 OHIO WATERSHED PROGRAMS
Announcements (updated 6/1/2008)
Watershed Action Planning and Implementation
.JPG) Watershed coordinators across Ohio work with diverse partnerships of stakeholders to develop and implement watershed action plans (WAPs), which are reviewed and endorsed by Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Soil and Water Conservation, and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) Division of Surface Water.
The goal of each plan is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of water resources within the watershed. Implementation of these plans can include:
- targeting of “best management practices”;
- installation of restoration projects such as dam removal and stream restoration;
- upgrading local land use policies; and/or
- protection of high quality resources through easement purchase and other voluntary set-aside programs.
Because all implementation occurs locally, without mandate or regulation, another essential element to watershed action plan implementation is employment of a well-coordinated education and outreach campaign.
If you have any questions about developing a watershed plan, ODNR, Ohio EPA, and OSU Extension are willing to assist you. Contact: Greg Nageotte (614) 265-6619, Matt Adkins (419) 609-4102, or Constance White (614) 581-5954.
Here are some helpful sites:
Ohio Watershed Coordinator Grants
Watershed coordinator positions are made possible by Ohio's Watershed Coordinator Grants Program (pdf), which provides salary and fringe to local governments and non-profits to support a watershed coordinator.
The program is supported by a diverse state and federal partnership including Ohio Department of Natural Resources divisions of Soil and Water Conservation, Mineral Resources Management, Wildlife, Office of Coastal Management; and Ohio EPA Division of Surface Water. Nearly half of the funding originates from Section 319 of the Clean Water Act administered by U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA.
If you want to know more about what watershed coordinators are doing, read individual Watershed Coordinator Grant Annual Work Plans.
Ohio Watershed Network
Ohio supports watershed coordinators and partnerships through a nationally recognized education program administered by Ohio State University Extension - the Ohio Watershed Network (OWN).
OWN has 3 primary components:
- An Ohio Watershed Network website containing information about specific watersheds and a variety of helpful tools and information resources.
- Ohio Watershed Listserv with a current membership of over 400 subscribers. Go here and subscribe today!
- The Ohio Watershed Academy is a professional-development course designed to help watershed professionals and volunteers develop and execute watershed action plans that involve, excite, and commit their community. The Academy includes Web-based lessons and in-person meetings with peers and instructors and is typically offered twice a year.
Watershed Funding
As watershed management has gained acceptance as an effective means of restoring and protecting water quality and other water resource uses, grants and other funding mechanisms have become available to partnerships who want to implement good watershed action plans. The following are just a few resources available to help you find funding for those important projects:
Because Ohio watershed coordinator grants are intended as “seed money” to establish a sustainable position, one of the primary goals of every partnership receiving a watershed coordinator grant must be diversification and sustainability of revenue for the watershed coordinator position. The following sites provide some tools to help you meet your sustainability goals:
For questions or additional information concerning Ohio Watershed Programs, please contact Greg Nageotte, (614) 265-6619.
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