d e c e m b e r 2 0 1 2 mission statement
TRANSCRIPT
The Conservation Advocate D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 2
The Conservation Advocate is published quarterly
Montgomery
Soil & Water
Conservation
District
Mission Statement: The Montgomery Soil and Water Conservation District connects the residents, businesses, governments
and agriculture of Montgomery County with education, best management practices, and technical leadership of water quality, water
management, conservation, and wildlife habitat. We are the community’s natural resource stewards for a livable community today
and tomorrow.
We are a Groundwater Guardian Green Site! Each year, the Groundwater Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Lincoln, Nebraska
with a mission to educate and motivate the public to care about and for groundwater,
recognizes the efforts of organizations that take the extra steps necessary be good stewards
of the groundwater. Groundwater Guardian Green Sites (GGGS) is a program they began in
2007 to recognize good stewards of groundwater by encouraging managers of highly-managed
green spaces to implement, measure, and document their groundwater-friendly practices.
Although the Montgomery Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) has always been a
leader in conservation, we decided to test ourselves against the standards of this national
organization. Having this designation allows us to showcase the efforts we take to promote
and protect clean water at our office, and in our community!
The USDA Montgomery County Service Center, which is managed by and houses the Montgomery SWCD, has been
designated as a GGGS for the first time in 2012. The sites that earn this designation are essentially places with a lot of
green space – like golf courses; ball fields; educational campuses; and residential, recreational, and office parks – that
implement groundwater and surface water-friendly practices to maintain the site. The Montgomery SWCD completed
an application to evaluate and document its groundwater-friendly practices to earn this exclusive designation. Our
application highlighted the green activities already in use at the facility as well as the addition of some new
accomplishments. The most recent examples of groundwater-friendly practices being implemented are the addition
of native plants in the landscaping of the property and signage to explain why native landscaping helps groundwater.
Native plants, once established, require little to no care in the way of watering, fertilizing, and pest control. This all adds
up to better stewardship and protection of the groundwater we all use for our drinking water in the Miami Valley. By
landscaping with native plants, using rain gardens to capture stormwater from the office roof, storing chemicals correctly
to prevent spills, and recycling, among other practices, the Montgomery SWCD is helping to protect and conserve local
water supplies. (See the article on page 3 for more about the native plantings and the many partners who helped get
them established.)
The Montgomery SWCD worked closely with the Miami Conservancy District (MCD) during this application process.
MCD encourages organizations to evaluate their land management practices to better protect groundwater, and MCD’s
Aquifer Preservation Subdistrict (APS) offers financial assistance to organizations that want to improve or update their
land management practices to become more groundwater-friendly. MCD’s APS provides ongoing watershed-wide
support for comprehensive protection and management of the Great Miami River Watershed’s groundwater resources.
In addition to assisting the Montgomery SWCD in the application process, MCD provided financial
support for the native plantings and signage.
Other interested sites are encouraged to get involved in the Groundwater Guardian Green Site
program by visiting The Groundwater Foundation’s website and downloading the current program
application at www.groundwater.org/gg/greensites.html, e-mailing [email protected], or
calling 1-800-858-4844. For more info on how the MCD can help your organization with this
process, contact Theresa McGeady at (937) 223-1271 or [email protected].
T H E C O N S E R V A T I O N A D V O C A T E P A G E 2
Did you
know ?????
“Each soil has
had its own
history. Like a
river, a
mountain, a
forest, or any
natural thing,
its present
condition is
due to the
influences of
many things
and events of
the past.” -
Charles Kellogg
Thank you to all of you who came and joined us for
our Autumn Fest in partnership with Learning
Tree Farm! Over 1200 people joined us to take
advantage of the activities, displays and learning
opportunities! We had a fantastic day, with beautiful
weather, lots of fun activities, and a record turnout!
There were many highlights of the day. I know for
many of the families, the hayrides and pony rides
were a favorite, along with the kids games like sack
races, and face painting. Others enjoyed seeing the
old crafts performed, like blacksmithing, weaving,
and spinning. Still others enjoyed the sheep herding
and sheep
shearing
demonstrations. And, don’t forget the great
food and ice cream! If you missed it this year,
start planning to join us next fall. If you have
any suggestions for next year, or a favorite
activity from this year you want us to know
about, we're starting planning for 2013 now.
I look forward to your feedback and comments,
and to seeing you at the farm again next year!
Autumn Fest a Great Success!
Centerville Wins State Soils Judging! The Montgomery SWCD is confident that
educating our youth about, and engaging them
in, their natural resources is one of the best
ways to protect those natural resources for
future generations. One way we support that
is to organize a local Soils Judging event each
year. Many of the students involved in that go
on to compete in a District event. I’m proud
to tell you that, after the District competition,
four students from Centerville High School’s
Environmental Science class, taught by Robert
Erwin, traveled to Mansfield on October 13th,
to compete in FFA’s State Soil Judging Career Development Event.
The Centerville team competed against 49 of the top urban soil judging teams in the
State of Ohio. For the first time in Centerville history, the team took first place at the
competition. The team consisted of Morgan Paris,
Amy Feola, Alex O’neil, Andy Chellette and first
alternate Maddie Livingston. Morgan Paris, one of the
seniors on the team, took first place overall. The
team will now head to Oklahoma this April to
compete in the National Land Judging Competition.
We at the Montgomery SWCD want to say
congratulations on your accomplishments so far,
and good luck at Nationals!
And Now… A Word From Our Sponsors
A. BROWN & SONS NURSERY, INC.
Landscape Design Residential & Commercial
1/2 Mile N. of Phillipsburg on 49 (937) 884-5826
AG DATA SOLUTIONS
Don Garret 5096 US Route 127 South
Eaton, OH 45320 (937) 286-0407
BROOKVILLE NATIONAL BANK
225 W. Upper Lewisburg-Salem Rd.
Brookville, OH 45309 (937) 833-2111
CUNNINGHAM ELECTRIC INC.
Dick Cunningham
13229 Old Dayton Rd. New Lebanon, OH 45345
(937) 687-2339
CY SCHWIETERMAN, INC Farm Drainage-Excavating
Grass Waterways Conservation Projects
4240 St. Rt. 49 Arcanum
Phone: (937) 548-3965
DENLINGER FARM DRAINAGE INC.
“Complete Farm
Drainage Service”
Gary - (937) 833-4248
Dan - (937) 884-5966
P A G E 3 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 2
BULLDOG DRAINAGE & EXCAVATING, LLC
GARY & LORI LONG
Farmersville, OH (937) 696-1402 (937) 603-4812
*Increases Yields 15% - 35%, better return on inputs with proper Drainage
*GPS Topographical Mapping & Installation
*Complete plan to customer before installation
*Ag Drainage Installation *Increases Land Value
Landscaping goes Native! As mentioned in our article about ‘Going Green’ on
page one, as part of the application process to become
a Groundwater Guardian Green Site, the landscaping
around our office underwent a radical change! The
previous landscaping consisted of several types of
bushes that had overgrown their space. At least two
of the species included in that planting have become
recognized as ‘invasive plants’, Burning Bush (Euonymus
alatus) and Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii). Invasive plants are known to cause
environmental and/or economic harm due to their ability to aggressively spread and
crowd out the plants native to an area. Even plants that are contained, as our bushes
were, will produce berries that are then carried by the birds to other areas.
Now, those non-native, overgrown bushes have been removed, and been replaced
by plants that provide a wealth of benefits to the environment, and are beautiful, too!
Native plants occur naturally in an area without having been put there by human
involvement. How are native plants beneficial? For the groundwater, their natural
ability to thrive without additional watering, fertilizing or pest control add up to
wiser water use and less chance of groundwater contamination. They generally have
deep root systems, making more efficient use of the water and nutrients in the soil.
Many species of butterflies, dragonflies, and birds need specific native plants to
survive! They may be able to eat (or drink nectar) from a variety of plants, but in
order to raise their young, often only certain plants will do. By having native plants,
we are preserving the natural heritage of our region. And, not to be overlooked, is
their beauty! These plants were selected because of their beautiful colors and unique
forms, and will add up to a multi-season display of many colors and shapes.
In addition to the assistance we received from the Miami Conservancy District (see
article on page one), there were many other partners who pitched in on all aspects
of this project to make it a success! The Marianist Environmental Education Center
assisted greatly in the landscape design, and lent their expertise of which plants would
thrive in which conditions, and sold us their gorgeous, healthy plants at a discount.
Heuker Excavating LLC assisted with removal of the bushes and donated mulch, and
an anonymous donor supplied beautiful, dark compost to enrich the soil. A group of
volunteers from Infosys spent a Saturday with us, working at an astonishingly efficient
rate, to plant all of the almost 300 small plants. A. Brown & Sons Nursery donated
mulch to keep the new plants protected, this year and in future years. New Vision
Signs & Graphics worked with us to develop educational signage. Volunteers from
the Ohio State University Extension’s Master Gardner and Ohio Certified Volunteer
Naturalist programs helped us each step of the way, from feedback on design to that
Saturday planting, and they will continue helping us, by being committed to caring for
the maintenance of the landscaping. And, of course, thanks to my coworkers who
helped with the prep and planting, and my
MSWCD Board of Supervisors for
supporting the project!
This project, made possible by so many
different partners and individuals, will beautify
our office, better the quality of our
groundwater, and serve as an educational
outreach on the benefits and beauty of native
plants for landscaping, for many years to come!
T H E C O N S E R V A T I O N A D V O C A T E P A G E 4
Did you
know ?????
Cover crops, also
referred to as
‘green manure’,
help protect the
soil from erosion
after harvest, as
well as adding
nitrogen to the
soil that will help
the next crop to
grow lush and
healthy?
The plants, often
legumes, are
planted for this
purpose and then
usually plowed
under prior to
planting the main
crop.
Our congratulations go to Fred Glander, who you re-elected to our
Board of Supervisors for another term. Fred, who has been a member
of the Board of Supervisors since 1965, farms in German Township with
his wife Phyllis and son Fred. His goals for the Montgomery SWCD
include focusing on the County’s storm water and erosion control
activities in urban areas, as well as facilitating group drainage projects and
having good relationships with our County Commissioners and partners.
Fred Glander Re-Elected
Shekinah Ranch 2012 Conservation Partner We want to recognize and congratulate
Shekinah Ranch, located in Jefferson
Township, as our 2012 Conservation
Partner of the Year. They have
implemented a variety of conservation
practices on their land, including most
recently creating wetlands to provide
wildlife cover and improve water quality.
Other practices completed are removal
of honeysuckle and grapevine, building a waste storage facility, using cover crops, building
high tunnels and installing fencing. They also presented at our 2012 Pond Clinic, sharing
their experiences and expertise in aquaculture. Thanks for being a wonderful example of
conservation in action!
Little Farms Project Complete! We are pleased to let you know that the Little Farms Group Drainage Project, funded in
large part by a Ohio Public Works Commission Grant in the amount of $238,578.00,
was completed this summer! Conversations about fixing the problems with drainage of
this area, and the subsequent erosion problems it caused (from the broken tile system
and ditch washing away the soil), started back in 1982. Much of the project runs through
residential areas of Jackson and Perry Townships. For these residents, the flooding,
problems are greatly reduced, with sewage, hazardous roadway conditions, erosion, sink
holes, and reduced agricultural production concerns now addressed. The improvements
are already very evident, and will not only allow people to make use of their land, but
will also substantially reduced erosion, benefitting water quality downstream.
Is there an abandoned or old forgotten well on your property? Public Health - Dayton
& Montgomery County and the Miami Conservancy District have joined up to offer
county residents an incentive to seal unused water wells on their properties, and only
have funds left through the end of 2012. Unsealed wells can allow pollution of drinking
water and can be potential safety hazards. This project seeks to reduce public health
concerns from abandoned wells. The program application is free and does not obligate
participation. This is a limited time offer, so don’t wait! Call (937) 225-4428, or visit
phdmc.org (search for: well sealing) for more information.
Last Chance $ to Seal Your Well
FARM CREDIT SERVICES OF MID AMERICA
312 Eaton-Lewisburg Road
Eaton, OH 45320 (937) 456-4146
HEUKER EXCAVATING LLC
Full Range of Services
“We’ll do what most others won’t”
Duane Heuker - (937) 416-4905
8369 Wengerlawn Rd.
Brookville OH 45309
FULL SERVICE GRAIN MARKETING & HANDLING
COMPANY
1 (800) 537-7302 or (937) 833-4128 www.kellergrain.com
KING’S FARM TIRE CENTER, INC.
301 Industrial Dr., Eaton, Ohio 45320
Tire Sales & Service
(937) 456-5466, (937) 456-1138
MONTGOMERY
COUNTY
FARM BUREAU
316 W. Walnut St.
Farmersville, OH 45325
(937) 696-3630
QUALITY TILE AND DRAINAGE SYSTEMS
723 Yost Road
West Alexandria Ohio 45381 (937) 456-4672 / (937) 456-4673
WENGERLAWN NURSERY CO.
Specializing in Ground Covers
6450 Wengerlawn Rd. Brookville
(937) 884-7692
Thanks Sponsors!
MIAMI AG DRAINAGE
Making Moisture Manageable
Tile Installation
GPS Mapping
Tile Sales
(937) 533-7161 Fax (937) 473-5730
P A G E 5 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 2
FSA Update & Call to Action! As many of you know, we have been working hard to keep your Montgomery County
Farm Service Agency (FSA) office located here, in Montgomery County. We have
received word from State Executive Director Steve Mauer that although he
appreciates our ‘tenacity’, they still plan to close this FSA office and move the
Montgomery county office staff to Preble county. If you would like to add your voice
in asking him to reconsider, please contact Mr. Mauer and your legislatures. A list of
contact information can be found at our website, www.MontgomerySWCD.org, or by
calling Kristen Lauer, Education/Information Specialist, at (937) 854-7646 ext. 109.
Thanks for all of your support so far, and for making your voice heard!
Russ Heintz, who began working with the Montgomery SWCD
as a seasonal employee in 1993 and came on full time in the
spring of 1995, has retired as of October 31st, 2012. His title,
District Technician, doesn’t fully explain the variety of his job
duties, as he did a little bit of everything around the district.
Russ maintained 34 miles of drainage infrastructure around
Montgomery County, either open ditch or subsurface tile.
He also was in charge of managing the operation and
maintenance of Sycamore Conservation and Education Farm,
and helped out on field surveys, project designs, and inspections. Russ was our
resident handyman, maintaining our building and office grounds. He was also our
resident chef, providing many excellent meals for our outreach events such as Pond
Clinics, Annual Banquets, River Cleanups, and most recently, our Annual Meeting /
Open House. Although our staff meetings will never be the same without him, we
wish him the best in his retirement!
Russ Heintz Retires
Open House / Annual Meeting Success! We asked you to come join us for our first ever Annual Meeting / Open House.
We told you that this was a chance for you to vote for a member of the Board of
Supervisors, that we’d have great food, displays of what we do, and a chance to visit
with us and your neighbors. Did you ever take us up on it!
You made this the highest turnout for an Annual Meeting we’ve had in over a decade!
We want to thank all of you for attending and voting. It was a great chance for us to
catch up with you! Some people took advantage of the chance to vote, and then
get back to their busy days. Others sat and visited with our Board, Staff and their
neighbors, and looked over the displays on wetlands, tiling, and watersheds, for a
good bit of the day.
Our thanks go to Advanced Drainage Systems, who generously sponsored the event,
and allowed us to make the meal so affordable to our guests! Thanks to Brubaker
Grain and Chemical, Inc. and Keller Grain & Feed, Inc., who donated door prizes.
We also thank the other candidates for their interest in, and their support of, the
Montgomery SWCD. Most of all, we thank those of you who voted, either by
absentee ballot or by stopping in. Because, everything else aside, this event is all
about hearing your voice on who you want to represent you on the Montgomery
SWCD Board, and the direction you want this organization to
take. The more of you we hear from, the better we are able to
accomplish your goals for conservation of our soil and water!
Non Profit Org
U.S. Postage Paid
Brookville, OH
Permit No. 13
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers. If you believe you experienced discrimination when obtaining
services from USDA, participating in a USDA program, or participating in a program that receives financial assistance from USDA, you may file a complaint
with USDA. Information about how to file a discrimination complaint is available from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights. USDA
prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex (including
gender identity and expression), marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, political beliefs, genetic information, reprisal,
or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)
Go Green!! - “The Conservation Advocate” can be delivered via email. This alternative will help save paper. If you are
interested in changing your subscription to email, contact [email protected] or call 937-854-7646 ext. 100
10025 Amity Road
Brookville, Ohio 45309
Montgomery Soil & Water
Conservation District
Phone: (937) 854-7645
Fax: (937) 837-2241
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.MontgomerySWCD.org
Return Service Requested
Upcoming Events
December 25 - Christmas Day - Office Closed
January 1 - New Years Day - Office Closed
January 2 - Board Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
January 21 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - Office Closed
February 6 - Board Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
February 18 - President’s Day - Office Closed
Be on the lookout for our Tree & Plant Sale Order Form, to be
delivered in early February 2013!
B o a r d o f
S u p e r v i s o r s
Fred Glander
Calvin Helsinger
Felicia Olinger
Duane Plessinger
Bill Wissinger
D i s t r i c t S t a f f
Cheryl Barkalow
Stefan Bridenbaugh
Jim Dillon
Jeremy Huggler
Dan Jackson
Kristen Lauer
N R C S D i s t r i c t
C o n s e r v a t i o n i s t
Jeff Barnes