June 2025 | Volume 30 | Issue 3

 

Any resident 18 years of age or older who resides within the county of the election can seek election to the SWCD board of supervisors. Names can be placed on the ballot in one of two ways.

Candidates can be nominated by the SWCD nominating committee. This committee works throughout the year looking for candidates who are interested in the conservation and protection of natural resources within the county.

Interested individuals may also contact the SWCD by calling 740-852-4003 to arrange to pick up a nomination petition form. Potential candidates need to secure at least 10 signatures from residents and/or landowners from the county and submit the petition to the district by the close of business on July 9, 2025.

Candidates meeting the eligibility requirements and deadline will be listed on the ballot for the special election.  The election period will be from August 13, 2025, through September 11, 2025. Our banquet will be held on Thursday, September 11, 2025, with voting available from 5:30 pm. – 6:30 p.m., at the Procter Center, 11235 State Route 38 SE, London, Ohio.

Soil and water conservation districts, located in all 88 Ohio counties, are legal subdivisions of state government that provide natural resource management assistance to county landowners and other units of local government.  The district is funded by the Madison County Commissioners, and county funds are supplemented by funding from the Ohio Department of Agriculture.  The district is governed by a five-member board of county residents.  Board members serve staggered three-year terms.

 The nomination procedure changes were adopted by the seven-member Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Commission, which oversees SWCD election guidelines.

Madison Plains Team #2, represented (from left to right) by Abby Damron, Ashley Bailey, Paisley Rice, Andrew Wood, and Gavin Cloutier, was the top ranked team from Madison County, placing 20th out of 62 teams overall. Their advisor was Serenity Kirts Pickell. They will be recognized at the Madison Soil and Water Conservation Award Banquet on September 11th with a rotating plaque.  

The Envirothon is an environmental high school competition designed to stimulate, reinforce and enhance interest in the environment and natural resources among high school students. This year's competition was held at Lost Creek Preserve, in Troy, Ohio.  Students compete in the areas of Aquatics, Wildlife, Forestry, Soils and Current Environmental Issues. The questions are designed by experts in the fields from the Natural Resources Conservation Services, Ohio Department of Agriculture and Ohio Department of Natural Resources.  Students learn environmental concepts within the classroom, and by taking the classroom outside, the concepts become tangible and experiential. 

Madison County landowners and farmers now have a timely opportunity to enhance their land and improve local waterways through Ohio’s H2Ohio Wetland Program. Coordinated with your Madison SWCD office, this voluntary initiative offers strong financial support for wetland restoration and forested riparian buffers—alongside expert guidance and streamlined planning.

Although broader H2Ohio agricultural enrollment began in spring, wetlands funding through the Statewide Wetland Grant Program will reopen in July 2025. This restoration track accepts applications statewide and includes full-year and rolling opportunities in northwest counties; Madison County participants aiming for wetland or buffer projects should plan to apply when grant funding resumes mid‑summer.

The program centers on helping you tackle nutrient runoff, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, which contribute to harmful algal blooms downstream. Restored wetlands act as efficient, natural filters; they slow water, allow sediments to settle, and support healthier soils and wildlife habitat. They also help control erosion and flood impacts, reducing the need for costly drainage solutions.

To apply, begin by contacting the Madison Soil & Water Conservation District. Your SWCD will guide you through design, installation, and reimbursement steps for installing conservation measures like manure incorporation, buffers, and constructed wetlands. By being proactive now, you’ll be in prime position to add wetlands or buffers this fall or next spring.

Since launching in 2019, H2Ohio has enrolled over 3,000 farmers and spread practices across more than 2.2 million acres statewide. Join your neighbors in Madison County and across the state who are seeing cleaner waterways, healthier soils, and stronger habitat—while receiving financial support to offset conservation costs. Reach out to Madison SWCD today to secure your spot in this well-supported conservation program.

The mission of the Madison Soil and Water Conservation District is to enhance and sustain the soil, water and related natural resources of Madison County through partnerships with landowners and others to provide research-based educational programs, technical assistance, and funding to promote a clean local environment. More information about our services, conserving natural resources, and events is available at www.madisonsoilandwater.com, or call our office at 740-852-4003 and ask for Broc Sehen-Wildlife Specialist.

Water management encompasses the planning and development of practices to ensure sustainable use of our natural resources in agricultural and urban settings. Effective water management is crucial for mitigating water-related hazards such as flooding and polluted runoff entering our waterways. Water management allows for groundwater recharge, prevents erosion, and overall improves environmental and public health. Education on these practices is an important part of understanding the economic and technical advantages of implementing these practices.

In agricultural settings, one of the major water management concerns is poor drainage. Many farmers “tile” their fields for the economic and technical advantages.  Tile is the common word for perforated drainpipes installed below the soil surface to help drain excess soil water.  Many people who are non-agricultural do not know about subsurface drainage and their benefits due to the lack of visibility and education.

Field tile has proved to increase crop yields, improve soil conditions, and prevent erosion. “Long-term research at OSU showed that compared to lands with adequate surface drainage, subsurface drainage improvements may increase yields by 25 to 30 bushels per acre for corn and 3 to12 bushels per acre for soybeans” (Ohio’s County Journal). Factors such as drainage system design, soil types, and climate can all influence how an individual field performs with subsurface drainage.

Soil conditions are improved because drier soils are less likely to be compacted.  Soil compaction hinders water and air movement through the soil, which impacts plant growth.

Soil erosion is reduced because there is less runoff.  Lowering the water table reduces runoff because unsaturated soil can absorb rain.  Once the soil is saturated, the rain becomes runoff.  If the rain comes into contact with soil, it can pick up and carry loose particles, known as sediment, into our waterways.  Sediment is a concern in our streams because it can carry other pollutants such as heavy metals, nutrients and pesticides. 

To be clear, farmers do a lot more than tile their fields to improve soil conditions and reduce runoff!  Practices such as buffer strips, no till farming and cover crops also improve the ability of the soil to absorb and store water.

In urban construction areas, one major water management concern is the increase in stormwater runoff. The increase in impervious surfaces, such as pavement and rooftops, greatly decreases the amount of water being absorbed into the ground.  The detention pond, which controls the peak rate of runoff to prevent flooding, does not prevent the impacts to the streambank and aquatic habitat caused by the increase in overall volume of stormwater runoff.

To prevent these costly impacts to the community, developers are being required to use low-impact design standards to increase infiltration of stormwater on site to rates similar to the natural landscape prior to construction. Examples of low-impact designs include soil quality restoration, grassed swales, bioretention cells, infiltration trenches, native landscaping, rain gardens, green roofs, rainwater harvesting and permeable pavement. 

Low-impact designs standards are regulated in the Madison County Sediment and Erosion Control Regulations, which are regulated by the County Commissioners, the County Engineer, and Madison Soil and Water. These regulations are a tool used to help protect local streams and outline permitted requirements for urban development. Reducing the volume of runoff is key to sustaining stable streambanks and aquatic habitat post urban development.

The Little Darby Scenic River is an example of an extraordinary wildlife and water quality stream located in Madison County. The Little Darby is home to 86 species of fish, five of which are endangered in Ohio and 41 species of freshwater mollusk, eight of which are on the Ohio endangered list. By regulating stormwater and educating the public on ways to protect streams, this Scenic River will continue to thrive for the next generations to enjoy.

To learn more about stormwater practices, Stormwater Awareness Week is an educational social media campaign that takes place the first week of October each year. The goal of Stormwater Awareness Week is to educate the public on the importance of keeping storm drains clean and recognizing the impacts of pollution on local streams. The understanding of drainage plays an important role in the success of urban development and the protection of our local streams and environment.

Madison Soil and Water staff and supervisors will be informing the public about tile and the importance of agricultural drainage as well as urban stormwater requirements and management at the Madison County Fair, July 7th-11th. We will be providing information and displays on water management benefits and other forms of conservation. Come out and see us for more information.

Join the Madison Soil and Water Conservation District for a glimpse of what life was like before the pioneers at the Jack McDowell’s Annual Prairie Appreciation Ride. The bike tour begins at 9:00 a.m. on July 12th 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.

This workshop will go over tips for maintaining a rain garden. Rain gardens are a great option to manage water issues on your property. The Madison County Master Gardener Volunteers and SWCD staff will be at the Prairie Grass Trailhead, 262 W. High St., London, from 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. to answer questions about insects, plant disease, and how to manage overgrowth. If you do not have a rain garden yet, this workshop could help you save you time and money as we can provide installation tips and some of the do's and don'ts. You could also take home a free rain barrel! (Fitting must be purchased separately.) In honor of National Honey Bee Day, we will have honey tasting and honey-bee related activities for children, so bring the family. Contact Julia Cumming at julia.cumming@oh.nacdnet.net or (740) 852-4003 for more information or to rsvp.

Join us at the Little Darby Prairie Preserve Trail Hike at 5995 Lafayette Plain City Rd., London, on Saturday, August 23rd at 10 a.m.  Prairie restoration is the rebuilding of prairies by planting prairie seeds in areas that had been changed to another land use. Broc Sehen, Wildlife Specialist, will lead a tour of a restored prairie.   (A prairie remnant, on the other hand, is a piece of land that has not been disturbed by agriculture or another use and still in nearly its original condition.  Those are prairie remnants on the Prairie Appreciation Ride.)

The Little Darby State Scenic River Preserve has 70 acres of forested floodplain, 144 acres of meadows and over 2 miles grassed trails.  Friends of Madison County Parks and Trails volunteers have been helping us to remove invasive species from the woods, and 20 acres were planted with native grasses and flowers.  We are excited to use the Little Darby Preserve Wildflower Hike as an opportunity to show the results of these efforts and inform the public about their options for managing their own properties if they wish to attract more wildlife.

For more information, or to rsvp, please contact Broc Sehen, Wildlife Specialist, at broc.sehen@oh.nacdnet.net or call (740) 852-4003. 

If you see a plant that resembles Queen's Ann Lace, but larger, look to see if it has purple blotches and a smooth stem.  If it does, you have it.  Poison hemlock has a musty, unpleasant smell.  The primary toxin in poison hemlock is coniine.  Coniine stops the nervous system from working property, which can lead to suffocation. 

Poison hemlock is incredibly toxic, but poisoning is preventable.  Never eat unfamiliar plants.  You should remove any poison hemlock on your property for safety.  

Mowing hemlock can be an effective form of control if done at the right time and with the correct safety gear.  There is a risk of the sap inadvertently getting inside through cuts, eyes, and nasal passages.  Always wear gloves, long sleeves, long pants, and a mask to cover your mouth and nose to prevent skin contact and inhalation of toxins.  The safest and most effective option is to use an approved herbicide and follow the label.  Another alternative is digging the plant entirely out by its roots. Place the uprooted plants in a plastic bag and put them in the trash.  Never burn as the fumes from poison hemlock are toxic even after it is dead.  After removing the plants, make sure to shower to remove any toxic sap from your skin and wash the clothes you were wearing to remove any plant residue.

Jaylon McDougal is from Jackson, Mississippi. He is an 1890 National Scholar that attends Alcorn State University.  He is currently going to college for Agricultural Science/Plant and Soil Science.  In his free time, he likes to produce music, write, watch videos and play video games. Random fact about Jaylon is his favorite animal are horses.

Jay is looking forward to learning all that goes with being a soil conservationist and getting hands-on experience. He is excited to interact and form valuable relationships with the community.

Luna Walker is a lifelong resident of Madison County. She is currently a district intern at the Madison Soil & Water Conservation District and plans to attend Hocking College to major in environmental science. Luna has a great passion for environmental sustainability and protection and is very excited to be a part of the Madison SWCD. When she’s not working, she can be found hiking, backpacking, enjoying family and friends, or just reading a good book. Luna is a recent graduate of Madison Plains High School and graduated with honors. She loves to be involved with the community and looks forward to the opportunity ahead.

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

Luna Walker, Summer Intern

 

 

NRCS Staff

 

James Tillman, District Conservationist

Preston Leonard, Soil Conservationist

Jaylon McDougal, NRCS Intern

 

 

Board of Supervisors

 

Steve Davis, Chairman

Jonathan Francis, Vice Chairman

Bob Hunter, Treasurer

JD Bethel

Nancy Denes-Sparks

7/04 -  Independence Day (Office Closed)

7/07 - 7/11 - Madison County Fair

7/9 - SWCD Board Meeting

7/12 -Jack McDowell's Prairie Appreciation Ride

7/24 Grain Handling Systems Open House

7/30 - 7/31 North America Manure Expo

8/13 - SWCD Board Meeting

8/16 - Rain Garden Maintenance Workshop and National Honey Bee Day

8/23 - Little Darby Prairie Preserve Wildflower Hike

9/01 - Labor Day (Office Closed)

9/10 - SWCD Board Meeting

9/11 - Annual Conservation Banquet & Supervisor Election

 

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  Instagram @madisonsoilandwater

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.