. Longview Ave, Mansfield Cost: FREE Pre-registration: Please register below or call technician Jordan Keller (419.747.8688). Guy Denny, retired ODNR Chief of Natural Areas and Preserves Division is our guest speaker this year and will talk about Ohio Tall Grass Prairies. Purchase native plants afterward from Natives In Harmony. Register for the Native Plant Workshop and Sale May 15 | Board of Supervisors Meeting Time: 9:00 am Place: The Longview Center – RSWCD Conference Room #258, 1495 W. Longview Ave, Mansfield Please contact the Director before the meeting if you wish to attend. Board Supervisor meetings are once a month, open to the public, and held in the Richland SWCD Conference Room 258 at the Longview Center. Email the Director View Board of Supervisors Meeting Event June 2024 June 14 | Field Day for Plain Growers (2024 Richland County Pasture & Grazing School Series) Time: 9:00 am – 2:00 pm Place: City of Shiloh Fire Station, 11 Delaware St, Shiloh Cost: $10 per person Pre-registration: Please register below or call technician Jordan Keller (419.747.8688). This workshop is designed for those interested in pasture and grazing management. Those new to livestock and forage management are encouraged to join. Lunch and a grazing stick are included in cost. Register for the Field Day for Plain Growers Event June 15 | Women for the Land Learning Circle (2024 Richland County Pasture & Grazing School Series) Time: 9:00 am – 2:00 pm Place: Shady Lane Alpaca Farm, 3073 Gass Road, Mansfield Cost: $10 per person Pre-registration: Please register below or call technician Jordan Keller (419.747.8688). This workshop is designed for those interested in pasture and grazing management. Those new to livestock and forage management are encouraged to join. Lunch and a grazing stick are included in cost. Register for the Women for the Land Learning Circle June 19 | Board of Supervisors Meeting Time: 9:00 am Place: The Longview Center – RSWCD Conference Room #258, 1495 W. Longview Ave, Mansfield Please contact the Director before the meeting if you wish to attend. Board Supervisor meetings are once a month, open to the public, and held in the Richland SWCD Conference Room 258 at the Longview Center. Email the Director View Board of Supervisors Meeting Event June 29 | Family Fun on the Farm Festival! Time: Noon – 4:00 pm Place: Malabar Farm State Park, 4050 Bromfield Road, Lucas, Ohio Cost: Free Admission Family friendly festival with hands-on kids activities, farm activities, and food. We are looking for exhibitors/vendors and volunteers. Sign Up to be a Volunteer View Farm Festival Event Info July 2024 July 9 – Long Live Leaves (Conservation Creation Arts & Crafts Workshop) Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Place: The Longview Center, 1495 W. Longview Ave, Mansfield Cost: $12 per person Pre-registration: Please register below or call Theresa Sutter. Make a lovely bowl/dish from an impression of a leaf. All workshop materials are provided. Register for the Long Live Leaves Event July 17 | Board of Supervisors Meeting Time: 9:00 am Place: The Longview Center – RSWCD Conference Room #258, 1495 W. Longview Ave, Mansfield Please contact the Director before the meeting if you wish to attend. Board Supervisor meetings are once a month, open to the public, and held in the Richland SWCD Conference Room 258 at the Longview Center. Email the Director View Board of Supervisors Meeting Event July 23, 25, & 27 | Pastures for Profit Grazing School Time: Multiple times, see previous Place: Multiple locations, see previous Cost: $30 per person Pre-registration: Please register below or call technician Jordan Keller (419.747.8688). This workshop is designed for those interested in pasture and grazing management. Those new to livestock and forage management are encouraged to join. Dinner is included for the sessions on the 23rd and 25th. A grazing stick and USB with course manual will also be included. Register for Pastures for Profit Grazing School #### Looking Ahead: 2025 Goals to Enhance Conservation and Community Engagement As we step into 2025, our team is excited to share goals and resolutions that will guide our efforts throughout the year. Each team member has set their sight on impactful initiatives designed to protect natural resources, support local landowners, enhance community engagement, and promote environmental stewardship. These resolutions reflect our shared commitment to making a positive difference in our county and beyond. Here’s a look at just some of what we aim to accomplish this year. Matt Christian – DirectorIn 2025 Matt hopes to strengthen our district’s impact by fostering new partnerships and growing existing programs that protect our natural resources.Zoe Baumberger – District TechnicianIn 2025 Zoe hopes to organize two impactful events focused on promoting stormwater management and environmental stewardship, with a particular emphasis on engaging MS4 communities. Sam Foley – District Technician In 2025 Sam is going to continue to focus on commercial stormwater permits. This includes catching up on our backlog of commercial pipeline inspections. In 2024 we inspected over 40 pipeline projects that had previously been issued stormwater permits. Most of these projects are in remote locations that aren’t always easily accessible or easy to find. Jordan Keller – District TechnicianIn 2025 Jordan is going to revamp the Rain Garden and Rain Barrel presentation for the annual Rain Garden and Rain Barrel workshop. Matt Wallace – District Technician In 2025 Matt would like to host an Agriculture Pollution Abatement Program (APAP) hog manure workshop to teach proper manure application techniques and promote sustainable farming practices. Theresa Sutter – Marketing & Volunteer Coordinator In 2025 Theresa wants to learn more about social media and embrace her creative side. Rachel Coy – Pheasants Forever – Ohio FarmBill Wildlife BiologistIn 2025 Rachel would like to offer a landowner class in Richland County related to treating invasive species in perennial landscapes. #### Managing Stormwater: Year-End Updates and Insights Our fourth and final quarter of 2024 was a busy one for stormwater permits. We issued 17 permits for commercial projects between October 1 and December 31. We also issued 65 residential permits during that period, with 44 of them being exemptions. Apply Online for a Stormwater Permit #### Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming Events You Won’t Want To Miss January and February Events For our full list of upcoming events – including Board Supervisor meetings – go to our calendar by following the link at the bottom of this page. Upcoming Events Sep 2 September 2 – October 1 Board Supervisor Election Sep 23 9:00 am – 10:00 am Board Supervisor Meeting Oct 1 11:30 am – 1:00 pm Annual Celebration Oct 12 All day Office Closed in Observance of Columbus Day Oct 13 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Conservation Creations Arts & Crafts Workshop: Things That Go Bump in the Night Oct 28 9:00 am – 10:00 am Board Supervisor Meeting Nov 11 All day Office Closed in Observance of Veterans Day Nov 25 9:00 am – 10:00 am Board Supervisor Meeting Nov 26 November 26 – November 27 Office Closed in Observance of Thanksgiving View Calendar Our Full Calendar of Events Click here for 2025 fun! #### Marketing, Memories and Conservation: Kayla’s Internship Experience My marketing internship with the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD) was an incredible experience. Throughout my internship, I had the opportunity to help with social media management, content creation and community outreach. I assisted with marketing campaigns, designed promotional materials and helped create visual content used on social media as well as during community events. The projects I assisted with not only helped strengthen my skills in digital marketing, branding and public relations, but it also deepened my knowledge of environmental conservation and its impact on the community. One of my favorite moments from my time with Richland SWCD was when I had the opportunity to work with everyone in person at the Soil Open House. It gave me the chance to see a lot of my work come to life, and seeing first-hand how marketing plays a role in raising awareness for conservation efforts was both rewarding and inspiring. Overall, my experience with my internship has been instrumental in my professional growth, and I am very grateful to have contributed to the mission of Richland SWCD.  Interested in interning with Richland SWCD? We’re looking for a summer 2025 marketing intern. For more information contact Theresa Sutter at sutter.theresa@richlandswcd.net or call 419-747-8685. #### Maximizing Bloom Windows: Planning a Thriving Prairie Habitat A thoughtfully considered prairie planting is one of the most beautiful sites to see come spring. When you are planning your prairie planting, you want to keep diversity in mind. Diversity in height, bloom time, species, lifecycle, structure and location are key to planning a successful habitat. Native grasses vary from 3 feet to as much as 10 feet tall. Native forbs (or wildflowers) also vary greatly in height but also in bloom time, color, shape and size. I mentioned in my first habitat article that ensuring we have species growing in each bloom time frame is the best way to adequately support wildlife and pollinators. The early spring bloom window is the most challenging time frame to capture on a prairie planting. Well-behaved, non-native clovers are often included in planting mixes in conjunction with some natives like golden alexander, foxglove beard tongue and some coreopsis species. This window can be supported by planting pollinator/ wildlife friendly trees and shrubs that bloom earlier than herbaceous species, act as boundaries between properties and provide additional cover and forage. Wildlife friendly choices can include American plum, oaks, maples, red osier/ flowering dogwood, spice bush, American hazelnut, crab apple, native willows, pines and more. The peak summer bloom window is the easiest to hit, as most of our native species bloom from June to August. Some of my favorites are cardinal flower, bee balm, blue vervain and mountain mint, which is also a hit with honeybees (trust me). The late bloom window is dominated by goldenrods and asters, which are essential for supporting migrating or hibernating pollinators and wildlife. At least three species in each bloom window are encouraged, though more is always better. Species that host native pollinators, like milkweed, should also be included. Plant life cycles are also important to consider. Perennials and biennials will persist through the life span of the prairie planting, but that’s not to say annuals should be left out. Annuals are great to include in mixes, especially during the first growing season as perennials are working on their complex root systems and very little growth happens above ground. Annuals give you something pretty to look at and can re-seed themselves for several years, especially in well managed and maintained stands. Grassland birds and other wildlife species depend on diverse grasslands. Often the wildflower component is overlooked and only grasses are considered good habitat. Yes, our native grasses and their long seed heads are great forage products for wildlife, and conducive to chick mobility, brood rearing, and nesting. However, forbs are what attract the invertebrates that make up a huge portion of birds’ diets. It is essential to consider continued management when planning your planting. Prescribed fire is one of the best tools available for maintaining early successional habitat. If you’re planning on utilizing it as a tool in your planting, planning burn breaks is essential. Burn breaks are strips of low-lying vegetation, or bare ground, that maintain moisture, green cover, or a lack of cover through much of the year. Clovers fit the bill perfectly. If burn maintenance is something you want to implement but didn’t plan burn breaks into an already established prairie, repeated tillage can achieve a similar result prior to a burn being implemented. Site conditions are also important to consider when planning a prairie. Upland sites are some of the best locations for planting prairies, however low land/ wet sites can also be successful. Choosing species that suit drainage, sunlight, and soil properties is essential. What does your surrounding habitat lack? Are there gaps you could fill? Are there enough forbs? Too many grasses? This is where things can be fun and very specific to your site. If you’re considering planting a native prairie on your property, please reach out and we can start planning! Diverse, native grass stand with little and big bluestem, side oats, and legumes/ forbs (clovers, coneflowers, rudbeckias, goldenrod, etc.) Mono-culture of Reed-Canary Grass- an invasive grass species that dominates wet sitting/ riparian sites here in Ohio. Bloom calendar displaying the flowering periods of various native plant species from March to November. The chart ensures continuous bloom, coverage, species diversity, and structural variety. Different colors indicate when each species is in bloom, helping guide plant selection for pollinator support. #### Meet Our Newest Interns! Here at Richland Soil & Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD), we often have interns helping us out in various areas. This summer we are pleased to announce that we have three! We are very thankful to the Richland County Foundation Fran and Warren Rupp Fund for the grant to fund these positions! It is appreciated! Julian Papania Julian is our in-office summer intern for 2024. He was born and raised here in Mansfield and graduated from Pioneer Career and Technology Center in Shelby, OH, in 2014 with a certification in carpentry. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s of English at The Ohio State University at Mansfield. He is assisting Richland SWCD with special events, videography, and photography. During his free time, he enjoys hiking, spending time with family and friends, reading, and watching a good movie. He is passionate about environmental health. Mackenzie Phenecie We are thrilled to welcome Mackenzie back to the team this summer! Mackenzie interned with us last summer, and is returning again as a Communications Intern, focusing on our social media accounts and graphic design. She will graduate from Miami University later this year with a Bachelor’s in Strategic Communication. Anna Rozic We are happy to welcome Anna Rozic to the team this summer! Anna will assist Evan with podcast editing. She joins us from Kent State University, where she is an upcoming senior majoring in Digital Media Production. Anna has a passion for writing and filmmaking, and she currently serves as the president of the Kent State Writers Room. #### Minimizing Erosion, Maximizing Impact: Updates and Insights on Our MS4 Program 2024 was a busy year! We completed 12 dry weather screenings, finished all township garage facility inspections, conducted monthly inspections of active commercial projects, and hosted multiple outreach events. 2025 marks the final year of our current five-year National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit term. We’ll submit our 2024 accomplishments in our Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) annual report and apply for the 2026-2030 NPDES MS4 permit. With a new year comes a fresh start for our six Minimum Control Measures (MCMs) giving us the opportunity to tackle them all over again! 2025 also brings a new MS4 theme: Keep Dirt Where It Belongs. While this may seem like a simple concept, achieving it on an active construction site can be quite challenging. Erosion is a natural process, but construction activities can accelerate it. Although erosion cannot be entirely stopped, we can take steps to minimize its impacts and prevent man-made soil disturbance. One effective way to minimize erosion is by simply covering exposed soil. Planting native plants is ideal for erosion control as their deep roots anchor soil in place. Kentucky bluegrass is also commonly used in Ohio to stabilize a site after construction activities. When colder months make seeding difficult, temporary stabilization techniques are crucial. The most common winter stabilization technique is mulching. Mulch not only covers bare soil, but it also promotes the germination of seeds in the growing season by holding moisture. This is why you often see straw thrown over grass seed! In Richland County, idle soil is to be temporarily or permanently stabilized after 14 days. Refer to the photo below for seasonal recommendations to stabilize soil effectively. For more details see Chapter 7 of the Rainwater and Land Development Manual. By implementing stabilization strategies, we can preserve soil integrity and support sustainable construction practices. Let’s keep dirt where it belongs! There’s a lot in store for the 2025 MS4 program, so stay tuned and be sure to get involved! For more information keep an eye on our upcoming events! MS4 #### MS4 Update: Why Soil Matters More Than You Think It was a busy first quarter for the MS4 program! We submitted our annual report to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) which outlined our 2024 accomplishments and our plan for 2025. Sam and I have also been working with the health department to inspect outfalls that previously had illicit discharges and are re-testing them to confirm elimination. While we’re not currently seeing any signs of illicit discharge, these inspections serve as a good reminder of the 2025 MS4 theme – Keep Dirt In Place! Sam inspecting an outfall Ammonia Nitrogen test from an outfall Erosion is a natural process, so you might be wondering why we’re so concerned about keeping dirt in its place. While some erosion is natural, we want to reduce man-made erosion caused by construction activities and other earth disturbances. Once erosion starts, the topsoil is the first to go – and it takes several hundred years to form just one inch of it. Losing that nutrient rich layer not only reduces the soil’s ability to retain moisture (which can lead to flooding), but also negatively impacts crop yields. According to the World Wildlife Fund “half of the topsoil on the planet has been lost in the last 150 years”. For many Ohio farmers, losing more topsoil is not an option and best management practices to prevent further erosion become essential. When soil is washed away through erosion, it is often washed into the nearest waterbody during rain events. As water travels over land as runoff, it picks up whatever is in its path -including soil. The soil in the stormwater runoff can bind with chemicals and other materials, transporting them to local streams. Once soil enters a stream, the water can become discolored and murky, harming the aquatic organisms that rely on clean, clear water. It also makes it harder for animals to hunt, find shelter and breathe as turbidity (cloudiness of the water) blocks sunlight and reduces oxygen levels. While erosion might not seem like a pressing issue, it has far reaching consequences for both humans and wildlife. Even a small amount of displaced dirt can harm the health of our waterways. It’s our responsibility to stabilize bare soil and prevent pollution – after all, we don’t want to see another dust bowl! Learn more about loss of topsoil: https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/soil-erosion-and-degradation Learn more about turbid water: https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/turbidity-and-water #### MS4 Updates: Suited Up and Making Progress In the second quarter Sam and I continued our work with the Health Department to inspect outfalls that previously had illicit discharges. We re-tested several to confirm elimination and are looking forward to continuing this partnership as we work through a few more outfalls in the coming months. We also attended the MS4 bootcamp at the 2025 Ohio Stormwater Conference where we got a helpful refresher on the six minimum control measures and what to expect during Ohio EPA audits. We’re better equipped literally too! Sam and I both have waders now and we’re excited to stay dry during our final six dry weather screenings this year. From Splash to Gully: The Many Ways Soil Moves Keeping dirt in its place is the MS4 theme for 2025 and this spring gave us plenty of reminders why that message matters. During stormwater inspections, Sam and I noticed a significant amount of erosion. So much so that we spent a good part of the spring fielding phone calls about seeding, stabilization and erosion control methods. Rainfall can cause soil to move in several different ways. Understanding the different types of erosion can help us take the proper steps to protect our landscapes. Below are the four types of erosion we commonly observe: Splash, sheet, rill and gully. Splash: Soil displaced by the impact of a falling raindrop. According to National Geographic the impact of a falling raindrop can scatter soil particles as far as 2 feet. Sheet: Displacement of soil in thin layers by the forces of rain and stream flow. Erosion caused by runoff. Rill: Displacement of soil by water running through little streamlets or headcuts.  Gully: Displacement of soil along drainage lines (large channels) by surface water runoff. Usually begin as rills. All four types of erosion can quickly get out of hand if sites aren’t stabilized in a timely manner. The best way to prevent erosion is to seed and mulch bare soil as soon as possible. Early stabilization not only keeps you in compliance with the Stormwater and Sediment Control Regulations of Richland County but also protects our waterways. Thank you for doing your part to keep dirt in its place! #### Mulch Madness By Sam Foley I’m going to let the audience in on a secret today; I’m incredibly passionate about healthy soil. I love talking to folks about their soil test results and discussing ideas to increase soil health. The easiest and most immediate step you can take towards healthy soil is mulching. The benefits a mulch layer can add to your garden are listed below: Preventing soil erosion: By covering the top layer of soil there’s greater protection from erosion during watering and rain events. Retaining moisture: Mulch helps lock in moisture after watering and prevents rapid evaporation. This also helps combat drought. Controls temperature: Protects the soil during times of extreme weather. Beneficial for both winter and the hot summers. This can be especially helpful in raised beds. Microbes: This extra protection for the top layer of soil increases microbe activity, which in turn, greatly impacts soil health and productivity. Find the microbial activity in your soil by taking the Soil Your Undies Challenge. Weed suppression: Though it’s not 100% effective, mulch greatly reduces weed pressure and makes pulling what weeds do pop up that much easier. Most weeds spread by seed, and a few inches of mulch can prevent these seeds from even making it to the soil. Mulch can be made of almost any material and is simply a cover spread over top of our growing media to enrich and insulate that media. My favorite mulches are organic options. Several examples of commonly used organic mulch are compost, leaf litter, straw, grass clippings, shredded bark, and rice hulls. Another option could be a living mulch. This could be made up of cover crops or even herbs, that grow as companions to a target crop. Living mulch can be “chopped and dropped”, cut and laid on the surface of soil, providing an additional layer of cover. Organic mulch not only provides the traditional benefits of mulch, but it also adds nutrients back into the soil as it slowly breaks down over time. This is a regenerative solution that can help build up soil health year after year. Soil in your garden should never be left bare. Keeping soil covered with mulch and cover crops is essential to soil health. Always maintain a layer and leave mulch in place year-round. If you’re looking for guidance or just want to chat about growing, please reach out to me! Stay tuned for future articles on gardening. #### My Humble Beginnings with Vermicomposting You may remember way back to our Autumn 2024 newsletter when I composed “Small Space, Big Impact: Urban Composting”. In that article I shared a brief overview of a couple common composting practices. That article didn’t mention it, but I was simultaneously starting my own journey with vermicomposting at my home in Mansfield, on my front porch. I purchased roughly 1,000 worms (~1lb) and set up my Worm Factory 360, shown on the right. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until the very next morning I discovered every single one of my worms had escaped. Little did I know that I missed a crucial first step that would ensure my failure. I’m going to use this article to provide some basic information on vermicomposting and point out some tips I’ve learned along the way. Losing my first batch of worms was a letdown because not only was I looking forward to composting, but I had also invested a lot of money in this. In 2025, one pound of worms is approximately $50.00 plus tax and shipping. Some friends and family have asked me, “Sam, why don’t you just dig up some worms in your yard and use those?”, to which I respond only a small number of worms are useful for composting. The Rodale Institute states that typical earthworms are soil dwelling, don’t process large amounts of food waste and don’t reproduce well in confined spaces. The most commonly used worms for composting are Eisenia fetida, referred to as Red Wigglers. According to Rodale Institute, red wigglers are preferred because they have a quick reproduction cycle, feed near the surface of their substrate and are communal, meaning they don’t mind sharing living space with others. These worms are also rapid feeders; under ideal conditions a colony can recycle half their weight in food scraps daily (NCSU). Sam’s Worm Factory 360 So where did I go wrong and what have I learned? Well, the biggest issue with my first batch of worms was improper acclimation to their new home. After setting up my bin, I closed the lid and walked away. I should have placed the open bin under an artificial light source for 24-48 hours. NCSU states that worms have a distaste for light and will tunnel into their substrate when light is present. Introducing light in those critical first couple of days teaches the worms to burrow downwards and explore their new space. I also went quite light on substrate; worms need space to move around and explore so loosely fit as much substrate as possible in your given container. So, with a few lessons learned I decided to buy another thousand worms and give it another go. At the time of this writing, I am about a month in, and it is going very well! I am feeding the worms kitchen scraps about once a week. So far, their feedings have consisted of eggs shells, used coffee grounds, carrots, various potatoes, blueberries, strawberries, celery, zucchini, squash, and green beans. I freeze my food scraps for a few days before feeding to help break down cell walls for quicker recycling. In these early stages it’s critical to temper your expectations; not every single scrap is going to be able to make it into your bin. Make sure the previous week’s feeding has been mostly consumed before adding in another. One could start with more worms for faster composting and the ability to compost more items at a time as well. Also remember that what you put into your compost is what you’re going to get out of it. Kitchen scraps to be fed to the worms Kitchen scraps in the Worm Factory 360 It feels great to be keeping these scraps out of the landfill and I’ve truly noticed a decrease in how much rubbish we are setting out at the curb each week. I never realized how much we were throwing away until I started collecting it. I’m also really looking forward to having some fresh “black gold” for the garden and all our various houseplants. Composting is something my son is interested in as well and it’s been a fun bonding experience for us both. I think it’s important to get the kids to think about conservation early and this is a perfect way to do that. Thanks for reading this far and stay tuned to our newsletter for future updates on my composting journey! Learn More! Earthworm Composting – NC State Extension Vermicomposting for Beginners – Rodale Institute #### New Faces! Richland Soil & Water Conservation District (RSWCD) & Pheasant’s Forever Hire New Employees New year, new staff! In February, RSWCD hired on two new district technicians: Zoe Baumberger & Sam Foley. They will be the new faces of the stormwater permitting program (which the District manages for the Commissioners and the Village of Lexington) as well as the MS4 Program (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System). Pheasants Forever also recently hired Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist Rachel Coy. Get to know our new team members by reading their bios below and join us in welcoming them! Feel free to send them a friendly email or stop by to say hello! Zoe BaumbergerDistrict Technician Zoe is a proud native of Mansfield, Ohio, and feels incredibly fortunate to give back to her community in her new role with RSWCD. Armed with a Bachelor of Science in Conservation Biology and Ecology, earned in May 2023, Zoe brings a deep-rooted passion for environmental stewardship to the role. Beyond the office, Zoe finds joy in the simple pleasures of life: reading, painting, nurturing her garden, stealing moments for a nap, and exploring the outdoors with her two beloved canine companions. Say Hello to Zoe Sam FoleyDistrict Technician Sam lives in Mansfield, Ohio, with his 7-year-old son, Augustus, and his son’s mother, Kristi. They have a dog, Watson, and one cat, Louie. Sam graduated from Shelby High School in 2008 and obtained his Associate of Science in Biotechnology from North Central State College in 2011. One of Sam’s favorite things to do is cook, you can regularly find him in the kitchen. He is always eager to learn new things in life and is looking forward to working within the community. Say Hello to Sam Rachel CoyFarm Bill Biologist – Pheasants Forever, Inc. Rachel is the new Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist with Pheasants Forever covering Richland, Crawford, Huron and Seneca counties. She graduated from The Ohio State University in December of 2023 with her bachelor’s in environmental science with a specialization in ecosystem restoration. Prior to starting her current position, she spent two years doing undergraduate research and extension work with Ohio State and has been a part of numerous natural habitat and farm research initiatives. She is looking forward to working with landowners on their goals of supporting wild landscapes. Outside of work, Rachel enjoys reading, attempting to bake, and is a dog mom to her and her partner’s two pups. She spends most of her spare time with her little family enjoying the outdoors on hikes or inside watching a good movie. Say Hello to Rachel #### New Spring Puzzles and Winter Solutions Winter 2025 Answers Winter 2025 Word Search AnswersDownload Winter 2025 Crossword AnswersDownload Spring 2025 Puzzles Spring 2025 Word SearchDownload Spring 2025 CrosswordDownload #### New Team Members at Richland SWCD Please help us welcome our new stormwater technician Colby Dunn! Colby lives in Shelby, Ohio with his wife Jen and their son Ben. He graduated from Shelby High School in 2006 and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Education in 2015. Colby enjoys being outside in nature, playing music, working on the family farm and spending time with friends and family. He’s excited to share his passion for the environment while working with the community. Richland SWCD is lucky enough to have two interns with us this summer! Thanks to the generosity of the Fran and Warren Rupp Fund of the Richland County Foundation for funding the Marketing Intern position. Get to know Allison and Ben below!   Hi, I am Allison Cawrse. I am a senior Public Relations and Marketing student at the University of Akron. I’m responsible for helping with any marketing or community relations functions at Richland SWCD this summer, so you might find me at a few events or see some of my work on the website and social media pages. Outside of the office, I enjoy hanging out with family and friends, listening to music, going on walks, writing, and reading. I am a huge bookworm, so I am always open to book recommendations or discussions about anything book-related! Hi, I’m Ben! I’m a graduate Computer Science student at Miami University with a passion for accessibility and web design. My job at Richland SWCD is to update the website to comply with ADA guidelines, as well as making it convenient and easy to use for everyone else too! Some of my hobbies include hiking, biking, skiing, rock climbing, birding, and just about anything else related to nature and the outdoors. I also love writing and playing music, PC and VR gaming, and open-source software and game development, especially for unusual platforms such as graphing calculators and MP3 players. I’m generally talkative and a huge nerd about nearly everything, so if you run into me, tell me all about your favorite weird fact – I’m sure I’ll do the same! #### ODA Cover Crop Demonstration Plot – Spring Observations By Jordan Keller Heading into dormancy in November of 2025, Plot 1 (Rye/Oats mix spread at 60lbs/ac on 9/24/25) had an estimated vegetative coverage of 44%. Coming out of dormancy, the vegetative coverage was estimated at 60% on March 13 and 71% on March 26. The average height of the rye in plot 1 going into dormancy was around 7”, and the average height now is around 8.5”. Plot 2, (rye-only cover crop broadcast at 60lbs/ac on 10/8/2025), really benefited from the warmth and moisture we saw in March. It doubled its vegetative coverage between March 13 & March 26, going from 15% to 30% coverage over that two-week span. This was a welcomed surprise considering when plot 2 went dormant in November had an estimated 2% coverage. The average height of the rye in plot 2 going into dormancy was around 2”, and the average height now is around 5”. Both plots will continue to be monitored biweekly through mid-April or whenever the producer decides it’s time to terminate them so he can get the field ready for planting row crops. Check out the timelapse to see plot 2 come to life in March 2026. For a more detailed recap of our observations from planting through winter dormancy, check out the Winter 2026 Newsletter. #### OLMS Honors Sutter with Innovation in Lake Management Award The Ohio Lake Management Society (OLMS) honored Theresa Rozic Sutter, Marketing and Volunteer Coordinator, the Innovation in Lake Management Award for 2025 in recognition of her contributions to water quality education and outreach in Richland County. Theresa credits District volunteers for their commitment to monitoring Charles Mill Lake, Clear Fork Reservoir, and Pleasant Hill Lake and considers it an award for them and the District. Since joining Richland SWCD in 2013, Theresa has worked to advance the district’s mission to conserve, protect, and enhance the natural resources of Richland County, with focus on the health of the county’s soil and water resources. Carter Bailey of OLMS shared, “Due to her innovative and tireless commitment working with individuals and organizations, Mrs. Sutter consistently demonstrates a deep commitment to public education, outreach, and engagement, using a variety of platforms and programs to increase awareness of water quality.” Theresa’s approach to community engagement includes leading workshops, district sales, volunteer programs, and school and youth education initiatives among other efforts. Additionally, Theresa has effectively utilized social media and community events to reach a broader audience, ensuring residents across Richland County are informed of local soil and water conservation efforts and volunteer opportunities. Theresa’s efforts embody the importance of local involvement and fostering community-driven efforts to protect and improve water quality. Richland County is unique in that it contains eight distinct watersheds, compared to the more typical one per county.  These watersheds are critical to water quality, as three flow to Lake Erie and five to the Ohio River. The county is also home to several important water bodies, including Charles Mill Lake, Clear Fork Reservoir, and Pleasant Hill Lake—all vital to environmental health and recreational activities. Learn more about watersheds in Richland County. Theresa Sutter & Carter Bailey #### Only Rain Down the Drain in 2026 By Zoe Baumberger In the final quarter of 2025, we inspected our MS4 township garage facilities to confirm their good housekeeping practices. We enjoyed catching up with the township road supervisors and discussing our plans for the new permit term, which will run from 2026 to 2030. 2026 brings a new MS4 theme: Only Rain Down the Drain! Many people don’t realize that, unlike a sanitary sewer, the water that enters a storm drain or ditch is NOT treated. There’s no filtration or disinfection process. Stormwater simply flows (often through a system of pipes, culverts, and catch basins) to the nearest stream, lake, or river. That means anything the water picks up along the way (from litter to oil) is carried into our local waterways. What goes down the drain goes into our environment. Join us throughout 2026 as we highlight simple ways to protect our waterbodies. If you’re planning a project this year, come get your stormwater permit to ensure you’re only sending rain down the drain. Small choices can make a big impact! Learn more here: https://www.onlyraindownthedrain.com/ Only Rain Down the Drain #### Options to Preserve Your Farmland Ohio’s Historic Family Farm Program Has your farm been in your family for more than a century? Would you like to preserve and honor that history? If so, Ohio’s Historic Family Farm Program might be a good choice. There are three designations for historic farms in Ohio: Century Farms (in the family for 100-146 years), Sesquicentennial Farms (in the family for 150-199 years), and Bicentennial Farms (200+ years in the family). For more information you can call the Ohio Dept. of Agriculture at 614-752-4505 or email them (see below). agcentury@agri.ohio.gov Farmland Preservation Program Do you want to preserve your farmland as an agricultural asset in your community, in perpetuity? If so, you may want to look into the Farmland Preservation Program offered by the Ohio Department of Agriculture and sponsored by your local Soil and Water Conservation District. This program has two options for preservation: Clean Ohio Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (LEAPP) where you compete in a ranking process to be enrolled into the program. Agricultural Easement Donation Program (AEDP), which includes some tax benefits. There are also additional optional United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) programs that are similar in nature, and you can enroll at the same time as the above. If you would like further information, please contact us or the Farm Service Agency for additional information. #### Outfall Observations By Sam Foley Since we are now into a new NPDES permit term, it’s time to begin screening the various stormwater outfalls throughout the MS4 area. We decided to begin with Madison Township and in this past quarter 15 of those outfalls were inspected. In Madison Township, there are a total of 113 outfalls. These inspections are performed during dry weather, meaning there has been less than 1 inch of accumulated rainfall over the past 72 hours, prior to the inspection. We are looking for indicators of illicit discharge, which could be observed visually or olfactory via smell. If indicators are observed, we would collect a sample and perform various tests to determine whether there was indeed an illicit discharge. So far in this permit term, no indicators of illicit discharge have been discovered, which is a good thing! Stay tuned for future updates about the MS4 activities performed under our NPDES permit.  Sam performing outfall inspections #### Ponds and Plants By Matt Wallace Springtime will bring about opportunities to make new memories with family and friends around your pond, but did you experience issues with various plants last year that you may have forgotten about? Things like watermeal (green, floating, granular plant), duck weed (small lobed floating green plants with a tiny root), cattails (green in the summer and brown in the winter extending above the waterline), or broadleaf watermilfoil (submerged leaves are finely dissected and cause the shoot to resemble the form of a raccoon tail, whereas leaves on the emergent bracts tend to be smaller and appear only in summer). All of these plants can have the potential to provide feeding, loafing, and protective cover opportunities for waterfowl, fish, and other mammals. But like so many other things, they can become a nuisance, reduce plant biodiversity, create hypoxic zones and need to be controlled. Things like watermeal and duckweed are indicators of a high nutrient load in your pond which feed off muck in the bottom of your pond. Muck is natural and comes from dead and decaying plant material that can reduce oxygen, increase nutrients, and reduce your ponds volume. The best way to correct this is by using a live beneficial bacteria coupled with pond aeration. This will reduce the amount of muck in your pond, reduce the nutrients that cause excessive plant growth, and restore lost volume. For pond advice, give us a call. Drone photo by Matt Wallace #### Preventing Erosion with Best Management Practices (BMPs) By Zoe Baumberger Over the past couple months, we’ve taken a deep dive into the importance of keeping dirt in place and using proper stabilization techniques to prevent erosion. Last quarter, we covered some of the different types of erosion. For this final quarter we’re focusing on the Best Management Practices (BMPs) used to control erosion and sediment on construction sites. Sediment and erosion controls work hand in hand to keep dirt in its place. Sediment controls are designed to stop sediment from leaving a construction site and reaching storm drains, roads and neighboring properties. BMPs like silt fences, check dams, fiber rolls and inlet protection act as physical barriers to trap sediment on-site. Silt fence incorrectly installed on top. Correctly installed on bottom. Two examples of inlet protection Check dam Erosion controls such as seeding, mulching, riprap and erosion control blankets/mating help prevent erosion from occurring in the first place by providing stabilization. These practices are key in protecting bare soil from wind and water erosion because the roots, stones, or mats hold the soil in place by covering it from the elements. Erosion controls are simple yet effective! Both sediment and erosion controls are critical tools for maintaining compliance and protecting our waterways from sediment pollution. If you’re wondering which BMP is best for you, please don’t hesitate to call our office at 419-747-8986. Rip rap being installed to stabilize slope Slope stabilization by seeding & mulching with straw Erosion control blanket/mat As we wrap up this year long series, it all comes back to one simple principle: keep the dirt where it belongs. Soil is one of our most valuable resources but when it leaves a site it becomes a pollutant. Every mat laid down, seed planted and silt fence trenched in plays a part in preventing erosion and protecting water quality. If there’s one thing to remember going forward it’s that good site management begins with keeping dirt in place. #### Project Helper By Matt Christian Winter is upon us. When we’re not thinking about snuggling up to a fire to stay warm, planning skiing trips, drinking hot chocolate, and cleaning snow off our driveways, we begin to start thinking about projects we’d like to do when the weather breaks. This could involve building something on your property; maybe an addition, new garage, pole barn, shed, or possibly a pond. If you are thinking about a project like this, you may need to contact our office about obtaining a Stormwater Permit. Richland SWCD implements the Stormwater Management and Sediment Control Regulation program on behalf of the Richland County Commissioners. This program was created to ensure that disturbed soil from construction stays on site and does not run off the property. It also considers how rainwater will flow off of new buildings, driveways, and concrete and that it outlets in a way to encourage water to soak into the soil onsite. If you need a Stormwater Permit, we want to make sure the process is as smooth and painless as possible. We have two technicians that are happy to assist you with the permitting process, Sam Foley and Zoe Baumberger. A few years ago, we developed an interactive questionnaire that will assist you in making sure that you have everything you need before you come see Sam or Zoe, It is called “I Have a Project” and it’s located on our website, Richlandswcd.net (linked below). It asks you a series of questions about your project then provides a list of all the other permits or documents you will need to get before you apply for a Stormwater Permit. It will even prepare you whether to expect a permit fee or not. The goal of “I Have a Project” was to inform applicants of what they needed before coming in. One of the most frustrating things for applicants is to make the trip to the office to get the permit only to find out they actually have to leave and go acquire a septic permit first, for example, then make another trip back to the office. So, if you’re looking to complete a project in Richland County, please check out “I Have a Project”. There are a couple of different ways to find it on our website: Click on the link to go directly to “I Have a Project”: https://richlandswcd.net/stormwater-drainage/i-have-a-project/ Go to www.richlandswcd.net , click on “Stormwater & Drainage” at the top of the page, scroll down to the links and just below “Continental Divide Tour” you will find “I Have a Project”, click on that link and click “Start the Questionnaire”. Then answer the prompted questions. (See photos below for guidance) If you have any questions about the permit process, please contact Sam Foley at (419) 747-8077 or Zoe Baumberger at (419) 774-8986. Richland SWCD home page Richland SWCD Stormwater & Drainage page Richland SWCD I Have a Project page #### Protecting Our Watersheds: The Power of Volunteer Efforts Volunteering with the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD) offers numerous personal benefits, including skill development, increased confidence, and a profound sense of purpose. It also fosters community engagement and strengthens social bonds, which leads to a more connected society. At Richland SWCD, our volunteers are driven by their concern for the environment and a commitment to conserving our planet’s natural resources. We currently have 73 individuals who assist in various ways, including precipitation, lake, and stream monitoring, office support, participation in workshops and community events, as well as photography. In 2024, their joint efforts saved the County General Fund over $45,000. Our volunteers play an important role in monitoring the health of our watersheds by quickly notifying us of any issues. Without the hard work of our precipitation, lake and stream monitoring volunteers, the data we rely on would be unobtainable. This data serves as a vital resource for the public, governmental bodies, and our partners. The more monitoring volunteers we have, the more complete and accurate our data becomes. Commissioner Mears presenting proclamation to Bob Donaldson We honor one volunteer each year at our Annual Celebration. In 2024, we recognized Robert E. Donaldson for his incredible contributions to our volunteer team. We also host an annual picnic to show our appreciation for all our volunteers. This year’s picnic is scheduled for June 3 at South Park in Mansfield. We are currently looking for new Lake Monitor volunteers. Training will be held on April 29 at 5pm at Pleasant Hill Lake Park. All equipment is provided, but volunteers will need access to the internet to post their data on our website. If you are interested in joining our volunteer team, please contact Theresa Sutter at sutter.theresa@richlandswcd.net or 419-747-8685, or visit our volunteer opportunities page. Theresa (right) and some of our volunteers at the 2024 Annual Celebration #### Quarter One Stormwater Update: Permits Issued and Compliance Reminders Our first quarter of the year was very active for Stormwater Permits. We issued 12 permits for commercial projects between January 1, 2025, and March 31, 2025. We’ve also issued 59 residential permits during that same time period with 30 of those being an exemption. Please remember, if you are moving soil in the unincorporated parts of Richland County you need to consult with us about permit requirements to ensure you are following the Stormwater Management and Sediment Control Regulations. Let’s work together to be good stewards of our county’s natural resources! #### Richland County Proves to be a “Rich Land” in the Soil Your Undies Experiment A map of all the buried underwear locations. Credit: Richland SWCD Dirty Undies! This year’s county fair brought an unexpected highlight – dirty underwear from across Richland County! As part of the Soil Your Undies challenge, our team buried a pair of 100% cotton underwear underground for 60 days in each of the 18 townships to showcase soil health. Rich soil teeming with microbes and worms will break down the fabric quickly, while less active soils will show little change. The healthier the soil, the faster the cotton underwear decomposes providing a fun and visual way to assess the vitality of local soils. Our Underwear on Display… One common joke among visitors after seeing the display was that Richland County should be called “Rich Land County” due to the thriving soils in some townships. Many visitors had questions about replicating the experiment in their backyard and we were able to give them our extra pairs of undies Our display quickly became a hit at the fair, sparking curiosity among visitors of all ages. Fairgoers were amazed to see the varying levels of underwear decomposition and how it correlated with the land’s use. Marilyn Roe, Richland SWCD Volunteer, at our 2024 Richland County Fair booth After the two-month burial period, we retrieved the undies and put them on display at the county fair. The results ranged from pairs that were barely recognizable to those with minimal decay. This visual showcase highlighted the differences in soil health across the county. A Lesson in Soil Health This experiment was more than just entertaining – it reminded us of the importance of maintaining healthy soil. Local farmers especially took note of how soil health can affect crop yield, water retention, and sustainability. Sites where the underwear remained mostly intact now have a clear opportunity to investigate practices that could improve their soil health like adding compost or using cover crops. Overall, the Soil Your Undies experiment was a great success. The positive reception at the fair showed just how eager our community is to learn about environmental stewardship. Richland County is ready to prove that it’s not just rich in history, but rich in land too. We want to extend a big thank you to the landowners who allowed us to bury underwear on their properties! This project wouldn’t have been possible without their generosity, curiosity, and support. #### Richland Gives Donations Provide Free Workshops By Theresa Sutter Richland Soil and Water Conservation District participated in this year’s Richland Gives, an online donation platform designed to encourage people to contribute to local nonprofits they care about through a single giving website. It is hosted by The Richland County Foundation to build capacity, grow philanthropy, and make the community stronger. Due to the generosity of donors, $1,000.00 was raised to provide free quarterly Conservation Creation Arts & Crafts Workshops this year for up to 25 people. In the past, participants were charged to cover the cost of workshop supplies. Funds will buy supplies needed for the craft or art project. The workshops pair an educational topic about the natural world with a related craft or art project and allow participants to learn more about the services and programs offered by the District. They bring people together in an informal setting where they learn about topics related to soil and water conservation but also visit with each other, build community, and be creative. Each evening is fun and educational. Register for the April 14 workshop at https://richlandswcd.net/event/conservation-creation-arts-craft-workshop-spring-seeds/. January 2025 Conservation Creation Workshop July 2025 Conservation Creation Workshop #### Richland SWCD Veteran Returns As Director Welcome back Matt Christian! Matt has lived in the Richland County area his whole life, attending college at Ashland University and Wooster ATI, completing a degree in Environmental Resource Management in 1998. “I knew I wanted something to do with the environment; I always liked the outdoors, and nature.” After completing an internship with Richland Soil & Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD) in 1997 Matt began his Soil and Water Conservation career in Crawford County as a Technician. He joined Richland Soil and Water Conservation District as a Technician in 2000, staying for 17 years. Matt began his new role as Director on May 6 and says his favorite part of the job is passing on conservation knowledge to the community “The ability to pass on the ideas and principles of what conservation means, its importance, and explaining the primary principles of conservation is what I enjoy most.” Matt’s Goals As the Director of Richland SWCD, Matt envisions a busy and bright future for the district. “I foresee many issues in the county are only going to become more focused and important. Agriculture is still a big part of Richland County, and development is going to continue to increase. Anytime new impervious areas are developed, water has a chance to get into the streams faster. It’s important for us to work with new (stormwater) applicants before construction begins to ensure water run-off stays on their property and is absorbed into the soil as much as possible.” If you would like to reach out to Matt and welcome him in his new role, he is available by phone at 419-747-8684, or email him at the link below! Matt is excited to continue the mission of assisting the citizens of Richland County in protecting and improving the County’s natural resources. Say hello to Matt! #### Road Salt: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly It’s 2024 which means we have a new MS4 theme! But first, what is MS4? In addition to requirements Richland County landowners follow for earthmoving activities through the Richland County Stormwater and Erosion Control Program, communities with 1,000 or more people per square mile must follow the Stormwater Non Point Discharge System (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) (NPDES) General Permit for Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) to further effectively manage water pollution. The Richland County Commissioners are mandated by Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) to create and manage this added accountability for stormwater runoff. The NPDES (MS4) communities in Richland County are: City of Mansfield, City of Ontario, Village of Lexington, Madison Township, Mifflin Township, Springfield Township and Washington Township. This year’s theme will focus on “Pollution Prevention.” The EPA defines pollution prevention as “any practice that reduces, eliminates, or prevents pollution at its source before it is created.” It is important to prioritize doing this because pollution has many negative effects on human health and the environment. The good news is, preventing pollution is something everyone can do. Throughout 2024 we will share different pollution prevention techniques to apply in your daily lives. We all know that road salt is good, right? Road salt helps melt the snow and ice on the roads we drive on, so they are not as slippery during winter storms, but… is there a negative side to road salt? Unfortunately, there is, and the effects can be substantial. Road salt can cause damage to your vehicles, health, and ecosystems. Have you ever noticed how vehicles primarily driven in states that use road salt rust out a lot quicker than vehicles in states that do not use road salt? Road salt contributes to cars rusting. Americans spread more than 20 million tons of salt on our roadways each winter. So, the question is, how does all this salt affect us and the environment? First, it causes our roadways and bridges to break down. Then the salt goes into our waterways. If water pipes are in poor shape, lead may flake off and enter our drinking water potentially causing health problems. Good water quality is important for everyone. We are especially mindful of it at Richland SWCD because it’s one of our areas of expertise. Did you know in Richland County, three watersheds above the Continental Divide flow to Lake Erie and five watersheds below the Continental Divide flow to the Ohio River and ultimately, the Gulf of Mexico? We don’t want to be a bad neighbor and pass along contaminated water to our neighbors. Find out more about watersheds and the Continental Divide in Richland County on our website. An example of poor water quality was the added nutrients in water that contributed to the harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie and the oxygen dead zone in the Gulf. We need to start utilizing more feasible alternatives that keep the roads safe while not damaging our health and environment. Placing sand on top of ice and snow provides traction for shoes and tires, but also absorbs sunlight to melt ice faster. Another alternative to salt as a de-icer is to use beet juice. Beet juice allows for ice to melt at lower temperatures, and it is gentle on roads, plants, grass, cars, and concrete. If salt must be used on roads, sidewalks, and parking lots, please apply it sparingly, so that you can help with Pollution Prevention. #### Save the Date: Annual Celebration is September 11 Save September 11 to attend this year’s Annual Celebration. The Celebration will return to the Area Agency on Aging in Hawkins Corner, 2131 Park Avenue West, Ontario. A buffet lunch will be served at 11:30am followed by a program at noon to recognize the Cooperator of the Year and Volunteer of the Year honorees and share this year’s impact, accomplishments and updates. The cost is $25 per person and reservations are required by September 4. Reservations may be made online at https://richlandswcd.net/event/annual-celebration-4/. From 11:30am to 12:30pm, eligible voters may cast their vote for one open Board Supervisor position. Eligible voters shall be at least eighteen years of age at the time of the official election and own or occupy land with the boundaries of Richland County. Absentee voting is also available at the Richland SWCD office beginning August 13 and closes September 10 at 4pm. Visit https://richlandswcd.net/ for election information. Richland SWCD Staff with Commissioner Vero and Commissioner Mears at the 2024 annual celebration #### Seed to Shelter: Establishing Native Cover for Wildlife Summer and fall are the perfect time to start preparing the land you’re considering changing to native wildlife cover. Whether you’re converting an old crop field or a turf grass/ lawn conversion, let’s discuss how to get the most from your planting. Agricultural field conversions are easiest to complete due to the weed bed being suppressed for food production, and post-harvest you’re planting in a rather clean seed bed. Fields coming out of soybeans are the ideal landscape to plant in. If coming out of corn, fodder may need to be raked and baled off for adequate seed to soil contact. Lawn conversions require a bit more site preparation than agricultural field conversions due to the aggressive nature of turf style grasses. Mow and allow the vegetation to grow back at least 6 inches. Then follow up with multiple blanket-herbicide applications, one application in the fall and spring are necessary to kill off the current cover. There are other methods for terminating grass cover currently established on the site if herbicides are something you’d like to steer away from, but each method has its own drawbacks on the environment and your planning timeline. Repeated tillage, solarization via black plastic and putting the parcel into a crop rotation for a few years are options as well. When planting native stands, you can either drill in the seed or broadcast it across the surface of the soil. When drilling, ensure you’re using a Great Plains, native, no-till grass drill as native seed needs planted no more than 1/8 – ¼ inch below the soil surface. In my professional opinion, using a drill is most effective during the spring planting time frame, whereas broadcasting is most efficient in the dormant frost seeding season. By broadcasting seeds in the dormant season, we are able to mimic processes that occur in nature. The best time to broadcast seeds in this time frame is after a light snow. This way you’re able to see the seed as it’s placed across the landscape, ensuring an even rate of coverage. Set your broadcast spreader to ½ the recommended rate per acre and complete two passes, perpendicular to one another, for the most even coverage. When seeding native species, the planting windows are as follows: spring season (Mid-March – June 1) and the dormant season (December – Mid-March). Plating oats with the native seed is a great way to control soil stability in the first year of growth in the stand while native plants focus on their complex root structure. Harvested soybean fields are some of the best prepped sites for planting conditions. Fescue conversion to native seeding using native, no-till grass drill. Image courtesy of Jason Jones, Pheasants Forever. In the first growing season of the stand’s life, multiple growing season mowings will need completed at a height of 10-15 inches. These mowings will reduce the completion the forbs receive from the grasses and allow for a more even mix in the stand. After the first year of establishment, full stand mows should never be completed, and a long-term adaptive maintenance plan should be generated and followed. Once your stand is an established grassland, maintenance is required. Historically, nature did this for us, but human intervention has allowed many of our natural grass spaces to revert to early successional woodland habitat. The best tool for maintaining grassland habitat is prescribed burns done on 3–5-year return intervals. This will remove the thatch layer from the previous year’s growth as well as kill off any woody vegetation that may have infiltrated the stand. Spring burns encourage native grass growth whereas fall burns tend to generate more forbs or wildflowers in subsequent years. A good goal to keep in mind is to keep ½-2/3 of the stand standing entering each dormant season to provide continued resources and habitat for wildlife. Cycle through the field and by year 2-3, the field should have gone through a completed management round, and it is time to repeat.   Burns can be hard to accomplish with so much red tape in the way, lack of personnel and climatic conditions (i.e. draught) so utilizing mowing and tillage for management is a great alternative. Mowing for stand management should be completed after the primary grassland bird nesting season, March 1 – July 15. I encourage mowing management to be completed by mid to late August to allow for regrowth and better over winter habitat for wildlife and pollinators. Mowing maintenance should take place on 1/3 of the acreage and be cycled through similar to fire management. Depending on how much thatch accumulates on the stand, raking this cut vegetation may be necessary to avoid smothering desired growth and retain access to the bare soil. Disking is also an excellent tool for creating additional bare ground in a dense stand, as bare ground is part of a pristine habitat for both wildlife and pollinators, and tillage helps rejuvenate the seed bed and allows annuals to flush out again. Be cautious of disking in areas with a history of invasive and noxious weeds, as disking will expose the existing seed bed and allow room for these unwanted species to take off. If this happens, don’t worry. Reach out to your local conservation office and we can help solve the issue, though following up with the establishment mowings during that following growing season is a great place to start to reduce annuals appearing in the plot. Some landowners are interested in the addition of food plots or shelterbelts near or adjacent to their grassland stands, which we can discuss more in another article. For more information on establishing native cover reach out to Rachel Coy. #### Seeking Candidates for Marketing Internship By Theresa Sutter Thanks to the generosity of the Fran and Warren Rupp Fund of the Richland County Foundation, we have a paid marketing internship available for a college student. The intern will gain hands-on experience in the areas of graphic design, writing press releases, and social media plus learn about soil and water conservation. Information about the internship is available at: https://richlandswcd.net/get-involved/careers-and-Internships/ Summer 2025 Intern at Kingwood Center Winter 2025 Intern at the Soil Open House #### Small Space, Big Impact: Urban Composting Figure 1: Worm bin at the Foley household The Importance of Composting Following our 2024 “Pollution Prevention” theme for the MS4 program, composting is one of the easiest ways for the average person to keep food scraps and other organic matter out of the landfill. Nearly 1/3 of all food produced is wasted (~1.3 billion tons each year) and around $165 billion a year is spent managing that waste (data from TED Ed, link below). Composting is a sustainable practice that can coincide with organic gardening. “Urban Composting” is a practice that can be performed in a city setting with limited space. In this article, I’ll discuss two unique and viable options to get you started: vermicomposting and using compost tumblers. Vermicomposting Vermicomposting uses earthworms to decompose organic matter (see Figure 1). The byproduct of vermicomposting is vermicast, a substance rich in humus, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, micronutrients, and beneficial soil microbes. Vermicast can help neutralize soil pH and improve plant health and nutrient uptake. Some folks refer to it as “Black Gold”. Worms can be somewhat sensitive and picky, so avoid putting spicy foods or anything acidic in your vermicompost. You don’t want to upset the balance! Figure 2: Compost tumbler at South Park Children’s Educational Garden Compost Tumblers Traditional composting can be easily performed in a tumbler or similar bin at home. Again, this option does not require a ton of space, and the closed bin keeps any unpleasant smell contained. The composter needs to be turned often—and that is most of the maintenance required. Adding composted organic matter to your soil is a fantastic way to supplement it. Your plants and the planet will thank you. Resources – Click or tap! Video on Vericomposting (TED Ed) Vermicomposting for Beginners (Rodale Institute) #### Starting the Year with Gratitude Happy New Year! We have much to be thankful for as we kick off a new year. Here’s our top 10 list: You. Without you using our programs and services we wouldn’t exist. Volunteers: Without you we wouldn’t accomplish the amount of work we do and keep an eye on what is happening in our watersheds. Cooperator of the Year and Volunteer of the Year William Flanegan Jr. and Leonard Fox: Without you, we wouldn’t have voluntary stewardship to serve as an example for others to follow. Donors: Without three anonymous donors, Sutton Bank, Frank Shipley, Joseph & Elizabeth Bocka, Shady Lane Farms, Kingwood Center Gardens, Everleaf Aquaponics, Alta Florist & Greenhouse, Conservation Creation speakers and workshop leaders, Mark & Amy Workman, and the Richland County Engineering Department we wouldn’t have been able to offer the Teacher Resource Day at a discounted price, have fun and educational Conservation Creation Workshops, fund the Rain Barrel Program or create the Continental Divide road signs. Grants: Without Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) and the Richland County Foundation Fran and Warren Rupp Fund we wouldn’t have been able to remove log jams from a portion of the Black Fork, have the Continental Divide road signs created, paid college interns or extend our agriculture services. Board of Supervisors: Without your voluntary leadership and support to guide us we could lose sight of our mission. Commissioners: Without you we wouldn’t be able to provide free or low cost services and programs. Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA): without your financial support and guidance we would struggle. United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service: Without you, we wouldn’t be able to offer technical assistance. Additional Partners: Without you, we wouldn’t be able to reach as many audiences, provide as many resources, and meet so many wonderful people. 2023 was no doubt a milestone year for us with being named District of the Year for Ohio and celebrating our 75th anniversary. However, we are anticipating 2024 to be another year full of providing resources, programs, and services needed to preserve, protect and conserve our great county. We look forward to working with you to continue a legacy of stewardship so our soil and water remains healthy for current and future generations. Thank you for joining us in our mission. #### Stopping the Slide: How to Stabilize Streambanks and Prevent Erosion Springtime brings back warmer temperatures, green plants, beautiful blooms – and unfortunately heavy, damaging rain events.  Sometimes an after effect of these heavy rains is streambank erosion. This occurs when heavy rains make their way to streams, dramatically increasing the speed and force of the water. These flow velocities can be too much for the streambank and sections of the soil can be eroded away. In some instances, erosion is significant enough to remove a portion of the property and establish a new streambank edge. Another detrimental effect of this erosion is that soil is washed into the stream and suspended in the water column, which is a type of pollution (See MS4 Update: Why Soil Matters More Than You Think). There are actions that can be taken to protect stream banks.  Mechanical methods can be installed, this would include placing materials such as large rip-rap stone, timber pilings, stream rock veins, rock gabion baskets or retaining walls made of treated timber or metal sheet piling to hold the bank in place.  These methods would offer immediate relief, but they can be extremely expensive and if not professionally designed and installed, they could fail in short order. Cross section of vegetated gabion revetment from Ohio Stream Management Guide Another action that should be considered would be planting live trees and shrubs. This method requires a little forward thinking and is not an immediate fix, but it is much more affordable and if established properly, could offer a very long-term solution. Trees and shrubs along stream corridors offer their live root systems to hold soil in place and are called Riparian Buffers.  The root systems of vegetation resists the force of storm surges in the river and keep the streambanks and the soil in its place. There are many types of trees and shrubs that would be suitable for this purpose, but I would like to highlight one tree in particular for landowners to consider – the American Sycamore tree. The American Sycamore is a native tree and can be recognized by its mottled brown, gray and white bark that can look like a camouflage pattern.  It is typically found growing wild along stream and river corridors and has the largest circumference and leaves of any hardwood tree in North America.  It is a large tree with a potential diameter of greater than 10 feet, and a height range between 80 and 140 feet!  They are a long-lived tree as well. A living tree was cut down in southeastern Indiana in 1970, it’s diameter was more than 7 feet, and it was found to be 430 years old! American Sycamore bark As far as stream benefits, here’s what the Sycamore can offer.  Their massive root systems not only hold and secure stream banks, but they also filter out sediments and other surface pollutants from the stream.  These root systems also create flow eddies in the stream which can reduce erosive flow and offer resting areas for fish from strong flow currents. Their large size can offer shade to the stream channel too. This cools the water which increases dissolved oxygen and inhibits nuisance algae. The tree itself offers multiple wildlife benefits, it can provide cavities for shelter along with roosting and nesting sites for birds. The Sycamore is the preferred tree by Bald Eagles and the canopy of a mature tree can support a 2,000-pound Bald Eagle nest! So, the next time you have a chance to drive or hike next to a stream, take a look and see if you can spot this amazing tree. Notice how the roots are securing the streambank and take a peek into the canopy and see if you can spot an eagle’s nest. I hope this will give you a new appreciation for the Sycamore and consider it an option as a streambank stabilization technique. #### Stormwater Permits: How Many and Who’s Covered By Sam Foley There’s been a lot of activity in the stormwater permitting office to start off 2026. So far this year Richland SWCD has issued 24 residential stormwater permits and 23 residential permit exemptions. Exempted permits are projects or sites that don’t reach any of the thresholds outlined in the County’s Stormwater and Sediment Control Regulations. We have also issued 21 commercial permits, with the majority of those being small commercial site maintenance at oil and gas wells. If your project is carried over from 2025 you can expect our office to be requesting stabilization of your site this spring. Warm weather is right around the corner and there’s no better time to get some grass growing! For this month’s stormwater minute, I wanted to briefly touch on the regulations mentioned above. In the Applicability section of the County’s regulations, it is laid out which projects will be required to adhere to these standards. Projects involving earth-disturbing activities of over 3,000 square feet or new hard surfaces of over 2,000 square feet, must obtain the stormwater permit. A development that would significantly change the use of the property (from residential to commercial, for instance) would also be applicable. Finally, any development involving earth-disturbance within 100 feet of a stream, wetland, or Special Flood Hazard Area must follow the performance standards laid out in the regulations. Think your project might be exempt? Great, but we still need to make that call! Stop by our office and fill out an application so Zoe or I can officially confirm and sign off on your stormwater permit exemption. If you have any questions about applicability of your project, please contact our office for guidance. #### Stormwater Program Updates – Summer 2024 Stormwater Permitting | MS4/NPDES Stormwater Permitting Richland Soil & Water Conservation District (Richland SWCD) is the manager of Richland County’s Stormwater Management and Sediment Control Regulations. Any building projects that entail earth disturbance and/or new impervious surface are permitted through our office (applies to all unincorporated areas in Richland County, and the Village of Lexington, only).  For more info on our Stormwater Permit process and how to complete the process fully online using GeoPermits, click or tap the links!  Richland SWCD’s Stormwater Permit Page GeoPermits Overview Video MS4/NPDES Program Update The MS4/NPDES permit is a crucial regulatory measure designed to manage and reduce pollution from stormwater runoff in urbanized areas. The permit, part of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program, specifically targets Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) in communities with populations of 100,000 or more. By mandating the implementation of effective stormwater management practices, the MS4/NPDES permit plays a vital role in minimizing pollutants entering local water bodies. Sam and Zoe have been focusing on illicit discharge detection and elimination. This quarter, they dry weather screened five outfalls in Madison Township. Through these comprehensive efforts, Richland SWCD strives to ensure effective stormwater management, helping to prevent pollution and protect local water bodies. Fore more information on MS4 in Richland County, click the link below. Richland SWCD’s MS4 Page #### Stormwater Season in Full Swing: Are You Covered? Our 2nd quarter of the year brought in many stormwater permits. We issued 14 permits for commercial projects between April 1, 2025 and June 30, 2025. We also issued 72 residential permits during that same time period with 48 of those being some sort of exemption. Please remember, if you are moving soil in the unincorporated areas of Richland County you need to consult with us about a stormwater permit to ensure you are following the Stormwater Management and Sediment Control Regulations of Richland County. And now for a Stormwater Minute: Did you know that Agricultural projects are NOT exempt from the county’s Stormwater and Sediment Control Regulations? While agricultural construction is typically exempt from building and zoning regulations (still check in with each of these departments if you have an ag project), it is still subject to stormwater permitting requirements. We require site plans and the permit application to be submitted to our office. We inspect projects that go over the 2,000 square foot threshold outlined in the County’s regulations. Stormwater Permits for Agricultural projects are fee exempt though and never cost the farmer anything. Zoe on a stormwater inspection for an agricultural project #### Strategies for Building Up Organic Matter in Soil By Sam Foley This quarter’s article is all about organic matter in our soil, particularly in our gardens and flower beds. I’ve been hinting around in previous articles about the importance of organic matter and have discussed a few of these strategies in detail (Small Space, Big Impact: Urban Composting). So, what is organic matter, why do we want it in our soil, and how can we increase levels? According to National Geographic, organic matter, also referred to as humus, is the dark material that forms in soil when plant and animal matter decays. This can be from leaf litter, stems, buds, roots, etc. from last year’s growth. Slowly, this material is broken down-adding essential elements back into the soil in the form of nutrients that plants require for optimal growth. Organic matter is packed full of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, as well as macro and micronutrients. Organic matter is teeming with microbial life as well, which are working behind the scenes in our soil to make it a truly living ecosystem. Now that we know what organic matter is, what benefits can we expect to see from increased amounts and how do we know how much is presently in our soil? As with anything to do with soil, we need to test it. Otherwise, all we can do is take a guess at its health. A basic soil test will include a percentage of organic matter in the soil report. The laboratory does not give a desired range for organic matter, but typically, more is better. Benefits that would come from increased organic matter would be improved tilth, better infiltration and water retention, and increased nutrient availability. All these things would correlate to increased plant health which gives us more resistance to disease or pests and leads to more bountiful harvests. Richland SWCD native plant garden. Leaf litter is used as mulch, notice the dark color! So, what steps can one take to increase organic matter in their soil? The easiest strategy is building up an organic mulch layer. Chopping last year’s plants, adding grass clippings, leaf litter, or even compost and layering this material on top of the soil. Growing cover crops between our cash crops, chopping and dropping them in a similar manner, will also increase organic matter and add to our robust mulch layer. Worms and beneficial insects feed on this material and do the work for us. Another option is simply incorporating finished compost into our soil via tilling. These methods are not only sustainable, but they are also conservation practices and that to me is one of the most important ways to look at gardening. Creating and implementing processes that allow me to harvest food and showcase beautiful flowers while also putting back into the soil that grants us these wonderful harvests. The process of building up organic matter in our soil can certainly take time but the efforts will be rewarded season after season.  Read More: National Geographic: Humus, Test Don’t Guess: Importance of Soil Testing , Mulch Madness, Vermicomposting, Leave the Leaves #### Summer Events Upcoming Events Sep 2 September 2 – October 1 Board Supervisor Election Sep 23 9:00 am – 10:00 am Board Supervisor Meeting Oct 1 11:30 am – 1:00 pm Annual Celebration Oct 12 All day Office Closed in Observance of Columbus Day Oct 13 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Conservation Creations Arts & Crafts Workshop: Things That Go Bump in the Night Oct 28 9:00 am – 10:00 am Board Supervisor Meeting Nov 11 All day Office Closed in Observance of Veterans Day Nov 25 9:00 am – 10:00 am Board Supervisor Meeting Nov 26 November 26 – November 27 Office Closed in Observance of Thanksgiving Dec 23 9:00 am – 10:00 am Board Supervisor Meeting View Calendar #### Summer Stormwater Report By Colby Dunn & Sam Foley Construction season for 2026 is now in full swing. Since last quarter Richland SWCD has issued 101 residential stormwater permits with 65 of those being some sort of exemption. Exempted permits are projects or sites that don’t reach any of the thresholds outlined in the County’s Stormwater and Sediment Control Regulations. We have also issued 12 commercial permits for construction in the unincorporated areas of the county. Now that we are into summer and weather conditions have heated up, achieving permanent stability can prove to be challenging, but not impossible. The stormwater minute below gives the Richland SWCD’s guidance for seeding and various windows for planting dates. Please keep in mind that any installed sediment controls should remain onsite and functional until permanent stability is achieved. For my summer 2026 stormwater minute I want to lay out the seeding guidance provided within the Richland County Stormwater and Sediment Control Regulations. Article III, Section 3.06 states that “permanent vegetation shall be installed on any portion of the site on which final grade has been achieved within seven days after final grading. Soil stabilization measures shall be selected that are appropriate for the time of the year, site conditions, and estimated length of use”. The Appendix Table A gives educated guidance on seeding rates and date windows. It also provides guidance for seeding outside of the ideal standard seeding dates. For instance, seeding could be accomplished between June 1st and July 31st if the area is mulched appropriately. Have questions about stabilizing your site? Give us a call at 419-747-8686 and we would be more than happy to assist. Appendix ADownload #### Supporting Landowners: Pond Clinic, Fish Sale, Farmland Preservation, and More! Pond Clinic We will be hosting a pond clinic at the Longview Center on February 25th from 5:30pm – 7:30pm. Steve Fender of Fender’s Fish Hatchery will discuss topics such as fish species selection, pond maintenance, aquatic weed control, and predator mitigation. Our office will also share how we can assist with pond design, usage, soil suitability testing, and their endless possibilities.  Additionally, we will be discussing the benefits of installing a dry hydrant in your pond for fire suppression and additional homeowner benefits. Watch our webpage for additional updates. Register for Pond Clinic Fish Sale We are having our annual fish sale again this year! Orders are DUE April 17th. Please place orders online or call about in-person ordering. For more information about placing orders and fish species available follow this link. Pick up is April 25 at the Richland County Fairground Horse Barn from 10:00am to 11:30am. Please bring enough containers to hold the purchased fish. Each container needs an unscented poly liner to hold oxygen and keep fish alive and well during transport. Fill the container/liner one-third full with water from the pond that the fish will be living in. For more information check out our fish sale pick up page or give us a call at 419-747-8686. Order Fish Online Farmland Preservation  Do you have a farm that you want to make sure that it will stay in agricultural production forever? Or has it been in your family for multiple generations? The Ohio Department of Agriculture has programs to preserve and recognize these milestones. For more information, call our office.   What’s a Floodplain? What is a floodplain? A floodplain is an area adjacent to a river or stream that becomes inundated with water during times of heavy or prolonged rainfall. Building in the floodplain presents challenges such as the need for hydraulic and hydrologic studies, additional permits, and higher construction costs to elevate structures. Search your address to see if you’re in the floodplain Manure Management Applying manure to fields is common, but better manure management can prevent unintentional runoff. Our office can assist producers with best manure management techniques. Drainage issues are also a frequent concern during heavy rainfall, and many landowners overlook problem areas that can lead to flooding. For more information on these topics, visit our website or contact Technician Matt Wallace at 419-747-8687. #### Supporting Pollinators Over Winter Recently, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began petitioning for the monarch butterfly to be listed as a threatened species in the U.S and is seeking public input on the proposal. This inspired me to start a habitat series focused on grassland birds and pollinator habitat because good pollinator habitat is also good bird habitat!  Winter has arrived, which presents the perfect opportunity to discuss winter habitat and resource needs for pollinators. Some pollinators, like Monarch Butterflies, fly south for the winter, but many other stay home and hibernate. To survive the cold months, they need safe, undisturbed places to rest like stems of plants, leaf piles, or the ground. Providing these spaces when Ohio is blanketed by cold can make a big difference. When planning your pollinator planting, it’s essential to plant species that bloom all throughout the growing season to ensure resources are readily available. For migrating species like Monarchs, late bloomers like asters and goldenrod are especially helpful as they prepare for their long journey. Hibernating pollinators need a place to nest and rest over winter. Resist the urge to tidy everything up in the fall! Many pollinators hibernate in hollow plant stems, under leaves, or in the soil. By leaving plants and seed heads standing, you’re giving pollinators a safe place to rest and providing food for birds in winter. Pruning of perennials in gardens should be postponed until after winter and can occur in the start of spring. This allows overwintering pollinators to emerge safely when weather warms up. If you have a larger area like a meadow or prairie, try to mow only once a year and do it in late summer (July or August). This gives plants and pollinators enough time before winter to grow and supply cover, food for wildlife and hibernation locations for our pollinators. Mowing should not occur during the primary grassland bird nesting season (March 1 – July 15). The key to pollinator habitat is mimicking wild landscapes. A clean, pristine garden does not mimic our natural landscapes where native pollinators and wildlife have co-evolved with the plants and ‘management’ on the landscape. By letting your yard or garden be more natural, you’re helping to recreate the environment they need to survive. In summary, managing pollinator plantings for winter: If your pollinator habitat is grassland/ prairie: Strategically time your mowing and maintenance with a goal to have mowing completed by mid-August to ensure your stand has adequate cover through winter. Ensure your stand has species blooming in the last bloom window, these usually include asters and goldenrods and supply food/ fuel for migrating species and pollinators trying to store energy for the long winter hibernation. Keep the cover! Keep as much above ground cover available as possible, leave the stems, logs, leaf litter and rocks. If you are managing a smaller garden patch, avoid pruning until late winter/ early spring. *Keeping the seed heads on standing vegetation increases food availability for other wildlife, too! Please do not hesitate to reach out with any habitat questions or comments! #### Team Transitions: Welcoming a New Face and Saying Goodbye Evan joined Richland SWCD in June of 2021 and quickly became an invaluable part of our team. Wearing many hats, he worked with H2Ohio producers, helped with stormwater permitting, crafted our newsletter, and brought Our Rich Land podcast to life. His commitment and creativity knew no bounds. One of Evan’s favorite parts of his role was connecting with H2Ohio producers and supporting them in every way he could. His passion for making a difference was evident in all he did. As Evan embarks on a new chapter as Project Coordinator for Philander Chase Conservancy, we feel a mix of pride and bittersweet emotions. We will miss his humor, dedication, organization and the energy he brought to the office every day. Thank you, Evan, for the past three years of hard work and for leaving an unforgettable mark on Richland SWCD. We wish you all the best in this exciting new adventure! We’re excited to welcome Kayla Mitchell, our new marketing intern, to the team! Kayla is a student at Bowling Green State University where she is majoring in communication and minoring in journalism. She’ll be assisting us with graphic design, social media, promoting our programs to the community, and more. We’re thrilled to have her onboard and can’t wait to see the creative ideas she brings to the table! Although she’s working remotely, we hope you’ll join us in giving her a warm virtual welcome! #### Test, Don’t Guess: Importance of Soil Testing for the Home Gardener By Sam Foley Background One of the most common questions we get is “How can I increase the soil health in my home garden?” A soil test is the simple answer. Our office offers soil testing through Spectrum Analytic Inc, a laboratory out of Washington Court House, Ohio. According to Spectrum Analytic “A soil test is one’s best single guide in determining the strength of each link in the plant nutrient chain. The weak link sets the ceiling on crop yield potential. A soil test identifies the weak link or links.” These weak links are specific nutrient values where your soil may be lacking. Additionally, soil testing is a great tool for someone interested in conservation because after we know the nutrient content of the soil, we can amend only what is needed. This helps avoid applying excessive nutrients, which can be lost to runoff, and saves the grower money. A soil test is only as beneficial as our understanding of the report so I am going to use this space to describe each parameter included in the basic test and how to take the best sample you possibly can.  How to Take a Soil Sample Soil test results are only going to be as accurate as the sample that was collected. We have a great description of how to collect the best representative sample. Please follow this link for additional information: https://richlandswcd.net/residential/soil/#soil-testing  Interpreting Results You’ve submitted your sample and have received a report, so what does it all mean? Well, that’s part of what I’m here for, to help interpret these charts and graphs. I’m always happy to discuss these reports and try to always give my quick recap when forwarding results to owners. This section will provide a brief explanation of each parameter from the Basic Soil Test.  pH is a measurement indicating the active acidity or alkalinity. pH is measured on a scale of 0-14. 7 is neutral, values below seven are acidic, and values above 7 are alkaline. Certain nutrients are only available to a plant within a very specific pH range, and this is why pH is absolutely crucial.   Buffer pH is what is used to determine the lime requirement. The lower the buffer pH result, the more soil will resist a change in pH. In this case, more lime would be required to raise the pH to the desirable level.   Organic Matter, oftentimes referred to as humus, consists of plant and animal detritus (decaying matter) that soil microbes can synthesize. Organic matter is packed full of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen as well as macro and micro nutrients.   C.E.C. stands for Cation Exchange Capacity which is a measurement of the soil’s capacity to hold exchangeable nutrients with a positive electrical charge (cations). Soils with a high C.E.C. can supply a large amount of nutrients, but they also require a large amount of fertilizer to be considered fertile. Higher C.E.C. values can indicate presence of clay and organic matter, where a low C.E.C. may indicate sandy soil, which is typically low in organic matter.   Potassium (K) is an important macronutrient. It’s required for metabolic and physiological function. It also plays a role in photosynthesis and plant food formation.   Magnesium (Mg) is another macronutrient. Again, it plays a big role in photosynthesis and is an enzyme activator.   Calcium (Ca) is essential for many plants functions, including proper cell division and cell wall development. Also nitrate uptake and metabolism. Enzyme activity and starch metabolism also are dependent on calcium presence.   Phosphorus (P) plays a major role in photosynthesis, respiration, seed and fruit production, as well as energy storage, transfer and production.   Recommendations This section is provided based on the target crop, and if provided, yield goals. Nutrient recommendations are given in pounds per acre and can easily be converted to match one’s target area. Not only are nutrient recommendations provided but also recommendations for adjusting pH to the desired level. Lime is prescribed in situations where pH is too acidic, and sulfur is used to lower pH when soil is too alkaline. Following the provided recommendations should result in more ideal production in one’s garden.   Conclusion If you’ve ever considered testing the soil in your home garden hopefully this article has provided a good overview of what to expect from the test report and how to begin to interpret those results. Soil testing is a great tool in the conservationist’s belt. Only applying what is needed saves time, money and resources. By following the recommendations provided we can begin to build up our soil into the healthiest state it’s been in a long time. Stay tuned for future articles as I plan to explore more ways to build up our soil by increasing levels of organic matter via composting.   Learn More How to Read the Spectrum Analytic Soil Test Report Interpreting Lawn and Garden Soil Test Results How to Take a Soil Sample #### Thank you, Daniel Thanks to Daniel Karger for working with us this summer as a marketing intern! We wish him well in his future educational and career pursuits. Daniel said, “This Internship has been such a great experience. I have been able to dive into real world marketing tasks, like attending events and creating social media posts, to help get me started in honing my skills for the future. It has been eye-opening to see how the world of marketing as well as conservation works. I have learned so much that I will take with me moving forward. I am proud of the work that I have done and am appreciative of the ability to learn from the things that didn’t quite go to plan.” Thank you to the Fran and Warren Rupp Fund of the Richland County Foundation for funding the internship. Daniel at Kingwood Center Gardens Daniel at the Richland County Fair #### The Dirt on Soil & Water: District Highlights & Program Updates New H2Ohio Sign-Ups! We are pleased to announce enrollment is again open in Richland County for the H2Ohio Program for crop year 2025! If you or a farmer you know missed out or passed up the first opportunity to participate in this program, now is a great time to join! A nutrient management plan accounting for all N-P-K nutrients is required to participate in the program. Applications will be taken on a first come, first served basis. The deadline to sign up is May 31s. For more info, please visit our H2Ohio webpage or give Jordan or Evan a call (see contacts on last page). Stormwater Permits, by the Numbers RSWCD is the manager of Richland County’s Stormwater Management and Sediment Control Regulations. Any building projects that entail earth disturbance and/or new impervious surface are permitted through our office (applies to all unincorporated areas in Richland County, and the Village of Lexington, only). Here is the first quarter of 2024 by the numbers, in terms of Stormwater permits issued by our office: Residential/Ag Permits (includes Residential stormwater permits, Fee Exemptions, & Permit Exemptions): 39 Commercial: 8 For more info on our Stormwater Permit process and how to complete the process fully online using GeoPermits, view our documents! We’re Soiling Our Undies This Year! You read that correctly. This year, we will be burying at least one pair of underwear in each of Richland County’s eighteen townships in different types of soil. We’re enlisting the help of local landowners and partners to find a patch of earth and leave our undergarments in a hole. Have we gone mad? Nope. This is a time tested experiment to showcase soil health. A healthy soil has good air and water flow, and is teeming with micro-biotic organisms, fostering an excellent environment for crops to grow in. How will this work? Undies go underground in late spring. We wait sixty days. We dig them back up. We hang them up for everyone to see. A healthy soil is excellent at breaking down organic matter, like cotton briefs. We bet you get the idea. Come see our soiled undies at the County Fair this year and learn about the importance of soil health! MS4 Theme for 2024: “Pollution Prevention” It’s 2024 and there is now a new MS4 theme! The OEPA (Ohio Environmental Protection Agency) defines pollution prevention as “any practice that reduces, eliminates, or prevents pollution at its source before it is created.” Pollution has many negative effects on human health and the environment. The good news is, preventing pollution is something anyone can do. How? Capturing or slowing water down before it leaves your property! Both rain barrels and rain gardens are great and aesthetically pleasing ways of accomplishing these goals. If you are interested in getting a rain barrel or rain garden, we can help you accomplish this! Discover more about rain barrel, rain gardens, and the MS4 program by clicking on the links below. MS4 Program Webpage Rain Barrels / Rain Garden Info RSWCD Assisting the United States Dept. of Agriculture-Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) with Field Work RSWCD has begun doing more cooperative agreement work for USDA-NRCS (Natural Resource Conservation Service). This means that RSWCD and USDA-NRCS are teaming up to help implement federal cost-share programs in Richland County. Technicians Jordan Keller and Evan Stern are excited for the new work! And technician Matt Wallace has already been surveying waterways for USDA. If you or someone you know are interested in USDA-NRCS cost-share programs, feel free to contact any of these technicians, District Conservationist Jason Ruhl or Soil Conservationist Jordan Miller for more information. Read more about the cost-share programs below. USDA-NRCS Program Info Floodplains and You What is a floodplain? A floodplain is an area adjacent to a river or stream that becomes inundated with water during times of heavy and or prolonged rainfall. Over the years these areas have been mapped to show areas of high, moderate, and low-flood risk in a series of zones. These maps are officially known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). Communities use FIRMs to set minimum building requirements for coastal areas and floodplains; lenders use them to determine flood insurance needs and costs. Building within the floodplain comes with many challenges which can be costly, especially if hydraulic & hydrologic (H&H) studies or additional permits are required. Additional building material costs (e.g. to elevate the entire structure out of danger) may also be necessary. To view Richland County’s FIRMs you can go to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) Flood Map Service Center or visit our office. FEMA Flood Map Service Center #### The Grass Looks Greener on the Other Side Because It’s Native Grass! By Rachel Coy-Mecurio Grass is all around us from lawns, to agricultural lands, to natural areas, and non-native cool season grasses are the predominant species, despite the native warm season grasses that historically were established here prior to colonization. Non-native grasses were brought over during colonization due to their familiarity with settlers, and an existing understanding of how humans can make those grasses work for them. Non-native cool season grasses, like orchard, timothy and fescue, make up the bulk of grasses in our landscape. While native warm season grasses, like little and big bluestem, Indiangrass and switchgrass, are disappearing. Cool season grasses, also called C3 grasses, grow in the spring and fall and experience a “summer slump” due to their growth behavior and the biology of the plants. Cool season grasses grow in optimal soil temperatures from 59°F to 86°F opposed to warm season grasses growing in soil temperatures of 77°F to 104°F. Because of this, warm season grass experiences the bulk of their growth during the peak of the summer heat, when the cool season grass usually takes their mid-year nap. Considering that native warm season grasses grow in peak summer temperatures when precipitation is low, it makes sense that they have extensive root systems. Their deep roots allow them to reach through the soil and into the lower levels of the water table where they can access water reserves in the landscape rather than rely on rainfall like non-native cool season grasses. A good rule of thumb for understanding grass growth and biomass production is: what’s happening under the soil is often reciprocated above the soil surface. The deep roots give way to the tall above-ground height of these species, with some reaching up to 9 feet tall. Cool season grasses that thrive in the wet seasons, reach a peak height of approximately 3 feet, and root depth is a fraction of those seen in warm season native grasses. Because of their growth patterns, native grasses are extremely resilient to a changing climate and are more drought resistant than the non-native cool season grasses. However, due to their root structure, warm season grasses are very slow to establish compared to non-native grasses that grow quickly due with adequate soil temperature. In the early years of a native seeding, native grasses need plenty of resources to allow them to establish and flourish. Mowing should be utilized to reduce competition between native grasses and adjacent species that may be capitalizing on the sunlight and moisture availability. When mowing, make sure native grasses maintain a minimum height of 8 inches tall to avoid stunting their growth. Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever Photo Warm season grasses typically form clumps which is conducive to wildflower establishment and persistence. Clumps of native grasses also provide bare soil for pollinators to utilize for overwintering and habitat for grassland birds and other wildlife species maneuvering through the stand. Non-native cool season grasses are often turf grass formers, rather than clump formers. The turf formation reduces bare ground availability and wildlife mobility. Overtime turf can outcompete floral or broadleaf components of the seeding by blocking out resources, like space, that’s needed to allow florals to persist into the stand’s lifespan. There are a variety of native cool season grasses that have a less aggressive growth form as opposed to the introduced, or non-native, cool season grasses. Examples are the native wild ryes, like Canada or Virginia wild rye. Across the landscape, there are appropriate scenarios for utilizing both native cool season and warm season grasses, and if you are looking to transition a presently nonnative grass parcel into a stand of natives, feel free to reach out for specific guidance tailored to your site! Native Grass Stand Non-Native Grass Stand #### The Hostess with the Mostest: Richland SWCD to Host 2025 Area 2 Envirothon On April 9, 2025, Richland SWCD will be hosting the Area 2 Envirothon at the Cooke Family Wildlife Conservation Park. The park is located at 4774 State Route 13, Shiloh, Ohio 44878. The ENVIROTHON is a high school competition designed to stimulate, reinforce and enhance interest in 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. Every one of Ohio’s 88 counties has a Soil & Water Conservation District. The state is divided into five different areas. Area 2 is the Northeast section of the state and consists of 17 counties. Hosting is rotated among these counties so it doesn’t come to Richland County very often! We are excited to be a part of furthering the interest and education of so many young students while showing off what Richland County has to offer!! If you would like to be a sponsor for the Envirothon event or would be interesting in volunteering on April 9, please contact our office at (419) 747-8686 or email at rswcd.data@richlandswcd.net. #### Theresa Sutter Transitions to a New Role By Theresa Sutter After thirteen years of working and learning with the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District I am excited to announce that our Board and Director approved my request to reduce my hours effective August 1. I will happily continue to support the District and have been working with Zoe Baumberger to make a smooth transition from her stormwater technician position into the marketing and volunteer coordinator position. Since I started with the District in 2013 our full-time staff has grown from three to six people. We are assisted by a volunteer team of 70 plus people and college interns. I have worked with three Directors, many Board Supervisors, and staff members. During my tenure, I coordinated the creation and maintenance of our interactive and informative website, created a volunteer program, started an e-newsletter, connected us on social media, organized and implemented events, and built partnerships and relationships.    In 2018 our volunteer program received national acclaim, we were named Ohio District of the Year in 2022, and in 2025 I received the Ohio Lake Management Society Innovation in Lake Management Award. Additional highlights of my time at the District include celebrating our 75th anniversary in 2023 and hosting the Area 2 Envirothon in 2025. This year we are coordinating a revised format of the Earth Stewardship Celebration. I have also learned so much about stormwater management, soil testing, nutrient management, native plants, invasive species, pollinators, while managing our volunteers and engaging with the community. The same day has never been duplicated, and I enjoy the ever-changing tasks. Theresa Sutter Zoe Baumberger My years at Richland Soil and Water Conservation District have been remarkable. I have met many wonderful people and am looking forward to staying involved. You may see me at a community or District event. This isn’t goodbye, it’s see you soon!     #### Tillage Talk By Matt Christian Tillage is the process of disturbing or working up the soil in order to prepare for planting crops. Tillage has been used for hundreds of years in preparation for planting, but it was difficult and took a lot of hard work to achieve in the past.  With advancements in technology, tilling the soil became easier and a lot more widespread, so widespread that farmers were no longer taking soil health into account. This led to soils that were overworked and dry with little organic matter remaining. Eventually, the soil became so weak and dry that it was able to be blown away!  This is what led to the Dust Bowl that occurred in the United States in the 1930’s.  Coincidentally, this in turn led to the formation of Soil & Water Conservation Districts, but I will save that story for another article. One of the first priorities of newly formed Soil & Water Conservation Districts was to assist farmers in understanding and improving their soils. No longer could soil be worked over and over again, tillage had to be reduced. Once this change was instituted, soil began to improve and become healthy again. This change that was brought to tillage is referred to as conservation tillage. In conservation tillage, tillage is still performed but at less frequent intervals and only at crucial cropping moments.  With conservation tillage implemented, soil retained more moisture, structure improved, and it didn’t blow away, this was a huge success for soil conservation. Fast forward to current times and conservation tillage is still widely practiced but a new method was introduced, no-till farming.  No-Till farming is a type of farming where the soil is not tilled at all during the cropping process.  This resolved the negative aspects of tillage, but this method had its challenges as well.  Let’s discuss the differences between Tillage practices and No-Till practices. Tillage Tillage practices include all types of conservation tillage and conventional tillage, which is still used sometimes. All types offer a method to break up the soil and prepare a nice bed for crop seeds. The loose soil is easily packed around seeds offering seed to soil contact which encourages seed germination. Tilled soil also breaks up and knocks down weeds which offers a clean slate for new plants to grow.  It also adds air to the soil which helps increase the soil’s temperature; both promote seed germination. Tillage also adds a bunch of pore spaces to the soil which helps water enter and drain through the soil profile. There are a lot of benefits to tilling, but they often come along with some negatives.  Breaking up the soil and preparing a seed bed might knock down existing weeds, but it also prepares a nice seed bed for the thousands of weed seeds that are already in the soil, waiting for their time in the sun.  The tilling process also takes any residue left over from last year’s crops and incorporates it directly into the soil.  This residue will still decompose and add organic material, but it takes away a food source for earthworms, which create pore spaces in soil. Crop residues also act as mulch to the soil; it retains moisture on the surface and offers erosion protection from rainfall.  Tilling does add oxygen, increased heat and pore spaces but this is often temporary.  Those newly created pore spaces will collapse in rain events, removing any drainage benefits and creating a poorly drained topsoil.  With this collapsed soil structure and multiple passes over the soil with heavy farm equipment, compaction can be created in the soil profile. When compaction and poor soil structure are issues, the main solution to poor drainage is to install sub-surface tile drainage. No-Till No-till was developed to plant crop seeds without disturbing the soil at all, apart from a small slot where the seed is planted. The undisturbed soil does not offer dormant weed seeds an opportunity to germinate. Crop residues are not incorporated into the soil, instead they are left on the surface where they are a food source for earthworms and protect the soil from rainfall erosion. No-till does not offer new air and pore spaces brought by tillage, instead pore spaces are built naturally in the soil over time. Year after year, structure and pore spaces are developed by roots, microorganisms (microbes/fungus) and macroorganisms (earthworms/nematodes). The longer a field is in no-till, the more the pore spaces and structure increase. This improves the natural drainage of the soil and sub-surface tile drainage is not necessarily relied upon. With no-till, sometimes the soil temperature takes longer to get to the point where a seed prefers it. In some cases, more herbicides are required to eliminate any weeds that are growing when the new crops are growing. There are some particular soil types that are very challenging to get no-till to work in, typically soils heavy in clay content. Things to Consider At the Richland Soil & Water Conservation District, we’re happy to see both conservation tillage and no-till tillage being utilized. We tend to discourage conventional tillage as it makes soil more susceptible to erosion, reducing a valuable resource and degrading our water resources.  I remember in college, I had a lab class where we visited the North Appalachian Experimental Watershed in Coshocton, Ohio while studying soil structure. The facility had working farms where they studied soil tillage and its effects. There was an upland field all within the same soil type, but on one side of this lane the field was conventionally tilled every year.  On the other side of the lane, the field had been in no-till for over 30 years. We did an infiltration test, where you push a frame into the soil so that it’s sealed and you pour a specific amount of water into it and then measure how long it takes for that water to drain away.  In the conventional tilled field, the water sat on top of the surface and took at least half an hour to show any evidence that it drained into the soil.  We poured 5 gallons on the no-till field, and the soil accepted the water as fast as we poured it!  This showed how important soil structure is for drainage and soil health. To demonstrate this at home, I’ll leave you with an experiment you can try. Get a large sponge (one that works best is the large yellow sponges used for washing cars or cleaning up after installing ceramic tiles) Dunk it in a bucket full of water.  Squeeze the sponge under water a couple of times to make sure all air is removed and the sponge is totally saturated with water. Lift the sponge out of the water, hold it horizontally, and see how much water drains out of the sponge.  Repeat, starting back at step #2, but when lifting the sponge out of the water, hold the sponge vertically, now see how much water drains out. A sponge is full of pore spaces and you’ll notice that A LOT more water will drain out when the sponge is held vertically as opposed to horizontally. When the sponge is held horizontally, the pore spaces are there, but they aren’t very long so little water will drain out of them. When the sponge is held vertically, the pore spaces are there but now they are much longer, and you will see how much more water drains out. This demonstrates the drainage aspects of tillage vs. no-till. With tillage, pore spaces are there but because the soil was tilled, the pore spaces are not very long. With no-till the pore spaces are undisturbed and now become longer and longer over time, draining a lot more water through the soil profile. #### To Soak or Not to Soak The spring rainy season has passed and now we’re in the summer season where rains can be less frequent, but a summer thunderstorm can be quite intense and can dump a lot of rain in a short amount of time. These rain events are needed but relate to a term we use here in the office a lot, impervious area! Impervious areas are areas that are man-made and do not allow water to contact the soil. Instead, this water is forced to flow off this impervious area, eventually to some type of outlet.  A typical outlet is a lawn, road ditch, street, storm sewer or stream. This means that the rain water now gets to an outlet a lot faster than it used to. Imagine an empty lot full of trees, shrubs and grass.  At this point, the whole lot would be considered pervious area.  Pervious meaning that when rain falls on the land, it now can penetrate or enter the soil.  Some of the water is taken up by the many plant roots. More water soaks into the soil, being absorbed as it goes down.  It makes it’s way down by pores & holes in the soil made by old roots, earthworms, animals and insects.  Eventually the rain would soak all the way to the water table and some would then be carried to streams. Some water makes it down even further to the ground water. This water has now been filtered by the soil and has recharged our ground water resources. Once the soil has become totally saturated, additional rain would not be absorbed and that water would become runoff, but as you can see it would take quite some time and a lot of water to get to this point. Image from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Now, imagine this empty lot has been sold to someone who wants to build a new home and garage. The soil will be disturbed and a portion of the lot will be developed into impervious area by way of roofs, driveways and sidewalks. That rain water will no longer make it to the soil. Since this water has nowhere to soak, it adds up fast!  This becomes runoff immediately. In the past, the accepted method to deal with impervious runoff was to gather it, put it into a tile or pipe and outlet it directly into a street, road ditch, stream or neighboring property. After many years and thousands of acres of impervious areas developed, it was observed that the rivers and streams began to widen, erode and change course drastically. This was due to all this impervious runoff getting to the stream too quickly and the stream was just adjusting to handle all of this rapid runoff. Now we’ve learned from our past mistakes, and our focus is to slow impervious water down, giving streams time to handle the runoff.  We’re not saying that development can’t happen, we’re saying impervious runoff needs to be managed. The Stormwater Regulations of Richland County were developed for this purpose. Richland SWCD administers the Stormwater Regulations for the Richland County Commissioners. On residential sites we encourage applicants to outlet water from their impervious areas onto the soil, on their own property, giving this water a chance to soak into the soils as it did before development. This unlocks the benefit of water soaking into the soil but also slows the water so it’s not getting to the stream too quickly. On commercial projects, engineers design practices to hold back the very large amounts of impervious runoff that large commercial sites generate.  These can consist of detention/retention basins, pervious pavement, rain gardens and underground detention. Since Richland SWCD began administering the Stormwater program in 2000, we’ve been tracking the amount of impervious areas being developed in square footage.  We’ve tracked residential, commercial and agricultural projects and we’ve recently updated our website to include this data all the way to 2024.  Please check this out on our website. If you want to do your part in reducing impervious runoff, you may want to look into installing rain barrels and/or rain gardens on your property.  You can also change your downspouts so that they outlet onto your lawn. Even small steps like these help protect our streams and reduce the impact of impervious surfaces in our community. Impervious Areas in the Clear Fork Watershed #### Upcoming Event Spotlight 2024 Richland County Pasture & Grazing School Series June Sessions Sessions for Plain Growers and Women in Agriculture RSWCD and our partners (USDA-NRCS, The Ohio State University Extension, Ohio Dept. of Agriculture, and the Ohio Forage and Grasslands Council) are planning several grazing/pasture management learning groups and invite you to join! There will be two learning groups. One will be geared specifically to plain growers (i.e. Mennonite & Amish) and one for women in agriculture (however, both are open for anyone to attend). Even if you are new to livestock and forage management, you are encouraged to join. Lunch and a grazing stick will be provided for each of the sessions. Registration is $10 per person, per session. Both sessions are scheduled for mid-June. Register for the Field Day for Plain Growers Event July Sessions “Pastures for Profit” Grazing School & Pasture Walk This general, three day class is for everyone, whether you’re new to grazing and pasture management or a seasoned pro looking to brush up or learn the latest techniques. The July sessions will be three in total. The first two sessions will be seminars here at the Longview Center. The third session will be a pasture walk at the Eisenhauer’s Farm! The registration is $30 per person, covering all three sessions. Food will be provided: dinner during the seminars, lunch for the pasture walk. A flash drive with course materials and a grazing stick will also be included. See our list of events below for further details and to register. Both the June and July sessions will be held in conjunction with our partners USDA-NRCS, The Ohio State University Extension, Ohio Dept. of Agriculture, and the Ohio Forage and Grasslands Council. Register for Pastures for Profit Grazing School #### Upcoming Events Upcoming Events Sep 2 September 2 – October 1 Board Supervisor Election Sep 23 9:00 am – 10:00 am Board Supervisor Meeting Oct 1 11:30 am – 1:00 pm Annual Celebration Oct 12 All day Office Closed in Observance of Columbus Day Oct 13 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Conservation Creations Arts & Crafts Workshop: Things That Go Bump in the Night Oct 28 9:00 am – 10:00 am Board Supervisor Meeting Nov 11 All day Office Closed in Observance of Veterans Day Nov 25 9:00 am – 10:00 am Board Supervisor Meeting Nov 26 November 26 – November 27 Office Closed in Observance of Thanksgiving Dec 23 9:00 am – 10:00 am Board Supervisor Meeting View Calendar #### Urban Gardening Made Easy with Sub Irrigated Planters What is a Sub Irrigated Planter (SIP) and How Do They Work? According to Al Gracian “Gardening with sub-irrigation is the process of watering plants from below the soil line. Through capillary action, the water then slowly rises upwards.” Wikipedia defines capillary action as “the process of liquid flowing in a narrow space without the assistance of external forces like gravity”.  Sub irrigated planters consist of a watertight container with a water reservoir, air chamber and peat-based potting mix. You can also utilize a filling tube for easy watering and an overflow drain to ensure the planter doesn’t become water-logged. These planters can be used indoors or outdoors. Users can buy retail models or build one themselves! Photos from Al Gracian of Albopepper Sub Irrigated Planter Benefits Sub irrigated planters can be used in conjunction with a rain barrel collection system to self-water and provide even more storage after each rain event. This is totally free water that plants love. Having a built-in water storage reservoir helps these planters resist times of drought. A water-level gauge can be installed to help you see how much water the planter needs. This assists with water consumption because you’re only using the amount of water that the plants need. Planters can be used on top of impervious areas (hard surfaces) that would otherwise be rendered useless for growing crops. This helps the urban gardeners reclaim their land as the planter can be placed just about anywhere. Crops that Grow Well in a SIP Annual plants perform very well in a sub irrigated planter. These plants grow for a short time but require a large amount of moisture to thrive. Examples Include: Peppers, tomatoes, ground cherries, watermelon, corn, zucchini, squash, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, kale, spinach, lettuce, arugula, radishes, carrots, parsnips, basil, parsley, dill and many other annual plants! Photo from Al Gracian of Albopepper Photo from Al Gracian of Albopepper Learn More: http://albopepper.com/sip_expectations.php & https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capillary_action #### USDA-NRCS News Popular NRCS Conservation Program Expediting Rankings, Funding Contracts Ohio producers interested in the popular Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Inflation Reduction Act – Environmental Quality Incentives Program – (IRA-EQIP) funding can take advantage of the ACT NOW process, which immediately approves and obligates applications when the application meets or exceeds a state-determined minimum ranking score. Applicants will experience a targeted, rapid streamlined application and contract approval process. EQIP and IRA-EQIP provide financial and technical resources to producers and landowners to improve their operations, commodity production and environmental benefits. Call 419-747-8691, Ext. 3, visit the Ohio NRCS EQIP website or visit our website for more information. Conservation Stewardship Program Funding Available to Ohio Landowners, Producers The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Ohio Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications from landowners interested in the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) to build on existing conservation efforts to increase operational efficiencies and environmental benefits as well as reduce overall input costs. This year, Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding is providing additional financial opportunities for select conservation practices and enhancements to increase direct climate mitigation benefits. Ohio NRCS is increasing the minimum annual payment for agricultural producers participating in CSP from $1,500 to $4,000 starting in fiscal year 2024. The increase addresses challenges faced by small scale, underserved, and urban producers and improves equity in the program by making participation more financially beneficial for smaller operations. The new minimum payment is available for new and renewed CSP contracts, and applications for the program. Additionally, producers and landowners can take advantage of the ACT NOW process, which immediate approves and obligates applications when the application meets or exceeds a state-determined minimum ranking score. Applicants will experience a targeted, rapid streamlined application and contract approval process. For more information, call 419-747-8691, Ext. 3, visit the Ohio NRCS CSP webpage or visit our website. 2024 H2Ohio Enrollment is Now Open H2Ohio is now accepting new enrollments for 2024! H2Ohio is a voluntary program that pays farmers to adopt practices that will reduce phosphorus leaving the farm, such as planting cover crops. The first step to participate in H2Ohio is to have a Voluntary Nutrient Management Plan. If you wish to seek the opportunity for possible funding to help with the cost of a Voluntary Nutrient Management Plan and you are willing to work with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and a Technical Service Provider, you can apply for EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentive Program) in January 2024 by contacting Jason Ruhl, NRCS District Conservationist, or Jordan Miller, Soil Conservationist at 419-747-8691 x3. More information here: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/apply-for-environmental-quality-incentives-program-eqip. #### We Held a Grazing School! The Pastures for Profit Grazing School classroom sessions were held on the evenings of July 23rd and 25th with a pasture walk day on July 27th. Pastures for Profit is an educational course providing science-based pasture management information to Ohio farmers. Throughout the course, participants learn how to provide and maintain healthy and sustainable forage systems for the animals in their care. Participants of our grazing school learned about goal setting, soils, soil fertility, plant physiology, animal needs, paddock design, fencing options, extending the grazing season, and the economics of grazing operations. Thank you again to Randy & Eileen Eisenhauer for allowing us to use their pastures to educate the participants! The pasture walk day was a hot one, but that didn’t stop farmers from asking great questions and prompting great discussions! Thank you to all our participants and presenters for making this a great event! We all profited from the conversations and knowledge shared. Pastures for Profit was a combined effort of the following entities: The Ohio State University, the Ohio Department of Agriculture, USDA-NRCS, and the Ohio Forage & Grasslands Council. Megan Burgess (State Grazing Specialist, USDA-NRCS) leads one of the nightly classes with Jason Ruhl (District Conservationist, USDA-NRCS). Credit: Richland SWCD Pasture walk on the Eisenhauer Farm. Credit: Richland SWCD Testing out pasture fencing wire spools. Credit: Richland SWCD #### Welcome, Cora Crilow, Communications Intern Hello! My name is Cora Crilow and I am working as the Spring Communications Intern. I attend Ohio State ATI where I major in Agricultural Communications, and will graduate with an associate’s degree in May. I’m originally from Holmes County and graduated from West Holmes High School. Throughout high school, I was heavily involved in 4-H and FFA, which ignited my love for agriculture and conservation. When I’m not working or in class, I enjoy sheep farming, time with friends and family, and playing with my corgi, Tula. I also operate my own photography business on the side. Thank you to the Fran and Warren Rupp Fund of the Richland County Foundation for funding the grant for this position. I’m very excited for this experience at Richland SWCD! #### Welcome, Environmental Intern Hollee Stegeman Hi. My name is Hollee Stegeman and I am one of the new interns. I work under the direction of Dan Herrold to do storm water field work. I have a strong interest in protecting the environment. I have loved being outside ever since I was a little girl and early on understood the importance of keeping Mother Nature happy which is why I am more than excited about this new internship. I hope to learn all about erosion, pollution prevention, and storm water. I am from Cincinnati and am in my third year at Ohio State University in Columbus majoring in Environment, Economy, Development, and Sustainability with a specialization in Business and Sustainability. When I am not at Richland SWCD, I keep busy with classes and my two other jobs as a waitress and receptionist. I also love to lift weights, shop (especially second hand), try new restaurants, and spend time outside. Thank you so much to the Fran and Warren Rupp Fund of the Richland County Foundation for funding the grant for this position. I have had so much fun in my short time at Richland SWCD and am excited for what is to come! #### What to Do About Ponding As the temperature goes down and the ground beings to freeze, you may notice ponding in your yard. This may be an indicator of a drainage problem. If the ponding water hasn’t drained into the soil within 24 hours, consider adding soil to allow the water to shed. Another option is to install tile to help drain the area. Another factor to consider is how the proposed solution will affect your neighbors. Will the solution cause a drainage problem for them? We encourage all landowners and residents to work with each other to avoid problems down the road. Did you know that in addition to offering technical services and advice, we also provide educational information to landowners about what they can and cannot do as it pertains to drainage? Before you take any steps to fix a drainage problem, please contact us at Contact@richlandswcd.net or 419.747.8686 for information. You may also consult our website for good resources on drainage and stormwater. Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay. #### Where Grasses Meet Masts, the Edge By Rachel Coy-Mecurio The abrupt shift from crop land to manicured lawns or to the clean lines along woodlots seem to be more prevalent today than ever. Transitional areas, or buffers between landscape types, have slowly disappeared. By softening the edges that currently exist and providing a gradient in species composition and structure, we give an advantage to wildlife that need additional coverage from predators, improve species diversity, and support other services like improving water quality. Edge feathering is a technique used by landowners to re-create transitional zones between different habitat types. Edge feathering can be accomplished through a combination of approaches like thinning over-story trees, allowing natural regeneration to take place, or by planting species that complement your goals. If you plan to feather into a woodlot, selective cuts and manipulation of the mature trees should be completed. Cut sick or undesirable tree species, as well as any trees that exceed 4 to 8 inches in diameter. Some of the selected trees can be girdled and left standing as snags, while others can be carted away and made into brush piles to further benefit wildlife on the property. If feathering into an open space, patience is needed while waiting on seed bed germination – planting plugs or saplings can help woody vegetation establish quicker. If you plan on planting trees and shrubs, or allowing the seed bed to sprout, site preparation may be needed, depending on the vegetation currently growing. If turf grasses or invasive species are present, herbicide may be needed to create space and resources for the desired tree and shrub establishment to take place. Edges are great hosts to species that do not perform well in mature forests, due to the lack of resources that are able to penetrate the dense forest over story, or do not survive the constant disturbance needed in a perennial herbaceous stand. Often, these are soft mast producers like Rubus, or fruit trees. Photo by Rachel Coy-Mecurio. Herbaceous buffer, not quite a textbook “feathered edge” but provides a softer transition then just a crop field meeting a wood lot. Photo by Eric Ressel, Quail Forever Edge feathering can be simplified into three zones of management. Your three zones will all fit into a 50 to 150 foot wide space and will include: Taller trees/shrubs (75% tree cover, approximately 10×10 foot spacing) Smaller trees/ shrubs (50% tree cover, 6×6 foot spacing) Herbaceous grass and forb zone (<25% woody cover) The best time to treat and begin implementing a feathered edge is in the fall/winter after leaves fall off. After the edge has been established, continued management will be needed to ensure succession does not continue its course into young forest habitat. Control of any invasive species that had infiltrated the edge should be completed annually. The denser wooded areas should be re-treated when tree diameters exceed the threshold of approximately 8 inches. The grassy area should be managed on a 3-to-5-year cycle to prevent excessive woody encroachment and to continue to provide that smooth transition. If you find yourself in a situation where the property you manage has a singular habitat type and you would like to increase resources available to wildlife on your property, practices like woodlot openings or shrub plantings within your grassland can help address these goals, too. If you are interested in implementing any of these practices on your property, reach out and I would be happy to offer additional, site-specific guidance. Pollinator TreesWet LovingShade Tolerant Wildlife ShrubsDeer TreesFlowering dogwoodBald cypressEastern red cedarEastern red cedarAmerican hazelnutEastern redbudAmerican beechEastern redbudWillow (native, not hybrid)Flowering dogwoodBlack cherrySwamp white oakPawpawDogwoodRedbudHackberrySycamoreDogwoodSilky dogwoodAmerican plumAmerican hollyBuckeyeSpicebushRedbudCrabapplePlumPawpawBuckeyeAmerican plumServiceberryTulip poplarHackberryServiceberryCrab appleElderberryEastern red-cedarElderberryWitch hazelHawthorn Swamp white oakBlueberryEastern hemlockAmerican hazelnutSpicebushBirchBirchServiceberryPawpawWillowCottonwoodSumacBlueberryPawpawEastern red cedarSassafrasPine (for windbreaks) Wild black cherry #### Why Natives are Important in Landscape Plantings By Rachel Coy Why is planting native species important? Native plants and vegetation have historically evolved in the locations they are found, and their evolution coincides with that of the soil, water/drainage, climate, topography, and site history. These plants are adapted to the conditions of a certain area, and in nature nothing happens by accident. Good land management practices include utilizing native species to fill out resource concerns and goals before resorting to non-native alternatives. Along with the native plants being adapted to the conditions of a given site, native wildlife has been evolving and depending on these species throughout their mutual history with one another. A few examples are monarch and milkweed, bee balm and hawk moths, spice bush and the spicebush swallow tail, the list goes on and on. Big Bluestem and Indiangrass Why would non-native species be desirable? A general lack of knowledge on the topic is usually how non-natives find their way into our landscape. Native plants can almost always address the goals of landowners without adding the potential for future landscape escapement, possibility of natives not getting pollinated for future populations, and energy being focused on conserving the WRONG species. A lot of our invasive species were brought over for one of three reasons: intentional landscape management (i.e. autumn olive on reclaimed mine land), beautification (i.e. Bradford Pear in garden beds), or the unintentional transport of the seeds/ species. To be non-native simply means the plant is growing outside of its native range. A non-native invasive is growing outside its native range, has escaped its controlled setting into neighboring landscapes, and has an advantage over the native species that grow there (i.e. prolific seed spreader, longer growing season, etc.) Additionally, natural checks that keep this species in balance in its natural range no longer exist (herbivore partners, insects and pests, disease, etc.) Plants observed in their native range typically are seen as well behaved based on observations from the species’ host territory, where it belongs and behaves accordingly with surrounding vegetation, as opposed to the transplanted site where it may have advantages over the natives on site. Photo from University of Maryland Extension of Giant Miscanthus, a non-native perennial grass. What can you do? There are a lot of non-native species that are hot commodities in landscaping! Things like butterfly bush, burning bush, miscanthus for deer hunters, and so many more. Below is a list of native alternatives to popular landscape plants: Plant spice bush, red chokeberry, or red osier dogwood instead of burning bush Plant Indiangrass or switchgrass instead of miscanthus Plant mountain Mint (brushy herbaceous) instead of butterfly bush Plant native apples or flowering dogwood instead of Bradford pear Plant creeping mint or phlox instead of English Ivy Plant redbud instead of princess tree Plant American wisteria instead of Chinese/Japanese wisteria Plant viburnum instead of privet Plant ninebark instead of barberry By utilizing natives in your landscape plantings, we are not only achieving the aesthetic factor many are drawn to, but the environmental factors that often don’t get considered. #### Word Games for Snowy Days Click the buttons below to download and print these word puzzles and have some fun! Hint: you’ll need to do a little searching in this issue to help with the crossword puzzle. Autumn 2025 Solutions Autumn 25 Answers CrosswordDownload Autumn 25 Answers Word SearchDownload Winter 2026 Puzzles Winter 26 CrosswordDownload Winter 26 Word SearchDownload #### Word Games for Sunny Days Spring 2026 Answers Spring 26 Crossword AnswersDownload Spring 26 Word Search AnswersDownload Summer 2026 Puzzles Summer 26 Word SearchDownload Summer 26 Crossword PuzzleDownload #### You may have noticed things look differently… Hello readers! Welcome to Richland Soil & Water Conservation District’s (Richland SWCD’s) brand new blog! We have been working hard with DRM (who helped us to create our new website) on this new platform which allows us to post our newsletter and other informative articles as a “blog”. Our newsletter will live here from now on. Don’t worry, you will still get an email from us every quarter letting you know that our newsletter has been published. Read on to learn how to navigate the site (with some helpful screenshots)! Getting to the Blog (if not through our e-newsletter) If you want to get to our blog from our website’s main page, select the new “News” tab at the top of the screen. Navigating the Blog Once on the “News” page, you can see a dozen or so of the most recent articles. Click on the article’s title to view each article. If you want to filter what you see on the news page, or want to explore the article archive, you can open the “Filter News” drop down and pick a category or a specific newsletter to see the articles tagged under each. For example, select “Newsletter: Summer 2024” to see articles from that one issue. Additionally, you can select the category or newsletter “tags” under the header of each article to similarly filter the news page. Another neat feature: recent blog articles with a unique category “tag”, like “stormwater” or “agriculture” will pop up on their respective pages on our website. See below for a view of our Agriculture page. If you have any questions or comments on the new blog, please let us know! #### You’re Invited: 2026 Annual Celebration & Board Supervisor Election By Zoe Baumberger Join the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District staff as we celebrate 78 years of conservation in Richland County at our 2026 Annual Celebration! The celebration will be held at the Area Agency on Aging Hawkins Center on October 1. Lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. and will be catered by VandM Restaurant, followed by a program highlighting the District’s accomplishments throughout 2026. Voting for the two open Board Supervisor seats will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Candidates Brian Alt and Skip Malaska are running for the open positions. Learn more about the candidates by clicking below. Richland SWCD Meet the CandidatesDownload Full Election Information Election results will be announced during the celebration. RSVP by September 22 to attend the Annual Celebration. RSVP Here If you’re unable to attend the celebration, you can vote at the Richland SWCD office beginning September 2. The office is located at 1495 W. Longview Ave., Suite 205B, Mansfield, OH and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m. ### Venues #### 1495 w longview avenue, mansfield, oh URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/ #### 4050 Bromfield Road, Lucas, OH 44843 URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/4050-bromfield-road-lucas-oh-44843/ #### Avita Ontario URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/ #### Bellville URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/bellville/ #### Charles Mill Marina URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/ #### Cooke Family Wildlife Conservation Park, llc URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/cooke-family-wildlife-conservation-park-llc/ #### DLX URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/dlx/ #### Elzy Milling & Trade URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/elzy-milling-trade/ #### Forbes Farmstead Market URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/ #### Gorman Nature Center URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/gorman-nature-center/ #### Gorman Nature Center URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/gorman-nature-center-2/ #### Headwaters Outdoor Education Center URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/headwaters-outdoor-education-center/ #### Jefferson Township Hall URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/jefferson-township-hall/ #### Kehoe Center URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/kehoe-center/ #### Kingwood Center Gardens URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/kingwood-center-gardens/ #### Liberty Park URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/ #### Longview Center URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/longview-center/ #### Lucas Branch of the MRCPL URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/ #### Madison Branch of MRCPL URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/ #### Malabar Farm State Park URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/malabar-farm-state-park/ #### Mansfield Richland County Public Library URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/ #### Marvin Memorial Library URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/marvin-memorial-library/ #### Ohio Area Agency on Aging District 5 URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/__trashed/ #### Ohio Bird Sanctuary Education Building URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/ohio-bird-sanctuary-education-building/ #### Ovalwood Hall URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/ovalwood-hall/ #### Pleasant Hill Lake Park URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/pleasant-hill-lake-park/ #### Richland Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/ #### Richland County Fairgrounds URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/richland-county-fairgrounds/ #### Richland County Fairgrounds Nature Park URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/richland-county-fairgrounds-nature-park/ #### Richland County Ohio Fairgrounds URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/richland-county-ohio-fairgrounds/ #### Richmart Farm URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/ #### Seltzer Park Shelby Ohio URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/seltzer-park-shelby-ohio/ #### Shady Lane Alpaca Farm URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/ #### Shiloh Fire Station URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/ #### South Park URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/ #### The Cove Coffee Shop and Pizza Company URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/the-cove-coffee-shop-and-pizza-company/ #### The Longview Center URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/the-longview-center/ #### The Longview Center URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/ #### The Ohio State University at Mansfield URL: https://richlandswcd.net/venue/ ### Organizers #### Clear Fork FFA Alumni URL: https://richlandswcd.net/organizer/clear-fork-ffa-alumni/ #### Gorman Nature Center URL: https://richlandswcd.net/organizer/ #### Richland Soil and Water Conservation District URL: https://richlandswcd.net/organizer/richland-soil-and-water-conservation-district/ ### Events #### Annual Celebration October 1 @ 11:30 am – 1:00 pm America is celebrating 250 years and we’re celebrating 78 years! Join us for the Annual Celebration at the Ohio Area Agency on Aging District 5, Hawkins Center, located at 2131 Park Avenue West, Mansfield. 11:30 am: Lunch Buffet Noon: Program with District updates and Cooperator and Volunteer of the Year recipients announced. Board Supervisor Voting is from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Celebration is open to the public. The cost is $25.00 per person and reservations are requested by September 22 at noon. Reserve your ticket below. A convenience fee will be added to your purchase at checkout. We’re looking forward to celebrating with you! Board Supervisor election information: Richland Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors are publicly elected by a special general election. The Board of Supervisors create an annual and long-term plan of operation that protects the District’s mission and vision and are interested, conservation-minded, local leaders who promote conservation of the county’s natural resources through education, planning and technical assistance which are key to the success of the District. Supervisors are elected to a three-year term as a public official and serve without pay. Supervisors advocate for the District, attend and participate in monthly board meetings, assist with District programs and services and attend area and state meetings. The Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Commission will cause an election of Supervisors of the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) to be held in accordance with Chapter 940 of the Ohio Revised Code. There are two open seats. Eligible voters shall be at least eighteen years of age at the time of the official election and own or occupy land with the boundaries of Richland County. There are three ways an eligible voter can cast a ballot: 1. At the Richland SWCD office, 1495 W. Longview Avenue, Suite 205 B, Mansfield, from 9/2/2026 until 9/30/2026 during normal business hours. 2. At the Richland SWCD Annual Meeting, which will take place at the Ohio Area Agency on Aging, on 10/01/2026 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; or 3. Voting absentee from 9/2/2026 until 9/30/2026, by requesting the ballot application and election ballot from the Richland SWCD office at the following address 1495 W. Longview Avenue, Suite 205 B, Mansfield, by calling 419-747-8686, or email election@richlandswcd.net. Absentee ballots must be received at the SWCD office by 9/30/2026 at 4 p.m.                                     Supervisors will be elected to a three‐year term commencing January 1, 2027, and ending December 31, 2029. The Board of Supervisors create an annual and long-term plan of operation that protects the District’s mission and vision and are interested, conservation-minded, local leaders who promote conservation of the county’s natural resources through education, planning and technical assistance which are key to the success of the District. Supervisors are elected to a three-year term as a public official and serve without pay. Supervisors advocate for the District, attend and participate in monthly board meetings, assist with District programs and services and attend area and state meetings. Candidates Brian Alt and Vincent (Skip) Malaska Candidate Information Ohio Area Agency on Aging District 5 2131 Park Avenue West MANSFIELD, Ohio 44906 + Google Map 419-522-5612 Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Board Supervisor Election September 2 – October 1 Richland Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors are publicly elected by a special general election. The Board of Supervisors create an annual and long-term plan of operation that protects the District’s mission and vision and are interested, conservation-minded, local leaders who promote conservation of the county’s natural resources through education, planning and technical assistance which are key to the success of the District. Supervisors are elected to a three-year term as a public official and serve without pay. Supervisors advocate for the District, attend and participate in monthly board meetings, assist with District programs and services and attend area and state meetings. The Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Commission will cause an election of Supervisors of the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) to be held in accordance with Chapter 940 of the Ohio Revised Code. There are two open seats. Eligible voters shall be at least eighteen years of age at the time of the official election and own or occupy land with the boundaries of Richland County. There are three ways an eligible voter can cast a ballot: 1. At the Richland SWCD office, 1495 W. Longview Avenue, Suite 205 B, Mansfield, from 9/2/2026 until 9/30/2026 during normal business hours. 2. At the Richland SWCD Annual Meeting, which will take place at the Ohio Area Agency on Aging, on 10/01/2026 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; or 3. Voting absentee from 9/2/2026 until 9/30/2026, by requesting the ballot application and election ballot from the Richland SWCD office at the following address 1495 W. Longview Avenue, Suite 205 B, Mansfield, by calling 419-747-8686, or email election@richlandswcd.net. Absentee ballots must be received at the SWCD office by 9/30/2026 at 4 p.m.                                     Supervisors will be elected to a three‐year term commencing January 1, 2027, and ending December 31, 2029. The Board of Supervisors create an annual and long-term plan of operation that protects the District’s mission and vision and are interested, conservation-minded, local leaders who promote conservation of the county’s natural resources through education, planning and technical assistance which are key to the success of the District. Supervisors are elected to a three-year term as a public official and serve without pay. Supervisors advocate for the District, attend and participate in monthly board meetings, assist with District programs and services and attend area and state meetings. Candidate Information: Brian Alt and Vincent (Skip)Malaska The Longview Center 1495 W Longview Avenue Mansfield, Ohio 44906 United States 419-747-8686 View Venue Website Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Board Supervisor Meeting September 23 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am 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. The Longview Center 1495 W Longview Avenue Mansfield, Ohio 44906 United States 419-747-8686 View Venue Website Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Board Supervisor Meeting October 28 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am 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. The Longview Center 1495 W Longview Avenue Mansfield, Ohio 44906 United States 419-747-8686 View Venue Website Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Board Supervisor Meeting November 25 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am 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. The Longview Center 1495 W Longview Avenue Mansfield, Ohio 44906 United States 419-747-8686 View Venue Website Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Board Supervisor Meeting December 23 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am 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. The Longview Center 1495 W Longview Avenue Mansfield, Ohio 44906 United States 419-747-8686 View Venue Website Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Board Supervisor Meeting January 27, 2027 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am 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. The Longview Center 1495 W Longview Avenue Mansfield, Ohio 44906 United States 419-747-8686 View Venue Website Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Board Supervisor Meeting February 24, 2027 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am 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. The Longview Center 1495 W Longview Avenue Mansfield, Ohio 44906 United States 419-747-8686 View Venue Website Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Board Supervisor Meeting March 24, 2027 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am 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. The Longview Center 1495 W Longview Avenue Mansfield, Ohio 44906 United States 419-747-8686 View Venue Website Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Board Supervisor Meeting April 28, 2027 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am 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. The Longview Center 1495 W Longview Avenue Mansfield, Ohio 44906 United States 419-747-8686 View Venue Website Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Board Supervisor Meeting May 26, 2027 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am 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. The Longview Center 1495 W Longview Avenue Mansfield, Ohio 44906 United States 419-747-8686 View Venue Website Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Board Supervisor Meeting June 23, 2027 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am 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. The Longview Center 1495 W Longview Avenue Mansfield, Ohio 44906 United States 419-747-8686 View Venue Website Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Board Supervisor Meeting July 28, 2027 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am 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. The Longview Center 1495 W Longview Avenue Mansfield, Ohio 44906 United States 419-747-8686 View Venue Website Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Board Supervisor Meeting August 25, 2027 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am 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. The Longview Center 1495 W Longview Avenue Mansfield, Ohio 44906 United States 419-747-8686 View Venue Website Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Conservation Creations Arts & Crafts Workshop: Things That Go Bump in the Night October 13 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Join us for this free workshop to make a lantern for spooky season! Our guest speaker is Karen Pryor, Education /Outreach Manager at Richland County Park District. She will be introducing attendees to a few live animals then speaking about nocturnal critters and the things that go bump in the night! All supplies are furnished to make the lantern. If you need to cancel your registration, please notify us within 48 hours of the workshop by calling 419-774-8986 or emailing contact@richlandswcd.net. 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. Photos may be used for promotional purposes. Free Gorman Nature Center 2295 Lexington Ave. Mansfield, OH 44907 United States + Google Map Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closed Early Christmas Eve December 24 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Wishing you a joyous Christmas! If you need to reach us in an emergency, please call 419.961.4469. Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closed Early Christmas Eve December 24, 2027 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Wishing you a joyous Christmas! If you need to reach us in an emergency, please call 419.961.4469. Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closed Early Christmas Eve December 24, 2028 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Wishing you a joyous Christmas! If you need to reach us in an emergency, please call 419.961.4469. Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closed Early Christmas Eve December 24, 2029 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Wishing you a joyous Christmas! If you need to reach us in an emergency, please call 419.961.4469. Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closed in Observance of Columbus Day October 12 All day Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closed in Observance of Columbus Day October 11, 2027 All day Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closed in Observance of Columbus Day October 9, 2028 All day Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closed in Observance of Columbus Day October 8, 2029 All day Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closed in Observance of Independence Day July 4, 2027 All day Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closed in Observance of Independence Day July 4, 2028 All day Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closed in Observance of Independence Day July 4, 2029 All day Add to calendar 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Luther King Day January 18, 2027 All day Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closed in Observance of Martin Luther King Day January 17, 2028 All day Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closed in Observance of Martin Luther King Day January 15, 2029 All day Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closed in Observance of Martin Luther King Day January 21, 2030 All day Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closed in Observance of Memorial Day May 31, 2027 All day Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closed in Observance of Memorial Day May 29, 2028 All day Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closed in Observance of Memorial Day May 28, 2029 All day Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closed in Observance of President’s Day February 15, 2027 All day Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closed in Observance of President’s Day February 21, 2028 All day Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closed in Observance of President’s Day February 19, 2029 All day Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closed in Observance of President’s Day February 18, 2030 All day Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closed in Observance of Thanksgiving November 26 – November 27 Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closed in Observance of Thanksgiving November 25, 2027 – November 26, 2027 Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closed in Observance of Thanksgiving November 23, 2028 – November 24, 2028 Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closed in Observance of Thanksgiving November 22, 2029 – November 23, 2029 Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closed in Observance of Veterans Day November 11 All day Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closed in Observance of Veterans Day November 11, 2027 All day Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closed in Observance of Veterans Day November 11, 2028 All day Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closed in Observance of Veterans Day November 11, 2029 All day Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closing at Noon New Year’s Eve December 31 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closing at Noon New Year’s Eve December 31, 2027 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closing at Noon New Year’s Eve December 31, 2028 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closing at Noon New Year’s Eve December 31, 2029 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live #### Office Closing at Noon New Year’s Eve December 31, 2030 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live ### Series #### Board Supervisor Meeting URL: https://richlandswcd.net/series/board-supervisor-meeting-2/ #### Board Supervisor Meeting URL: https://richlandswcd.net/series/board-supervisor-meeting/ #### Office Closed Early Christmas Eve URL: https://richlandswcd.net/series/office-closed-early-christmas-eve/ #### Office Closed in Observance of Christmas URL: https://richlandswcd.net/series/office-closed-in-observance-of-christmas/ #### Office Closed in Observance of Columbus Day URL: https://richlandswcd.net/series/office-closed-in-observance-of-columbus-day/ #### Office Closed in Observance of Independence Day URL: https://richlandswcd.net/series/office-closed-in-observance-of-independence-day/ #### Office Closed in Observance of Juneteenth National Independence Day URL: https://richlandswcd.net/series/office-closed-in-observance-of-juneteenth-national-independence-day/ #### Office Closed in Observance of Labor Day URL: https://richlandswcd.net/series/office-closed-in-observance-of-labor-day/ #### Office Closed in Observance of Martin Luther King Day URL: https://richlandswcd.net/series/office-closed-in-observance-of-martin-luther-king-day/ #### Office Closed in Observance of Memorial Day URL: https://richlandswcd.net/series/office-closed-in-observance-of-memorial-day/ #### Office Closed in Observance of President’s Day URL: https://richlandswcd.net/series/office-closed-in-observance-of-presidents-day/ #### Office Closed in Observance of Thanksgiving URL: https://richlandswcd.net/series/office-closed-in-observance-of-thanksgiving/ #### Office Closed in Observance of Veterans Day URL: https://richlandswcd.net/series/office-closed-in-observance-of-veterans-day/ #### Office Closing at Noon New Year’s Eve URL: https://richlandswcd.net/series/office-closing-at-noon-new-years-eve/