June 2024 | Volume 29 | Issue 3
|
|
|
West Jefferson Placed 1st at the Area IV (Southwest Ohio) Envirothon and 4th at State
|
Congratulations to Charlie Kitchen, Mathew Chmil, Brent Gardner, Katey Stephens and Charles Stephens for taking 1st place at Area IV (Southwest Ohio) Envirothon Competition, held April 30th at the Gwynne Conservation Area in Madison County.
|
The Ohio Envirothon concluded on June 5th with twenty teams participating from across Ohio, including West Jefferson High School! The Envirothon is an outdoor, academic, environmental competition for high school students
The competition was held Hocking College in Nelsonville, OH. On Tuesday, teams traveled to Lake Snowden Fish Hatchery for field testing. After returning to campus, the teams worked to prepare a five-minute presentation on a problem scenario based on the 2024 theme “Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Future.” On Wednesday, each team presented to a panel of judges.
Lynchburg-Clay High School Gold Team was the overall winner of the event, followed by Beavercreek High School in second place, and Port Clinton High School in third. The Lynchburg-Clay team will represent Ohio at the NCF-Envirothon in Geneva, New York at the end of July.
West Jefferson High School represented Madison County very well at the State Competition, taking 4th place. Congratulations once again to Charlie Kitchen, Mathew Chmil, Brent Gardner, Katey Stephens, Charles Stephens and their amazing science teacher and advisor, Mike Harkleroad.
|
Camp Canopy Scholarship Winners
|
Madison SWCD is excited to announce the two high school students who were chosen to receive $450 each to attend Camp Canopy, a FFA camp about forestry and more in Muskingum County. We are grateful to our sponsor, Ag Alliance, LLC, who manages the Heiner Gantenbrink Scholarship. Congratulations goes to Kira Puckett (9th grade) and Kylie Puckett (11th grade).
The sisters were chosen based on their essays about how why they wanted to attend camp. Although each had their own reasons, they both shared a love of outdoors and desire to learn.
"Camp Canopy Scholarship Program is one of our favorite ways to get young adults interested in an environmental career," said Gail Wilson, Operations Coordinator, “I am so impressed by these students’ enthusiasm and their strong commitment to their education and making a difference in the world. Congratulations to each of our winners!”
To learn more about Camp Canopy Scholarship Program, please contact Gail at gail.wilson@oh.nacdnet.net.
|
H2OHIO ENROLLMENT IS OPEN UNTIL JUNE 30TH. CAPACITY LIMITS HAVE BEEN REMOVED.
|
Jack McDowell’s Annual Prairie Appreciation Ride on July 13th
|
The Madison Soil and Water Conservation District offers a great opportunity to see key pollinator habitat in action annually during the Jack McDowell’s Annual Prairie Appreciation Ride. The bike tour begins at 1:00 p.m. on July 13th at the Prairie Grass Trailhead, located behind the Madison County Senior Center, 280 W. High St., London, OH, and extends 6 miles to the Madison-Clark County border. After the official ride ends, head onto South Charleston or return to London at your leisure.
The prairies have existed since before the time of the pioneer and were kept preserved by the railroad because the land could not be farmed. Now the prairies are maintained by volunteers who share Jack’s vision of saving this heritage and providing educational opportunities through stewardship.
Jack McDowell was one of the early “discoverers” of the remnant prairies of Madison and Clark counties and started the efforts to manage these prairie treasures in the midst of threats from invasive woody plant and agricultural weed species. Jack McDowell passed away in 2012, but his dream to inspire others to preserve the Ohio prairie is not forgotten.
If you are interested in volunteering to help maintain the prairie remnants alongside other volunteers and SWCD staff, contact Broc Sehen at broc.sehen@oh.nacdnet.net or (740) 852-4003 for more information.
|
|
|
Born Wild, Stay Wild
- Matt Teders, Madison County Wildlife Officer
|
In the spring and early summer, when wildlife reproduction is at its peak, you may have the good fortune of observing baby animals in the wild. Often, the babies you see will be unattended by a parent. Unless something seems amiss, keep your distance and leave them alone. Human intervention is always a wild animal’s LAST hope for survival, NEVER its best hope.
Is the animal really an orphan? Wildlife parents are very devoted to their young and rarely abandon them. Many species are raised by only one parent (the mother) and she cannot be in two places at once. This means that baby wildlife must be left alone several times during the day or even the majority of the time while the mother ventures off to find food for herself and her young. The best thing to do is to keep your distance and keep children and pets away from the young animal. This is to protect both humans and wildlife. Wild animals can carry parasites or diseases that can be harmful to humans and pets. Wild animals also defend themselves by scratching or biting.
What do you do if an animal is truly abandoned or injured? If you see open wounds or other injuries, or you know in fact that a young wild animal has lost its parent, consult a local wildlife rehabilitator. Do not attempt to capture or feed wildlife until proper, expert guidance is provided to you. Also, limit contact with the animal to reduce stress and the possibility of it becoming habituated. Taming a young animal will make it unreleasable in the wild.
It is illegal to keep wildlife without a rehabilitator's permit. Rehabilitators go through extensive training on how to raise and treat young and injured wildlife. Leave it to the professionals and you’ll greatly increase the animal’s chance of survival.
|
- A baby wild animal’s best chance for survival is with its mother.
-
Wild animals are born to live their lives in the wild, not in a house or a cage.
- The best option for a wild animal is to learn normal behaviors from their own species in their natural environment. An animal that has become habituated to humans cannot be returned to the wild.
- Once they grow, wild animals are active and independent, which can make them dangerous and destructive.
-
Wild animals can be highly stressed by sights, sounds and smells from people and pets, especially when in close proximity. Stress can cause health problems and even death.
- Wild animals can carry diseases and parasites, some of which are transmissible to people or pets. Some diseases, like rabies, can cause serious health problems.
-
Wild animals have complex nutritional needs not easily met in captivity. Nutritional deficiencies can leave an animal deformed for life.
- Feeding wildlife (such as ducks, geese, raccoons, etc.) can cause them to lose their fear of people and even expect food from humans and become aggressive. Adult wildlife also teach their behavior to their offspring, and young animals may not develop the basic skills to find sustenance on their own.
-
Feeding wildlife can also unnaturally gather them to one location, which then causes diseases and parasites to spread more quickly, as well as concentrates waste material.
|
A Barrel Of Savings
- A message from Be the Change for Clean Water
|
Homeowners, renters, and property owners can conserve water and reduce stormwater runoff by installing a rain barrel. Rain barrels collect and store water that runs off your roof and would normally be directed to the street. You can use the collected rain water to water your lawn, gardens, or even wash your car. It's a great way to save money and reduce your water usage. It is not recommended to drink or bathe in it because rainwater is not considered potable aka drinkable water. Your plants and flowers will love it though!
|
Before you purchase your first rain barrel, consider whether you live in an HOA, city limits, or historic district. If so, check with your local city, HOA, and/or historic district to ensure you can install a rain barrel - especially if it will be on the front or side view of the property. Some areas have rules or regulations about where you can put a rain barrel. If you rent, check with your property owner or manager or lease before installing a rain barrel.
Next, consider the location of your rain barrel on your property. You will need to hook it up to a downspout. Where is a downspout, and is it convenient to your garden? Also, you will want to elevate it off the ground in order to get decent water pressure. The higher elevated, the faster it will flow. Elevate it on some cinder blocks or a sturdy stand.
|
-
Use a rain barrel with a diverter hose installed to be level to prevent your rain barrel from overflowing.
- Make sure the place where you’re putting the rain barrel is level and sturdy so that the water load is evenly distributed. A 55-gallon rain barrel will be over 450 pounds when full!
-
If possible, place the barrel on top of something other than soil, which will compact over time. Instead, use asphalt or concrete --or-- dig the area out to a depth of 1”-2”, put down pea gravel or sand, and then lay down pavers on top.
- Elevating the barrel will increase water pressure. The higher the elevation, the greater the pressure of water coming out of the barrel.
-
Use an enclosed barrel to prevent mosquitoes, or add mosquito dunks regularly to open barrels to kill mosquito larvae that can carry diseases.
- To prevent debris clogging your diverter, you can use full length gutter screens, downspout rain heads, and downspout leaf eaters. Cleaned these regularly.
-
Remember the phrase: "After the rain, let it drain!" Use the rainwater within a week or two of collection to help prevent odors from stagnant water or algae growth. If possible, use the collected water before the next rain.
- Store your rain barrel indoors during the winter. If you leave it outside, disconnect it from the downspout, empty it, and turn it upside down to prevent damage from freezing water.
|
Conservation Planning Helps Improve Farm Productivity |
Whether you rent or own your land, a conservation plan is critical to maintain and improve farm productivity. Plans of any kind are important as they set goals and outline how to reach them. Conservation plans are roadmaps for improving your operation while conserving natural resources. They provide proven strategies that landowners can use to solve identified natural resource concerns and take advantage of conservation opportunities.
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service can help you develop a conservation plan. This technical assistance from NRCS is free, and it can help you reduce soil loss from erosion, solve issues with soil, air and water quality, reduce potential damage from excess water and drought, enhance the quality of wildlife habitat, address waste management concerns, and improve the long-term sustainability of the country’s natural resources.
How does conservation planning work? You’ll meet with a planner from NRCS for a science-based evaluation of your problems and opportunities on your land. The NRCS staff member, often a district conservationist or conservation planning technician, then analyzes the findings and recommends the best strategies to address your problems and achieve valuable opportunities.
Through one-on-one, personalized advice, NRCS can work with you on ways to achieve your goals. Contact James Tillman, NRCS District Conservationist, at 740-852-4003.
|
|
|
OSU Extension Summer Programming |
|
|
- June 25 Joyful Gardening Series Make-N-Take Event | London | Registration
-
July 26 Native and Pollinators | London Community Mural Park | 9-11 am | Registration
- Aug 6 Manure Science Review | Molly Caren Ag Center | Details
- Aug 15 Regenerative Ag Field Day | Molly Caren Ag Center | Details to come
|
While Madison SWCD does not endorse any contactors or service providers, our office curates a list of area contractors that may be able to provide assistance with land management projects. If you would like to be added to this list, please contact our office at (740) 852-4003 or gail.wilson@oh.nacdnet.net.
|
|
|
SWCD Staff
Julia Cumming, Program Administrator
Emma Ryan, Urban Conservationist
Broc Sehen, Wildlife Specialist
Gail Wilson, Operations Coordinator
NRCS Staff
James Tillman, District Conservationist
Board of Supervisors
Steve Davis, Chairman
Jonathan Francis, Vice Chairman
Bob Hunter, Treasurer
JD Bethel
Nancy Denes-Sparks
|
| 6/19 - Juneteenth (Office Closed)
7/04 - Independence Day (Office Closed)
7/06 - 7/13 - Madison County Fair
7/10 - SWCD Board Meeting
7/13 -Jack McDowell's Prairie Appreciation Ride
7/16 - Rain Garden Design Workshop
8/06 - Manure Science Review
8/14 - SWCD Board Meeting
Madison Soil & Water Conservation District
831 U.S. Highway 42 NE
London, Ohio 43140
Phone: (740) 852-4003 opt. 3
www.madisonsoilandwater.com www.facebook.com/madisonswcdohio
|
|
|
All NRCS/MSWCD programs and services are offered on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, or handicap. Please contact Gail Wilson at gail.wilson@oh.nacdnet.net if you wish to be put on or removed from our email list.
|
|
|
Manage your preferences | Opt Out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.
|
831 U.S. Highway 42 NE None | London, OH 43140 US
|
|
|
This email was sent to julia.cumming@oh.nacdnet.net.
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.
|
|
|
|
