Many homeowners have watched as a lovely little stream running through their yard grew into a raging torrent after a big rain. This is often the result of land use changes upstream. Rainwater that once soaked into the ground or was caught and used by trees now runs off roofs, sidewalks, parking lots and roadways. This rainwater is then directed through storm drains to the very brooks that once babbled and now roar.
As a consequence, landowners may lose streamside property, as streams eat away at their banks and carry the now eroded sediment downstream. The least expensive method of slowing streambank erosion before it becomes catastrophic also happens to be the healthiest for the stream – planting and maintaining native plants along the stream edges.
Turf grass roots are quite short compared to native grasses, shrubs and trees. You have probably pulled up a clump of turf grass growing in a flower bed; it wasn’t that difficult was it? Turf grass roots don’t hold streambank soils as well as longer-rooted native plants do.
If you plant with native plants, you will receive the added benefit of many hours of wildlife watching. Birds and butterflies will appear when you plant their favored food and nesting plants. Planting non-native landscaping plants can also help stabilize the streambank, but they may require more nutrient input and pruning to retain the desired appearance.
If much of the stream bank is already exposed, plant dormant live stakes such as willow or elderberry. Live stakes are two or three-foot long sticks that will root along the stem once planted. They tend to form thick mats of intertwined roots that hold soil in place.
On July 12, Clermont SWCD staff were pleased to give a tour of recent restoration projects to the Greater Cincinnati Regional Watershed Network, an informal group that facilitates coordination and collaboration among watershed focused organizations in the Tristate Region. This tour – the first ever taken by Regional Watershed Network members – included stops at:
Jake Hahn presenting to the Watershed Network Tour group at Cornwell Farms
We are so excited for schools to start up again! In the 2024-2025 school year, we will focus on making lasting impacts on students and their understanding of conservation and the environment. To accomplish this, we will offer loaner trunks for K-6 programs instead of traditional classroom visits. Each trunk will be filled with hands-on activities, detailed lesson plans, and engaging materials on specific topics. These trunks aim to reach more students, offer a wider range of activities, and make a larger impact.
Additionally, we be putting more focus on field experiences. Our field trips will include stream sampling, macroinvertebrate identification, soil testing, and more. These hands-on experiences will enhance learning and foster a stronger connection to the environment. For upper-grade students, we will continue offering in-person classroom visits on topics such as sustainable agriculture, local environmental issues, and soil/water quality. These visits will feature interactive discussions, case studies, and hands-on activities to encourage critical thinking about environmental problems and solutions. We will also support extracurricular clubs and competitions, such as Envirothon teams, which foster teamwork, problem-solving, and a deeper understanding of ecological principles.
Want to request a program? Check out our School Program Guide to learn more and book programs!
We were so excited to bring our stream table out to Natural Resources Day at the Clermont County Fair this year. The stream table was a hit, demonstrating important processes like erosion and deposition, and helping visitors understand how water shapes the land over time.
Throughout the day, we talked with visitors about the significance of these natural processes and their impact on the environment. We discussed the benefits of planting vegetation, which helps to stabilize soil and prevent erosion, and how important keeping trash and pollutants out of our waterways is to maintaining healthy ecosystems.
Elea Cooper and Abbie Frazer demonstrating the stream table to fair visitors
The Adams-Clermont Solid Waste District is hosting a scrap tire collection event on Friday, September 13 and Saturday, September 14, 2024 at the Clermont County Fairgrounds in Owensville from 8AM – 2PM during both days. Residents are encouraged to take advantage of this service to rid their property of accumulated tires which are not only unsightly, but can pose an environmental and potential health risk.
The following disposal fees will be collected in cash at the time of unloading:
Participants should separate on-rim tires and off-rim tires in advance for ease of disposal.
During the event, traffic can enter the fairgrounds and follow posted signs to the tire drop-off site. Residents may be responsible for unloading tires. Tires must originate from a Clermont County household. Tires accumulated by private companies (auto dealers or repair shops, trucking companies, etc.) during the course of business are not allowed. A max of 10 tires per resident will be accepted unless prior arrangements are made with the Adams-Clermont Solid Waste District.
This event is being entirely funded by the Adams-Clermont Solid Waste District. For additional information visit www.OEQ.net, email dsnyder@ClermontCountyOhio.gov or call (513)732-7744.
Please join us for this free event!
Dinner will be provided for those who RSVP before Tuesday September 3rd. Call or email Amanda Best to RSVP (513-260-9116, abest@clermontcountyohio.gov).
The Clermont Conservation District along with Pheasants forever, NRCS, and OSU Extension Clermont County are hosting a pasture walk at Steve Phillip’s Farm (2235 Bethel Maple Rd.) September 10th 6:00pm- 8:00 pm.
Come take a walk with us through a warm season grass pasture as we discuss how to best establish and manage pastures and offer information on current pasture related programs.
Joining us on our walk are Dr. Marília Chiavegato, an Assistant Professor of Agroecosystem Management for Food System Resilience at the Ohio State University and Jason Jones, Pheasants Forever’s Farm Bill Biologist for Southern Ohio.
Please contact us by 9/3/2024 if you need any special accommodations to attend this event
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