Post on 18-Aug-2020
2017 2017
Activity ReportActivity Report Celebrating 11 Years of Success!Celebrating 11 Years of Success!
2006 2006 -- 20172017
2017 Board of Directors2017 Board of Directors Headwaters Representative Vacant
The Outlet/Lye Creek Representative Richard Kozlowski
Eagle Creek Representative Bob Connour
Ottawa Creek Representative Don Croy
Riley Creek Representative Robert Antibus
Cranberry Creek Representative Jeremiah “Bud” Haselman
City of Findlay Representative Grant Russel
Village of Bluffton Judy Augsburger
Village of Ottawa Representative Tim Macke
At-Large #1 Representative Shane Myers
At-Large #2 Representative Chad Kirchner
At-Large #3 Representative Jane McCleary
At-Large #4 Representative Elaine Reynolds
At-Large $5 Representative William Doyle
Watershed Coordinator Phil Martin*
*non voting
2017 Board Governance Com-2017 Board Governance Com-
mitteemittee Jane McCleary Richard Kozlowski
Grant Russel Elaine Reynolds
Phil Martin
2017 Executive Committee2017 Executive Committee
President Elaine Reynolds Vice President Don Croy
Treasurer Tim Macke Secretary Bob Connour
2017 Contact Information2017 Contact Information
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1237
Findlay, OH. 45839-1237
Phone Number: (419) 422-6487
Email: brwp1237@gmail.com
Web Site: www.blanchardriver.org
Facebook: Blanchard River Watershed
Partnership
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2016 Annual Meeting
Thank You SupportersThank You Supporters 2017 Members, Corporate Sponsors and Major Donors2017 Members, Corporate Sponsors and Major Donors
INDIVIDUALINDIVIDUAL
Chad MarzecChad Marzec Bert RaylBert Rayl Ryan ShoemakerRyan Shoemaker
Gary WilsonGary Wilson
FAMILYFAMILY
Robert AntibusRobert Antibus Paul ChesterPaul Chester Bob ConnourBob Connour
Michael ReedMichael Reed Pete & Elaine Reynolds Pete & Elaine Reynolds Leo & Rita SchroederLeo & Rita Schroeder
Greg and Amy SmithGreg and Amy Smith Ty & Emily WeberTy & Emily Weber
MEMBERSHIP PLUSMEMBERSHIP PLUS
Tim BrugemanTim Brugeman Croy Mowing Ltd. Croy Mowing Ltd. William & Maile DoyleWilliam & Maile Doyle
Tim MackeTim Macke Phil MartinPhil Martin Maumee Conservancy Dist.Maumee Conservancy Dist.
Mc Comb Family DentalMc Comb Family Dental Chad KirchnerChad Kirchner Dick & Jane McClearyDick & Jane McCleary
Jeff NewcomerJeff Newcomer John & Jenny PilarowskiJohn & Jenny Pilarowski Park Dist. Foundation AllenPark Dist. Foundation Allen
Jim & Karon SpurgatJim & Karon Spurgat Thermoplastic Materials & Thermoplastic Materials & CountyCounty
Steve & Jodi WilsonSteve & Jodi Wilson ManufacturingManufacturing
COMPANY / AGENCYCOMPANY / AGENCY
City of FindlayCity of Findlay Hancock County CommissionersHancock County Commissioners Stan Doty D.D.S.Stan Doty D.D.S.
Hancock Park DistrictHancock Park District Millstream Area Credit UnionMillstream Area Credit Union Putnam County Putnam County
Village of BlufftonVillage of Bluffton Village of OttawaVillage of Ottawa CommissionersCommissioners
Stateler Family FarmsStateler Family Farms Whirlpool CorporationWhirlpool Corporation
RAIN BARREL SPONSORSRAIN BARREL SPONSORS
AE CurbsideAE Curbside BeercoBeerco BPO Elks Lodge #75BPO Elks Lodge #75
Hancock County Farm Hancock County Farm Hancock SWCDHancock SWCD Hancock Wood Electric Hancock Wood Electric
BureauBureau CoopCoop
Hempy Water ConditioningHempy Water Conditioning Legacy Farmers Coop.Legacy Farmers Coop. Putnam SWCDPutnam SWCD
And THANKS to the MANY farmers, landowners and residents along the Blanchard and creeks of the subwatersheds for their
ongoing cooperation and permission with water quality monitoring, stream observation walks and assistance discussing watershed
action plans. Add your name to this list in 2017, get involved, volunteer and donate to the BRWP!
Special thanks to all the local, state, and federal agencies for the help and support!Special thanks to all the local, state, and federal agencies for the help and support!
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Partnership ActivitiesPartnership Activities this past year!this past year!
December 2016
Erected signage on fields that were enrolled in the two Great Lakes Basin
mini grants in the Middle Riley Creek and Lower Riley Creek (Allen County
portion) watersheds. The grants are being administrated by the BRWP. In
2016 there were 485.48 acres enrolled in cover crops and 504.72 acres
enrolled in conservation tillage. The top picture to the right shows the signage
placed on one of the fields.
Completed the BRWP Water Quality report to the ODNR, Division of Wildlife. The BRWP monitored 21
sites on the Blanchard River, Little Riley Creek, Lye Creek and Riley Creek using macroinvertebrate
identification.
January 2017
State of Ohio and grant reports were completed and submitted.
Attended meeting in Defiance on Lake Erie and the Algal Bloom.
2017 BRWP Planning meeting was held at the Hancock County Engineer’s meeting room.
February 2017
Nine area high schools entered 24 rain barrels in our “Rain Barrel Decorating Contest”
in the area high school. The decorated barrels were displayed at the Car Show held the
Findlay Village Mall. Several of the barrels were sponsored by local businesses. The
remaining barrels were sold to the public.
The coordinator was invited to attend the International Joint Commission on
Watershed Management of Nutrients in Lake Erie Workshop in Windsor, ON
The BRWP sponsored the watershed category at the Putnam County Science Fair held
in Ottawa.
There was $124,497 left in the Water Pollution Loan Fund (WPCLF) grant for
replacing/repairing failing HSTS in Hancock County. The BRWP is working with the
Hancock County Commissioners and the Hancock Public Health Department on the
grant. The coordinator is the initial contact and does most of the paper work. We
received 2 applications this month.
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March 2017 Coordinator attended conference of BMPs for Reducing P losses from Cropland at Heidelberg University. The BRWP held their first Community Advisory Council meeting in Ottawa for the Western Region of the
watershed. The meeting is with business people and other agencies to gather input on what problems they feel exist in the watershed.
Coordinator the advisory committee meeting for HABRI modeling in the Maumee River Basin at Heidelberg University. This group involves The Ohio State University and other universities that are doing modeling on concerns in the WLEB.
Coordinator attended the Advisory Council Committee meeting on the Blanchard River Demonstration Farms in Columbus.
The winter issue of the quarterly newsletter, BRWP Times, was published. If you want a copy of the news-letter send an email to brwp1237@gmail.com with you contact information
Sierra Club’s Chemical testing resumed at 70+ sites in the watershed. The testing is being done by the Blanchard River Watershed Partnership’s Board members and volunteers.
April 2017 The BRWP applied for a Freshwater Futures grant to write the new required
9-element non source pollution implementation strategy plans (NPS-IS plan). The plans replaced the watershed action plans that were written at the HUC - 10 level. A NPS-IS plan is written at the HUC-12 level. $10,000 was awarded.
Another 2 projects were applied for under the WPCLF grant. Working with Dr. Spiese from Ohio Northern University, BRWP volunteers
collected water samples from the 120+ EPA TMDL sites for chemical testing by the university. A report was create and can obtained from a BRWP member.
The BRWP applied for a $14,678 mini grant from the Great Lakes Commission to do a research grant on increasing the soil organic matter in soil. The grant was awarded.
Completed and submitted all state and grant reports.
May 2017
Photo documentation of all fields enrolled in grants was completed by the coordinator
Three low income Home Septic Treatment Systems projects were started as a part of the $150,000 WPCLF
grant.
Coordinator attended a meeting at EPA’s office in Bowling Green concerning using a SandWand
demonstration day on the Blanchard River Watershed
Sierra Club’s Chemical testing occurred at 70+ sites in the watershed. The testing is being done by the Blanchard River Watershed Partnership’s Board members and volunteers.
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June 2017
The BRWP had a display at the Putnam County Fair in Ottawa
The coordinator attended the Ohio Farm Bureau Demonstration meeting at
Ohio Northern University.
The Coordinator took our display to the Riverfront Gathering Festival in
Defiance.
The East-Central Community Advisory Council (CAC) had their first
meeting at the Hancock Ag. Center.
The Headwaters Region Community Advisory Council (CAC) had their first
meeting in Bluffton.
Spring Issue of the BRWP Times was published. The BRWP sponsored two SandWandTM Demonstration Days in Bluffton
and Findlay. The EPA supported the demonstration days to show how useful
the technology is to clean-up the small section of a stream. The site in
Bluffton had be degraded to a poor level on the stream index used by the
BRWP when we do our macroinvertebrate study. By August, the index had
recovered to an excellent level.
Sierra Club’s Chemical testing occurred at 70+ sites in the watershed. The testing is being done by the Blanchard River Watershed Partnership’s Board members and volunteers.
July 2017
Coordinator started to work on the NPS-IS plan for the HUC-12 Tiderishi Creek watershed in Hancock
County.
The coordinator attended the WLEB coordinator’s meeting in Bowling Green.
The coordinator work on the Hardin County Hazard Materials handling committee in Kenton.
Another 2 projects were applied for under the WPCLF grant. Sierra Club’s Chemical testing occurred at 70+ sites in the watershed. The testing is being done by the
Blanchard River Watershed Partnership’s Board members and volunteers.
August 2017
The coordinator attended the Maumee River Basin Council of
Local Governments and the Toledo Metropolitan Area of
Government Council meeting in Defiance
The BRWP had a display at the Allen County Fair.
The BRWP sponsored a river clean-up with 14 incoming
freshman from the University of Findlay.
Sierra Club’s Chemical testing occurred at 70+ sites in the watershed. The testing is being done by the Blanchard River Watershed Partnership’s Board members and volunteers.
The coordinator attended Soil & Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model meeting at The Ohio State University.
Another 3 projects were applied for under the WPCLF grant. Sierra Club’s Chemical testing occurred at 70+ sites in the watershed. The testing is being done by the
Blanchard River Watershed Partnership’s Board members and volunteers. 7
September 2017
The BRWP had a display at the Hancock County and Hardin County Fairs.
The coordinator attended the “Understanding Algal Blooms: State of the
Science Conference” in Toldeo.
Completed the fall Water Quality monitoring using macroinvertebrate on
the Blanchard River, Lye Creek, Riley Creek and Little Riley Creek. .
The coordinator attended the Maumee River Basin Modeling Conference
at Heidelberg University.
The WS04-13-06 grant the BRWP was in charge of implementing ended. Final data from the grant
showed:
400.90 acres enrolled in conservation tillage with an estimated load reduction of 50.96 tons of
sediment, 81.02 pounds of phosphorus.
724.67 acres enrolled in cover crops with an estimated load reduction of 55.61 tons of sediment, 4,244
pounds of phosphorus. The grant covered a three year period.
Sierra Club’s Chemical testing occurred at 70+ sites in the watershed. The testing is being done by the Blanchard River Watershed Partnership’s Board members and volunteers.
The 2018 Rain Barrel Decorating Contest was announced to the area schools.
October 2017
Three additional low income HSTS project were started.
The coordinator taught classes at Arlington High School and Liberty Benton
High School concerning our Water Quality Monitoring project. The
coordinator led a field trip with each school to sites on the Blanchard River.
The coordinator delivered 24 rain barrels that have been entered in the 2017
contest.
Sierra Club’s Chemical testing occurred at 70+ sites in the watershed. The testing is being done by the Blanchard River Watershed Partnership’s Board members and volunteers.
November 2017
Signage will be placed on the fields enrolled in the Great Lakes Basin
grants in the Middle Riley Creek watershed.
Final results from the WPCLF grant to replace/repair failing Home
Septic Treatment Systems show that there were 17 project completed
during the 2016-17 grant period. The load reductions from these
projects were estimated to be:
7,884 pounds/year total suspended solids
935.3 pounds/year total phosphorus
2,469.3 pounds/year total nitrogen
Nearly $139,000 of the grant was used to do the replacement/repairs.
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2017
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2018 Projects2018 Projects
Continue implementation of all active grants.Continue implementation of all active grants.
Provide support for partners in seeking grants for projects such as: Provide support for partners in seeking grants for projects such as:
1. removable of debris behind Riverside Dam, 1. removable of debris behind Riverside Dam,
2. replacement of trees lost to the emerald ash borer, 2. replacement of trees lost to the emerald ash borer,
3. agriculture BMPs to reduce the phosphorus loadings,3. agriculture BMPs to reduce the phosphorus loadings,
3. restoration of brownfield and riparian areas and 3. restoration of brownfield and riparian areas and
4. other projects as identified by our stakeholders and / or partners.4. other projects as identified by our stakeholders and / or partners.
Continuation of existing BRWP projects: Continuation of existing BRWP projects:
1. water quality monitoring, 1. water quality monitoring,
2. Ohio Sentinel Program with the Sierra Club and 2. Ohio Sentinel Program with the Sierra Club and
3. Rain Barrel Decorating Contest.3. Rain Barrel Decorating Contest.
Write at least two NPSWrite at least two NPS--IS PlansIS Plans
Seek funding for Coordinator’s position. The present grant ran out on June 30, 2017Seek funding for Coordinator’s position. The present grant ran out on June 30, 2017
Seek funding for the BRWP. Our main source of support is from our membership dues and sponsorships.Seek funding for the BRWP. Our main source of support is from our membership dues and sponsorships.
How can you help?How can you help?
Become a member and volunteer!Become a member and volunteer!
How Can You Stay in Touch?How Can You Stay in Touch?
Follow us on Facebook at:Follow us on Facebook at:
Blanchard River Watershed PartnershipBlanchard River Watershed Partnership
and on Our Web Page at:and on Our Web Page at:
www.blanchardriver.orgwww.blanchardriver.org
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