July 30, 2009 by admin.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) recently approved the Qualified Data Collector Guide, a water quality monitoring program created for the Grand Lake/Wabash River Watersheds.  The plan involves qualified data collectors monitoring both physical and chemical attributes of waterways and using the information collected to study water quality over time.  Monitoring the creeks, ditches, streams, and lake is vitally important in working to improve water quality. The goal is to have at least one monitoring site in each subwatershed to ensure a comprehensive study of the watershed.

A qualified data collector (QDC) is an individual who has been certified by OEPA to collect data.  This data is then accepted by OEPA to show trends and changes in water quality.  Individuals who participate in QDC monitoring must first go through a training session where they learn about credible data collection and how to properly use the equipment involved.  At the completion of the training, participants are eligible to apply for Level 1 QDC status.  As QDC’s gain experience, they will be able to apply for higher and more specialized status levels.  The higher status levels allow QDC’s to perform more complex forms of data collection, which can be utilized for higher level reporting to OEPA.

The QDC’s of the GLWWA watersheds will begin monitoring sites throughout the area.  As more people show an interest, the GLWWA will host another QDC training.  If you have a site that you would like someone to monitor or you would like to do it yourself, please contact Watershed Coordinator Laura Walker at laura.walker[at]mercercountyohio.org, 419-586-3289 or 220 West Livingston St., Suite 1, Celina, Ohio, 45822.

Posted in Water Quality, GLSM Watershed | No Comments »

March 18, 2008 by admin.

“Attached is the Grand Lake/Wabash Watershed Alliance’s latest press release. We will be co-sponsoring a stream monitoring training. This training is for anyone interested in learning more about water quality. It is hands on and a lot of fun! If you have any questions, please call or email.I also attached the GLWWA Advisory Board meeting agenda, you have received this before. AN ADDITION TO THE AGENDA is included on this document. The GLWWA Joint Board will meet briefly before this Advisory Board. This meeting will be to review Water Pollution Control Loan Fund certification letters. These letters require a motion with the board before being passed to OEPA.

Thank you,

Laura Walker
Grand Lake/Wabash Watershed Coordinator
Mercer County Soil and Water Conservation District
220 W. Livingston St. Suite 1
Celina, OH 45822
419-586-3289
fax: 419-586-9599
laura.walker(at)mercercountyohio.org”

3-12-08-monitoring-release.doc

glwwa-advisory-board-meeting-3-08.doc

Posted in Water Quality, GLSM Watershed | No Comments »

March 11, 2008 by admin.

Ag Day is approaching, and the Grand Lake/Wabash Watershed Alliance is extending our thanks to producers in the watershed.

Press Release
GLWWA Thanks Producers
In honor of National Agriculture Day, March 21, 2008, the Grand Lake/Wabash Watershed Alliance
(GLWWA) would like to extend gratitude to all landowners and operators who use best management
practices (BMPs).  Utilization of BMPs is important for many reasons.

Planting strips of grassland around a field will slow surface water runoff and filter water, keeping sediment
and nutrients from entering the water.  Thank you to the producers in the Grand Lake St. Marys watershed
who are participating in the 2007 Agriculture Incentive Program or have signed up for the EQIP
Demonstration Project.  Both of these programs offered an incentive to plant filter strips that can be cut for
hay.  A special thank you goes out to producers who install filter strips on their own.

As winter continues, we want to thank producers who followed winter manure application guidelines.  By
following setbacks and application rates, nutrients are kept on your fields and out of the water.  These
practices take time and the extra effort is noticed.

As spring arrives, the GLWWA wants to send an early thank you to producers and landowners who test
their soil and follow the analysis recommendations.  As we have seen, many lawns and some fields do not
need phosphorous on a regular basis.  Keeping the phosphorous to only the level needed for healthy plants
will reduce the phosphorous carried away by runoff.

A big thank you goes to the producers who tried a cover crop this winter.  Cover crops are planted during
the fall, capturing nitrogen and other nutrients.  These nutrients are held on the field, instead of running off
during winter freeze and thaw.  In the spring, these plants will decompose releasing the nutrients for the
summer crop.

The last big thank you is extended to agriculture landowners and operators who have considered bettering
water quality with their practices.  Only a few are specifically mentioned above, so many of the very
important practices are not mentioned.  Wetlands, riparian buffers, Conservation Reserve Programs and
many more BMPs are vital for improving water quality.  The GLWWA will continue to search for
incentives and cost share programs to make BMPs more cost effective.  There are many facets to our
watershed action plan and it will not be a success without action from the agriculture stakeholders.

If you are a stakeholder in the Wabash River Watershed, please consider attending the Public Advisory
Board meeting on March 25, 2008.  This meeting will start at 7 p.m. in the Fort Recovery Village Hall.
The topic of discussion will be a grant application for agriculture practices that will improve water quality
in the Wabash River Watershed.  These practices must be in one subwatershed, as seen in the attached
map.  If you have questions about this meeting or the above information, please call Mercer County Soil
and Water Conservation District at 419-586-3289.
 Ag Day 2008

In 2008 the GLWWA is planning to submit a 319 grant application for agriculture practices in one of these hydrologic codes:
1.Wabash Headwaters to below Bear Creek
2.Wabash River above Bear Creek below Stony Creek
3.Wabash River below Stony Creek above Beaver Creek
4.Beaver Creek from Grand Lake to above Little Beaver Creek
5.Little Beaver Creek
6.Beaver Creek below Little Beaver Creek to Wabash River
7.Wabash River below Beaver Creek to New Corydon
8.Limberlost Creek Headwaters to below Bull Creek

Posted in GLSM Watershed | 1 Comment »

March 1, 2008 by lakeprotector.

Below are the letters of thanks that were sent to Senator Brown and Representative Boehner thanking them for their efforts which have resulted in $1 Million in special funding for projects to clean up two of the creeks feeding the Lake.

March 1, 2008

SENATOR SHERROD BROWN
455 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510

Dear Senator Brown,

On behalf of the 700 family and business members of the Grand Lake St. Marys Lake Improvement Association, I want to thank you for your efforts which have resulted in the recent $1 million dollar funding of watershed projects by the Natural Resources Conservation Service in the Lake’s watershed.

As you are aware, Grand Lake Saint Marys is one of the most degraded lakes in the State of Ohio. Its hypereutrophic condition is primarily the result of runoff from the agricultural land which makes up the majority of the Lake’s watershed. The $1 million dollar funding for projects in the watershed will significantly contribute to reducing the nutrients in two of the six major waterways draining into the Lake. I hope that this funding will signal the start of the major efforts required at the local, state and federal levels to make the Lake a legacy that we can proudly leave for future generations to enjoy.

While the Lake Improvement Association is a non-partisan organization, I am sure its membership will consider your bipartisan efforts which have resulted in the funding becoming available when they vote in the future.

Sincerely,

William Ringo
President, Lake Improvement Association

March 1, 2008

Representative John Boehner
1011 Longworth House Office Building 1011 LHOB
Washington, D.C., District of Columbia 20515-3508

Dear Representative Boehner,

On behalf of the 700 family and business members of the Grand Lake St. Marys Lake Improvement Association, I want to thank you for your efforts which have resulted in the recent $1 million dollar funding of watershed projects by the Natural Resources Conservation Service in the Lake’s watershed.

As you are aware, Grand Lake Saint Marys is one of the most degraded lakes in the State of Ohio. Its hypereutrophic condition is primarily the result of runoff from the agricultural land which makes up the majority of the Lake’s watershed. The $1 million dollar funding for projects in the watershed will significantly contribute to reducing the nutrients in two of the six major waterways draining into the Lake. I hope that this funding will signal the start of the major efforts required at the local, state and federal levels to make the Lake a legacy that we can proudly leave for future generations to enjoy.

While the Lake Improvement Association is a non-partisan organization, I am sure its membership will consider your bipartisan efforts which have resulted in the funding becoming available when they vote in the future.

Sincerely,

William Ringo
President, Lake Improvement Association

Posted in GLSM Watershed | 2 Comments »

December 18, 2007 by admin.

GLWWA Watershed Action Plan
Conditionally Endorsed
Waiting on ARC/GIS files
Goal is to submit for full endorsement before 2008

Lawn Fertilizer Minigrant
Sent post cards to people with coupons, advising program will end December 31, 2007
Will compile results from Helena Agronomic Center
Will be working with Helena (and possibly others) on 2008 program

$100,000 for Grand Lake St. Marys Watershed
Started waiting list of applications
Looking for recommendations for 2008 program
First certifications complete

Geotextile Tube Manure Dewatering Grant
Three tubes filled at swine operation, two at the dairy
Beginning to analyze data
Captured attention of Celina Tent

Volunteer Monitoring Program
Volunteers are needed for this program
Working on quality assurance and supply order
Have location and possible date for Spring training

Water Pollution Control Loan Fund
Forms for septic system replacement and agriculture equipment
Funds will be available Jan. 1, 2008
Next step is to sign MOU with banks

USGS Microbial Tracking
Project could show source of nutrients
Requires a 70% match
May hold off till next year

USGS Proposal for Monitoring Ethanol Plant
Two options
May be grant funds and the possibility of other contributors
Needs to begin as soon as we know the plant will be built

Lake Geotextile Tube Project
$25,000 from state budget for capitol improvements
Assisting State Park to get project started
Proposal was accepted

QHEI Level II Training
Habitat training
Results are not complete
Level III certification

Project Learning Tree/Project WET Training
Certified to train educators in both projects
Active/hands on learning
Can be tailored for all ages

GIS/DSI Training
Learned basics of GIS
Set up personal geodatabases

Ohio Lake Management Society Annual Meeting
Learned they will become a division of Water Management Association of Ohio
Heard many possible solutions for different problems
Spoke with Director Logan

Ohio Watershed Academy
Through OSU Extension
Six month training
Assignments every two weeks

St. Mary’s River Projects
Army Corps
Allen County SWCD, Indiana
Supplied information, received report on initial top priorities

Coordinator’s Upcoming Meetings/Trainings
SWCD all employees meeting, December 20, 2007
Advisory Board Meeting, 9:30 a.m. December 27, 2007, large meeting room
Auglaize County SWCD Planning Meeting, 8 a.m. January 3, 2008, Administrative Building
Lake Improvement Association, 10 a.m. January 5, 2008, Celina Moose
Joint Board meeting, 4 p.m. January 24, 2008, upstairs 4-H meeting room
Science and Civics Facilitator Training, January 25, 2008, Columbus

Posted in Manure management, GLSM Watershed | 1 Comment »

December 18, 2007 by admin.

The Grand Lake/Wabash Watershed Alliance (GLWWA) Advisory Board meeting will be held on December 27, 2007, at 9:30 a.m., in the large first floor meeting room of the Mercer County Central Services Building at 220 West Livingston St., Celina. This meeting will give stakeholders an opportunity to recommend priority best management practices (BMPs) for the 2008 Agriculture Incentive Program.

The 2007 and 2008 Agriculture Incentive Programs for the Grand Lake St. Marys Watershed are made possible through a state budget line item. This line item was secured by Senator Keith Faber and totals $200,000 over two years. The 2007 program offered cost share or incentive on the following practices: waterways, filter strips, recharge areas, cover crops and tile control structures. The money for 2007 has been allocated; however the GLWWA is currently accepting applications to be placed on a waiting list.

The $100,000 for the 2008 Agriculture Incentive Program must be put towards agriculture BMPs in the Grand Lake St. Marys watershed. This could include the same BMPs as 2007 or a completely different list. This list depends on ideas and recommendations brought to the advisory board meeting on December 27, 2007.

Four other topics will be at the top of the discussion at the advisory board meeting.

These topics include:
Combining the Advisory Board meetings and the Lake Restoration Committee Meetings Environmental Monitoring: including the USGS ethanol plant monitoring proposal
Residential issues: lawn fertilizer program, rain gardens, Water Pollution Control Loan Fund
Centralized Manure treatment systems and other agricultural related items

The meeting is open to any topic related to the Grand Lake/Wabash Watershed Alliance.  All recommendations will be presented to the Joint Board at their next meeting.

Posted in Manure management, GLSM Watershed | 1 Comment »

November 20, 2007 by admin.

Posted in Water Quality, GLSM Watershed | 1 Comment »

October 22, 2007 by admin.

Do you live in (or own property in) either the Grand Lake St. Marys watershed or the Wabash River watershed? If so, you may vote for a representative on the SWCD board.

Download and print the swcd-ballot-request.pdf. This is an excellent way of supporting the GLWWA, since this activity comes under the direction of the SWCD board.

Send application to:
Mercer Soil & Water Conservation District
220 W. Livingston St.
Suite #1
Celina, Ohio 45822

You will then be sent a ballot to be returned before the banquet on 11/8/07.

Posted in GLSM Watershed | 1 Comment »