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.
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?
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.
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!
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.
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.
