Stormwater permit numbers and soil stabilization requirements.
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.
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.
Highlights from Richland SWCD”s 2025 Annual Celebration!
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
We wish him well in his future educational and career pursuits.
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.
We had fun interacting and engaging with Richland County Fair visitors the first week of August at the Nature Park!
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!
Learn about soil testing with Richland SWCD and how to interpret results.
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.
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?
Enrollment data for Crop Years 2026-2027 and announcing our new cover crop demonstration plot with assistance from ODA!
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.
Download and play our word puzzles for some interactive newsletter fun! We have a word search for little conservationists and a crossword for those of you who want more of a challenge.
Highlights from the 2025 Land Judging and District 2 Forestry Contests.
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.
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.
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.
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
Summer storms and impervious surfaces mean faster runoff. Check out our updated data and tips to help slow the flow!
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.
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.
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.
Hot weather and heavy rains can stress ponds and create drainage issues. Learn simple ways to keep your water healthy and your yard dry.
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.
Download and play our word puzzles for some interactive newsletter fun! We have a word search for little conservationists and a crossword for those of you who want more of a challenge.
Find out if your site is in compliance with the local stormwater regulations plus permit numbers from the second quarter.
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
Celebrate 77 years of conservation with us and help shape the future by voting in our board supervisor election!
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
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