The Defiance community is developing a farmer-led coalition to implement conservation and sustainable agriculture practices in the Maumee Watershed in collaboration with ALUS. Our VisionA future where all farmers and ranchers produce ecosystem services from nature-based solutions alongside food and fibre to help solve the crises of...
Council of the Great Lakes Region
Defiance, Ohio is is working to advance sustainability in the Maumee Watershed in collaboration with CGLR. We are on a mission to foster a new era of economic growth, environmental protection, and individual well-being by connecting diverse interests and sectors to make this the most prosperous, innovative,...
Defiance, OH Named One Of The “Smart21” Communities Worldwide!
MARCH 20, 2024 – New York, NT, USA At the conclusion of a virtual conference hosted by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), once again, Defiance Ohio was named one of the Smart21 Communities of 2024. Defiance, Ohio is proud to be on the global stage as one of...
Upper Maumee Watershed Partnership
UMWP/Defiance Research Alliance Speaker Series Speaker presentations are available upon request. About the UMWP The Upper Maumee Watershed Partnership is a locally-led group of concerned citizens and organizations whose primary goal is the improvement of water quality throughout the Upper Maumee River Watershed and ultimately throughout the...
Phosphorus-Optimal Research Wetland
PHOTO CREDIT: BENJAMIN PETERSON, DOCUDRONE AERIAL IMAGERY LLC OCTOBER 5, 2023 NimnoTech, USACE ERDC, GLRI, and the City of Defiance, Ohio, share how a P-Optimal demonstration wetland is being used as a prototype or model. The goal is to identify wetland characteristics that promote phosphorus retention, identify...
East River Drive Wetland: Project Information
Project Team: City of DefiancePrimary Contact: Jennifer English: 419.784.2101Secondary Contact: Melinda Sprow: 419.784.2249Design/Build Team:Biohabitats & Meadville Land ServiceFunding Provided by H2Ohio Employee parking Parking within access/staging area off of Burning Tree Drive Schedule Construction Duration:6-8 weeks of construction(weather dependent) Anticipated Start: March 8, 2024 Substantial Completion:April 19- April...
Local Groups Join Lake Erie Volunteer Science Network
– Defiance Soil & Water Conservation District, Defiance Research Alliance, and the Upper Maumee Watershed Partnership are joining the Lake Erie Volunteer Science Network (LEVSN). This regional collaborative aims to empower volunteers with collecting and sharing water quality data to safeguard Lake Erie and its communities. LEVSN...
Watershed Management Plans
We’ve gathered these Watershed Management Plans in one easy-to-use location. Click on the cover image to open the selected document....
Maumee Watershed Research Center Open House
Defiance Research Alliance efforts were celebrated during an open house on Friday, October 6th. The event was attended by various college and public officials and commemorated the establishment of the new Maumee Watershed Research Center. The renovated science lab allows students, under the direction of Dr. Sabrina...
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RiverFest 24 ~ Save the Date!
Mark your calendar for June 29, 2024: RiverFest returns in partnership with the Fort to Port Histories encampment. RiverFest is held annually at Pontiac Park in Defiance to celebrate our water resources, & enjoy recreational opportunities provided by our rivers and streams. A FREE FAMILY-FRIENDLY COMMUNITY EVENT...
RiverFest 23
RiverFest ’23, held on June24, 2023 presented a variety activities for all ages from hiking & nature to science & history. See the 2023 RiverFest Photo Gallery. RiverFest 2023 was presented by these community partners: Sign-up to get the latest information on our next event: Join the...
Land to Lake Magazine—Winter 2023
This issue is packed with information about what we’re doing to protect our water resources: See the digital magazine and browse previous issues at Land to Lake Magazine – Land to Lake These quality print magazines are FREE and available to the public at:...
DRA News—Winter 2023
Collaborative Research for Water Quality FUNDING AWARDDefiance College, in partnership with the City of Defiance, received $500,000 from the federal Department of Education due to Senator Sherrod Brown’s Congressionally Directed Spending request. These funds, awarded through the Department of Education, will support a collaborative research program focused...
City of Defiance Storm Water Management Program
Urbanization within our watershed brings and increase of pavement and rooftops, increasing stormwater runoff which has a negative impact on the water quality of Lake Erie and also causes rivers to flood more quickly. Urban stormwater runoff collects dirt, debris, salt and other pollutants as it flows...
Clean Up Your Parks Day
Every Spring the City of Defiance invites clubs, organizations, and citizens to pitch-in and get our parks ready for the season. Leaf and litter clean-up beautifies the parks and keeps pollution from our waterways. This is a great way to support our beautiful parks....
Partnering for Water Quality
The area’s first denitrifying bioreactor is now in full operation in the central part of Defiance County withconstruction taking place in August 2022. The selected site is in MarkTownship, in the Platter CreekWatershed. This innovative practice is another piece of the puzzle in addressing algal blooms, not...
Smart Watershed Pilot
With funding from the Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS), the City of Defiance Water Treatment Plant(WTP) has installed water quality sensors to measure nutrients and other key parameters before pumping river water into the reservoir. Water Quality Data available in real time WTP sends this data to...
Buckeye Trail & North Country Trail through Defiance County.
The City of Defiance, Defiance County Commissioners, and Buckeye Trail Association worked cooperatively to devise and install an updated trail signage system throughout the county. In addition to the traditional Blue Blazes, the trail is now marked with additional post markers, several locator maps, and two custom...
Tree City USA
The Defiance Shade Tree Commission received a Growth Award from the Arbor Day Foundation again in 2022 by going above and beyond the minimum requirements for the Tree City USA Award. To celebrate 30 years of success as Tree City USA, Defiance will host the regional awards...
DRA Informational Webinar
The DRA held a webinar in 2022 to introduce key members of the team, including our Core Working Group and Executive Committee, and most importantly provide information on how to get involved! View the Defiance Research Alliance Introductory Webinar Here See this and more on the Land...
Student Opportunites
STUDENT OPPORTUNITIESAs a part of the DRA, secondary and college level classes are being offered at Defiance College by Sabrina Brown in the 2023 Spring semester: Inquiry in Science (NSCI 220) and Fundamentals of Water Quality (BIO 495) are open to students in any major and will...
DRA News—Autumn 2022
Quarterly Newsletter < Read the Defiance Research Alliance Introductory Newsletter...
Riparian Restoration Project
The City of Defiance has received a grant from Ohio Lake Erie Commission Funding to assess the riverbank along the Maumee River for riparian restoration efforts, which could include rock reinforcement and native plantings along this stretch of the Scenic River. In the next several weeks, this...