Work has been completed and continues at the Penney Nature Center to develop a 20-acre, forested wetland complex. To this end, many thousands of trees have been planted over the course of 12 years. In 2015 alone, 8,000 hardwood trees and shrubs were planted and 6,500 of...
March 2017 Animals can be invasive too! Asian carp are an example of a nonnative species that can replace native fish populations. These carp are threatening to upset the balance of Lake Erie reducing populations of fish such as walleye. One model suggests that Asian carp could...
Congratulations! Mary Martin of Defiance Her name was drawn from those who correctly identified the Sycamore Tree on our Spring 2016 magazine cover. ...
Why We All Should Care: Each year 24 billion gallons of combined untreated sewage and stormwater are dumped in the Great Lakes. Many combined sewers, where sewage and stormwater are transported in the same pipe, were built over 100 years ago. Although they were approved when built,...
February 22, 2016 Governments of Canada and the United States Announce Phosphorus Reduction Targets of 40 percent to Improve Lake Erie Water Quality and Reduce Public Health Risk New targets to reduce toxic and nuisance algae blooms affecting Lake Erie WASHINGTON.- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina...
As producers prepare for next year’s crop nutrient applications, it is important to understand Senate Bill 1 restrictions and make nutrient applications accordingly. The Defiance Soil & Water Conservation District, OSU Extension, NRCS, and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources will be hosting an informational meeting on...
The public is invited to share their vision for Defiance’s Reservoir Trails. During these public input meetings, the City will provide an overview of the concepts. They will then listen to citizens’ suggestions for a nature trail at the reservoir; using this input to create designs and...
The Land to Lake 2015 Conference on June 11, was an informative gathering of local leaders, community educators and concerned residents. The speakers provided dynamic presentations covering a variety of topics to help us better understand our role in decreasing pollution to our waterways and building a...
The City of Defiance and Defiance SWCD have partnered with public entities to install three public rain gardens in Defiance county. These rain gardens were designed with native plants as demonstration sites to inspire more rain gardens. The gardens can be viewed in Defiance at the public...
June 12, 2015 from 1-5 pm Get a first hand view of the beautiful Maumee River! No experience necessary! Canoes, life vests, and safety instructions provided by Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Local Leaders are invited to participate to facilitate more cooperation in improving our water resources....
The Auglaize River Bank Stabilization project was designed to address the problem of streambank erosion along the Auglaize river near the confluence of the Maumee river. With guidance and requirements from the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the replanting (riparian restoration) portion of the project...
A $48,405 Environmental Education Fund grant from Ohio EPA will allow Defiance Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) promote green infrastructure as a cost-effective method to reduce nutrient loadings and storm water runoff volume to streams. Ohio EPA awarded 11 environmental education grants statewide for $304,136. Defiance...
Through an Ohio Lake Erie Commission grant, a voluntary stream monitoring program will begin this spring! We are looking for 16 volunteers to monitor designated waterways leading to the Upper Maumee. Volunteer monitors will: Attend a two-hour training session at the Defiance SWCD. Once a month on...
A Need For Change Traditional development practices cover large areas with impervious surfaces such as roads, driveways and buildings. Once the land is covered, the rainwater cannot infiltrate into the soil. Instead it runs off at much higher levels than before. The force of increased stormwater runoff...
