The Mahoning SWCD & Partnership Programs Kathleen M. Vrable-Bryan District Administrator, Mahoning SWCD Mahoning SWCD 850 Industrial Road Youngstown OH 44509 330.740.7995 www.swcd.mahoningcountyoh.gov

The District’s Mission Statement “To provide education and assistance promoting stewardship of natural resources for all generations”

Mahoning Soil and Water Conservation District Is: A legal entity of the State of Ohio under the umbrella of the Ohio Department of Agriculture Administered by a five-member elected Board of Supervisors Non-regulatory Landowners freely cooperate and exercise their commitment to stewardship. Landowners have an attractive “carrot” option – cost share - to solve natural resource problems. Proven more productive than regulatory coercion.

Mahoning SWCD Uniquely Funded- More than 50% of our funding is provided by Mahoning County General Fund which is then matched by the State of Ohio bringing additional funds into Mahoning County Urban Conservation Phase II MCM #4 (ESC Plan Review & Inspection) Agricultural Assistance EQIP, EPRI, CRP, APAP, etc. Funding available Education Youth & Adult Public Outreach/Assistance Technical Assistance (I&Es) Sales of Conservation Items

One of the Priorities of Mahoning SWCD’s Urban Conservation Program is:

What is Sediment & Erosion Control? The use of various methods to reduce or eliminate the amount of erosion, and resulting sediment loss, that can occur on a construction site when bare soil is exposed to rain and/or snowmelt.

Why is Sediment & Erosion Control Necessary? There is a legal requirement to practice sediment & erosion control on most construction sites. Proper erosion controls will prevent expensive, time-consuming rework of finish-grade landscape areas after heavy rains. Keeping soil on the construction site will prevent polluted runoff from entering local streams, lakes, and rivers. The Mahoning County Commissioners and other local political subdivisions are committed to the use of effective sediment & erosion control methods on construction projects undertaken by county, township, and municipal agencies. Through a cooperative working agreement, Mahoning SWCD assists the County Commissioners.

What is the role of the Urban Conservationist in Mahoning County? REVIEW Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). required for all construction sites disturbing greater than 1 acre SWPPP approved after appropriate revisions completed construction cannot begin prior to approval of SWPPP Conduct INSPECTIONS of Best Management Practices (BMPs) on active construction sites, ensuring that SWPPP is being properly implemented. BMPs must be implemented in proper phases of construction to be effective as site conditions change, SWPPP subject to change as well one goal: to ensure that sediment-laden water does not leave the site; to that end, the SWCD provides education and assistance to developer, contractor and the public Why do we do this? By volume, sediment is the #1 pollutant of Ohio’s waterways!

Agricultural Assistance . . . Work with Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to implement Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Projects. Animal Waste Storage Systems Grassed Waterways Access Roads Heavy Use Protection Areas Fencing Work with ODA Implement Environmental Quality Incentive Program EQIP $30,000 available for conservation works of improvement on agricultural land to improve water quality1st yr Work with FSA, Farm Bureau and OSU Extension

Agricultural Pollution Complaints Stored Chicken Litter, Goshen Twp Possible Stream Pollution, Goshen Twp

Our partner’s in AWARE AWARE members include, but are not limited to: Aqua Ohio Audubon Society (Mahoning Valley) Eastgate Regional Council of Governments Mahoning County Citizens Mahoning County District Board of Health Mahoning County Engineer's Office Mahoning County Farm Bureau Mahoning County Green Team Mahoning Soil and Water Meander Water Mill Creek MetroParks Ohio EPA Mahoning County Floodplain Manager Township Officials

WHAT IS Mahoning SWCD doing? Assisting Ohio EPA and Mahoning County Engineers in implementing Phase II (Erosion Sediment Controls/Regulations) Assisting in developing Watershed Protection Plans (AWARE) Working with Agricultural Community/Producers Ensuring Proper Permitting with ACOE & OEPA to protect natural resources & waters of the State.

Stream Quality Monitoring 4th-6th Grade—Students will use a kick seine to collect and identify acroinvertebrates to determine the water quality.  7th-12th Grade—Students will collect macroinvertebrates and study various components of stream habitat. Chemical tests will be preformed of pH, nitrates, phosphates, temperature,dissolved oxygen, and turbidity.  

Public Outreach . . . Phase II Non- Point Source Pollution Posters -

Public Outreach . . . Phase II Non- Point Source Pollution Bill Boards - Locations: Austintown – Cornersburg Austintown – Mahoning Ave. Boardman – South Ave. Struthers – State Route 616

Technical Assistance & the Partners/Resources of the SWCD Army Corp of Engineers/OEPA Wetland Assistance Stream Assistance Permitting County IT Department GIS Soils, Hydrology, Contours County Engineers Outfall Mapping Hydology StreamStats Watershed studies Hydrology Web Soil Survey Soils and their suitability

Sediment Runoff Concern, Poland Twp Development Site Staff are regularly in the field… ...investigating natural resource concerns. One of the advantages of working with the SWCD is that per Ohio Revised Code the SWCDs are permitted to enter onto public & private land for the necessary discharge of their duties Sediment Runoff Concern, Poland Twp Development Site

Yard Drainage, City of Canfield Field Tile Blow-Outs, Beaver Twp Drainage Issues Yard Drainage, City of Canfield Field Tile Blow-Outs, Beaver Twp

Flooding Problems Stormwater Flooding, Village of Sebring Obstructed Pond Outlet, Springfield Twp

Stormwater Runoff, Springfield Twp Stormwater Runoff, Boardman Twp Sedimentation Issues Stormwater Runoff, Springfield Twp Stormwater Runoff, Boardman Twp

Soil Erosion Concerns Axe Factory Run Stream Bank Erosion, Austintown Twp Soil Storage Pile, Canfield Twp

Rain garden-municipal Photo: East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District Photo: EMSWCD EMSWCD Planted landscape facility designed to collect and absorb runoff and filter out pollutants.

Swales (aka bioswales) Long, planted, open channel that carries, slows stormwater and filters out pollutants. Photo: East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District EMSWCD

Rain garden-residential Photo: EMSWCD EMSWCD Planted landscape facility designed to collect and absorb runoff and filter out pollutants.

Any Questions contact Mahoning SWCD 330.740.7995 Kvrable-bryan@mahoningcountyoh.gov