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Archive for the Uncategorized Category

2009 Area Events

June 12-14

Chickasaw Community Park Picnic

Easy Campground Summer Jamboree

June 19-20

Zuma Days 2009

June 26-28

Maria Stein Country Fest

July 3-5

Freedom Days 2009 - Fireworks July 4th approximately 10pm

July 24-26

Celina Lake Festival

July 25 - World’s Largest Boat Poker Run

Aug 1-2

Coldwater Picnic

Aug 8

LIA Bar Stool Open

Aug 14-16

St. Marys Summerfest

Aug 22-23

Governers Cup Regatta 2009

Sept 5

Moosestock Eve

Sept 6

Moosestock

What’s happening?

I keep checking, but there have not been any new posts since June!!!

Enews from Ohio State Parks

NEWS
Explore The Outdoors with your kids this summer at Ohio State Parks! Check out the website www.exploretheoutdoorsohio.com

We want to see your kids connecting with nature at Ohio State Parks! “Kids Exploring the Outdoors” photo contest deadline is November 5, 2008

Wi-Fi Service is coming this summer to the campgrounds at Dillon • Jackson Lake • Mosquito Lake • Pymatuning
Wi-Fi service is already available at no charge to registered campers at Alum Creek • East Harbor • Grand Lake St Marys • Hueston Woods • Rocky Fork
Wi-Fi is available for a fee at the nine state park resort lodges

“Dog Friendly” cottages are available at Burr Oak • Dillon • Hueston Woods • Lake Hope • Maumee Bay • Mohican • Pike Lake • Pymatuning • Salt Fork • Shawnee

Disc Golf Courses are available at Buck Creek • Delaware • East Harbor • Findley • Forked Run • Great Seal • Hueston Woods • Independence Dam • Pike Lake • Rocky Fork

Archery Ranges are offered at Barkcamp • Beaver Creek • Hocking Hills • Hueston Woods • Punderson • Salt Fork • Shawnee

Swim Safe! beach safety program, begun in 2000, remains focused on its slogan “Keep an eye on the kids!”

Ohio State Park Lodges are “Going Green”

Check out the improvements planned for Middle Bass Island State Park

See what else is going on at ODNR

NATURE CORNER

Check out this month’s Nature Thing for Kids

Stuff for Kids

Other educational resources

EVENTS

Check out the series of Gander Mountain Paddle Quest events at Ohio State Parks

See what’s happening in the state parks during June and July

FYI
Check out Campground Availability to see which parks still have campsites available for the upcoming weekend and summer holidays.

Download the Spring/Summer 2008 issue of the Ohio State Parks magazine.

Support Ohio’s state parks when you renew your vehicle registration with our special license plate

Want to make a difference to your favorite Ohio State Park? Become an Ohio State Park Volunteer

Ohio State Parks Gift Card or merchandise make terrific holiday gifts!

DEALS

Take your next vacation at one of our beautiful resorts. See what specials are available at:

Burr Oak Mohican
Deer Creek Punderson
Geneva Salt Fork
Hueston Woods Shawnee
Maumee Bay
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Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Division of Parks and Recreation
2045 Morse Road, C-3
Columbus, OH 43229-6693
Privacy Policy
www.ohiostateparks.org
Ted Strickland, Governor

Sean Logan, Director

Dan West, Chief

Important workshop for LAWN owners in the Grand Lake St. Marys Watershed

Lawn owners will gather the evening of July 19, 2007 to learn how to correctly collect a soil sample, have their lawn soil tested (free), and become better stewards of our lake and waterways.  For all the details, View and Print the Lawn Fertilizer Workshop brochure.

More Truth

May 24, 2007 at 1:46 pm  Great input from the truthdoctor! The technology exists to solve many of the issues. Islands can be built. Wetlands can be restored. The lake depth can be increased. The shoreline can be protected. But it all takes money and lots of it. No one wants to pay a use tax; and the State’s budgets are spoken for. Frankly the only possible short term solution is private philanthropic gifting and for that we need to start thinking outside the box and direct our energies to such a possibility. The State and its bureaucratic hierarchy has a proven record of ineffective activity with regards to water quality so perhaps indeed we must turn to the private sector for assistance.

A petition to improve our watershed that contained nearly 2000 signatures was sent to both Ohio governor candidates last summer. Neither, including our new Governor Strickland showed anyone the courtesy of a response. We must all realize that private enterprise represents the only viable solution to our clean water and lake level issues. The State of Ohio is broke and clearly has other priorities.

lake level

the lake level issue is more complex than simply drawing down the level during the winter. consider this: once the lake recovers from a winter drawdown the threat of flooding would still exist. i can remember the lake being down over 23″ and the next large rain event, about 11″ in two days, created a situation where the lake nearly breached the west bank.

the current spillway releases more water faster than any other time. thus the law suit won by citizens below the spillway. many land owners on the south side of the lake will attest that water drains much faster(weeks vs. months) after flooding events than ever before. this leads to confusion as to why would landowners on the lake complain since water is draining from the lake at a higher rate. this was the key factor in the “takings lawsuit” filed by the citizens below the spillway.

so what are we to think as to the reasons for recent flooding? well there have been many changes within the watershed since the new spillway was constructed not to mention unusually high rainfall events in the last few years. the watershed is just over 58,000 acres for a lake of 14,000 acres. water has been leaving the watershed for thousands of years so we can assume that has not changed. however here are some things that have changed: there has been increased building activity(more roofs, streets and storm water discharge), much of the old wetlands that held many acre feet of water have been drained, the farming practices have changed and most of the wooded area and wetlands have been lost. another contributing factor is the lake has lost 30% of its capacity since its construction. all lakes eventually will fill in and continue to “spread out’ as they do so.

although considered by the agricultural industry as acceptable, nearly 3 tons/acre of sediment is being lost to the lake annually from the watershed. this does not have to be. the presence of significant amounts of highly erodable land and significant lack of riparian(filterstrips, brush, trees, etc.) corridors combine to produce a situation where erosion and sedimentation are a major problem. research indicates that one cottonwood tree can hold over 3,000 gallons of water. many have been removed from the watershed and subsequently the water is released to the lake.

the acreage devoted to pasture(unplowed and grass covered) has decreased by 85%, woodland acreage dropped 61%. these are figures from the u.s.census of agriculture from 1949 to 1997.

the destruction of fence-row vegetation between fields and the extention of field-edge plowing out to and into the watershed’s 400 miles of roadside ditches has contributed to the sediment problem, but also has increased the speed of water leaving the watershed. some experts agree that extensive field tiling has also contributed to water leaving the land and entering the lake faster.

so there you have another look at the lake level issue. support by all citizens of the grand lake wabash watershed alliances’ plan of action, contemplates all of these issues and the lake level too. if we are going to solve these problems it will require all mercer and auglaize citizens to get behind this plan and support the alliance and coordinator. the local newspapers announce glwwa meetings.

local Farm Bill Biologist position open

Please help spread the word of the below. Through your continued support Mercer and Auglaize PF are hiring a Farm Bill Biologist. Please help in try to solicit a good candidate for the position.
Brian Miller

Below is an announcement for a Farm Bill Biologist position for Mercer and Auglaize Counties. Feel free to pass it to those that you think might be interested and have them give me a call if there are any questions.

Jim

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Pheasants Forever

Habitat Team - Farm Bill Biologist

Mercer and Auglaize Counties, Ohio

Application Deadline: May 7, 2007

Start Date: June 1, 2007 (Flexible)

Funding for this position is for 2 years, additional funding may be available to continue positions.

Duties: In partnership with the Ohio Division of Wildlife (DOW) and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), coordinate and implement wildlife-related conservation technical assistance. Work in joint capacity with PF, NRCS, and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to promote, coordinate and implement conservation provisions of the Federal Farm Bill and other related wildlife conservation programs. The programs of interest are promoting and implementing CREP watershed programs and CP33 practice for Bobwhite Quail and Upland Wildlife. Duties will include habitat planning, contract coordination, writing conservation plans, site assessment and reporting. Provide technical assistance for wildlife habitat enhancement techniques to private landowners and public organizations. Meet with local chapters of Pheasants Forever to help coordinate and influence habitat management efforts and participate in county and statewide habitat meetings. Meet regularly with DOW, PF and USDA staff to coordinate technical assistance efforts. Implement specific conservation programs to improve wildlife habitat.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

  • Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with landowners and partner organizations
  • Ability to work independently with little supervision and with diverse clientele;
  • Working knowledge of agricultural conservation and wildlife programs provided by Federal (USDA and USFWS ) State, and Pheasants Forever
  • Working knowledge of wildlife ecology and grassland/wetland management including the ability to utilize various habitat management tools (ie prescribed burning), in the development of a management plan
  • Good computer skills including knowledge of MS Word, MS Excel, and Arc View.
  • Excellent oral, written communication and organizational skills
  • Valid driver’s license required

Training and Experience Guideline: Any combination of training and/or experience that will enable the applicant to possess the required knowledge, skills and abilities. A general qualification guideline for this position is a Bachelor of Science Degree in Wildlife Management or closely related natural resources field and 1 year related field experience.

Salary: $25,500 - 30,000 depending on qualifications.

To Apply:

Send Cover Letter, Resume and references to:

Joy Eastman

Pheasants Forever Inc.

1783 Buerkle Circle

St. Paul, Minnesota 55110

Direct Dial: 651-209-4917

Fax: 651-773-5500

jobs@pheasantsforever.org

For more information:

Matt O’Connor

Habitat Team Coordinator

Pheasants Forever Inc.

2880 Thunder Road

Hopkinton IA 52237

(563) 926-2357 Phone & Fax

moconnor@pheasantsforever.org

Pheasants Forever is a an equal opportunity employer

______________________________

Jim Inglis
Regional Wildlife Biologist
Pheasants Forever
Quail Forever

21085 Northwest Parkway
Marysville, OH 43040
Ph/Fax: (937) 642-4744
jinglis@pheasantsforever.org
www.OhioPF.com
www.pheasantsforever.org
www.quailforever.org
_____________________________

August 23, 2006 Forum on Grand Lake at WSU-LC Update

Responses to questions and issues raised at the public forum held August 23 are now available at the Mercer County Commissioners website.