Clermont SWCD Now Taking Plant Sale Orders

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Each year, the Clermont Soil & Water Conservation District offers tree and native shrub seedlings, as well as a few native perennials at discount prices. This program gives landowners the opportunity to develop small areas of reforestation, provide habitat for wildlife enhancement, or native additions to home landscaping.

Most of the seedlings offered are 12 to 24 inch ‘whips’. Tree and shrub seedlings will be bare rooted; we dip the plants in a root preservative to help keep the roots from drying out and wrap them in a plastic bag. Most packets will be in a bag about the size of a grocery bag and can easily be placed in your car for pick up.  Perennials are sold as ‘plugs’. The plugs we are offering are approximately 2” in diameter and a robust 4.5” deep. For detailed descriptions and photo’s, please visit our store website.

Rain Barrels are also offered this year. The use of rain barrels lowers the municipal water demands and saves energy at water treatment facilities by reducing water pollution and storm water runoff.

For the second year, we have partnered with the Adams-Clermont Solid Waste District and are offering Earth Machine Compost Bins. The bins can be reserved on our plant sale website however you will pay for the bins on the pickup dates below. They will be accepting payment the day of pickup. For more information on the compost bins please click HERE.

The plant sale website is now available; click HERE. Orders Will be Taken Until May 2nd OR until stock runs out. Please order early to guarantee availability.

Pick up Dates: Thursday, May 4, 2023 Noon-6:30 p.m. & Friday, May 5, 2023oon-4:30 p.m.

Clermont County Fair Grounds, Commercial Building

1000 Locust Street Owensville, OH 45160

Please be sure to make arrangements to pick up orders on these dates.

For questions contact Connie Miller (513) 732-7075 Ext. 2 or cmiller@clermontcountyohio.gov

Clermont SWCD to Host Master Rain Gardener Course This Fall

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For the first time, Clermont SWCD will be hosting the Greater Cincinnati Master Rain Gardener Course. This is a 5-day course that takes place over six weeks from August 4 to September 8. During the course, students are guided through the rain garden design and installation process by experienced regional professionals. At graduation, students will have created a beautiful rain garden and will be ready to educate their neighbors.

Course Details

9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

August 4, 11, 18, 25 and September 8

$50 registration fee

Location: Clermont County Park District, 2156 US Highway 50, Batavia OH 45103

For additional information, registration, and to see a list of rotating host locations, visit www.cincyraingardener.org.

Stream Buffer Plants Available at Plant Sale

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Buttonbush is a great option for stream buffers and is a favorite of butterflies. Photo from U.S. Fish and Wildlife.

The “Be the Change for Clean Water” article describes how a buffer of native plants along a stream helps prevent bank erosion, filters pollutants, cools the stream, and provides habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. Several of the species we are offering as part of our annual plant sale work well as stream buffers. In particular, buttonbush will work very well along the stream edge. Other plants will fare well higher up on the bank including:

  • Spicebush
  • Serviceberry
  • Elderberry
  • Maple leaf viburnum
  • Hazelnut
  • Redbud

For questions on what plants would work best in your stream bank buffer, contact Clermont SWCD at 513-732-7075 for assistance.

Be the Change for Clean Water

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Is your house located along a stream? Streams are dynamic systems, meaning they are constantly changing. Your stream may be a babbling brook most days but after a heavy rain, it can become a roiling river. The best way to get along with your stream is to protect the edge with a buffer strip of native grass, forbs, trees, and/or shrubs. Streamside buffers are beneficial for many reasons:

  • A buffer of vegetation helps stabilize the bank and protect homes along O’Bannon Creek

    Plant roots help stabilize the stream bank. Native plants have deep root systems which hold the soil in place.

  • Buffers filter out sediment and other pollutants that may wash into a stream. Sediment can smother aquatic organisms that live on the stream bottom and make it difficult for fish to find food.
  • Within the water, small fish and other aquatic organisms will find vital cover under plants that hang over the edge. The shade provided by the plants in the buffer helps to moderate the temperature of the stream. Cooler water holds more oxygen and reduces stress on fish and other aquatic creatures.
  • Flourishing vegetation on the bank attracts desirable wildlife such as mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Buffers entice insects like dragonflies, and various birds, which feed on mosquitoes and ticks. Buffers provide an excellent food source for our valuable pollinators. Buffers provide connecting corridors that enable wildlife to move safely from one habitat area to another.
  • Buffers help filter trash as well as leaves, grass clippings, fertilizers, and other debris that can cause excessive nutrient spikes. If the stream receives runoff laden with nitrogen and phosphorus, nuisance vegetation and algae can grow. Excessive growth may lead to water quality problems such as foul odors, low dissolved oxygen levels potentially leading to fish kills, and harmful algal blooms which are unsafe for people, pets, and wildlife.
  • Buffers absorb rainwater, which recharges groundwater supplies and allows storm runoff to be released more slowly. This can reduce the intensity and frequency of flooding.

Clermont SWCD staff can provide guidance on how to establish an effective and attractive stream buffer. If you would like our assistance, please give our office a call at 513-732-7075.

For a list of stream buffer friendly plants available through our Annual Plant Sale, see page 2.

(Adapted from an article published by Franklin Soil & Water Conservation District)

NRCS Announces April 7 Sign-up Deadline for CSP

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Ohio Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications from landowners interested in the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) to build on existing conservation efforts to increase operational efficiencies and environmental benefits as well as reduce overall input costs.

This year, Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding is providing additional financial opportunities for select conservation practices and enhancements to increase direct climate mitigation benefits. The deadline to receive fiscal year 2023 funding for both CSP-Classic and CSP-IRA is April 7, 2023.

Through CSP, agricultural producers and forest landowners earn payments for actively managing, maintaining, and expanding conservation activities like cover crops, ecologically-based pest management, buffer strips, and pollinator and beneficial insect habitat – all while maintaining active agriculture and forestry production on their land.

Learn more about the CSP-Classic and CSP-IRA application process and eligible land use resource concerns on the Ohio NRCS Conservation Stewardship Program webpage. Landowners in Clermont County who are interested in signing up or learning about other technical and financial assistance available through NRCS should contact Christina Gates, District Conservationist, at christina.gates@usda.gov or (513) 732-2181 ext. 3.

Clermont SWCD to Begin Long Range Planning Efforts in 2023

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This winter, Clermont SWCD plans to host multiple public meetings to gather input from residents and landowners on the our programs and services. Information gathered from these meetings will be used to update the District’s five-year strategic plan. Please watch www.clermontswcd.org or our Facebook page for updates and information on how you can participate. If you have questions, please email jmcmanus@clermontcountyohio.gov or call (513) 732-5075 ext. 3

Clermont SWCD Hires New Urban Technician

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This October, Clermont SWCD hired Amanda Best as our new Urban Technician. This is a new position which will be responsible for inspecting erosion and sediment control practices at active construction sites. Prior to starting with Clermont County, Amanda worked as a survey aid for Woodford County SWCD in Illinois where she helped to get farm conservation on the ground. She graduated with a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Illinois Wesleyan University in spring of 2020 where she also played collegiate lacrosse. In her free time she enjoys trying new food and restaurants, crafting, and taking a good walk.

Spring Litter Clean-Up Scheduled for April 22, 2023

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Clermont SWCD is working with local partners to plan this year’s Litter Clean-Up event. The 2023 event will be held at multiple locations through Clermont County on Saturday, April 22, 2023. Group and in-person activities plan to be coordinated for the 2023 event.

There are many opportunities and areas throughout the county for volunteers to help by clearing trash and unsightly debris from our parks, waterways and other shared open spaces. Community coordinators will provide details on those activities later in the spring. All volunteers will be provided with clean-up materials upon request for their activities, including protective gloves, trash bags and litter grabbers. Individuals that request litter clean-up materials will be sent details for supply pick-up in their communities.

We appreciate the support of our partner agencies, including the Ohio EPA, Adams-Clermont Soil Waste District (ACSWD), the Clermont County Park District, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and OSU Extension. Most importantly, thank you to the volunteers and communities that come back year after year to protect our local natural resources!

Please visit the SLC website for more information: www.springlittercleanup.com. For questions or additional information please contact Connie Miller at (513) 732-7075 ext. 2 or cmiller@clermontcountyohio.gov.

Thanks to our 2022 Cooperators

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Thanks to all our Cooperators for all the Conservation Best Management Practices installed this year!

Practices Installed Amount
Access Road 88 ft
Brush Management 20 acres
Conservation Cover 76.3 acres
Cover Crops 1,348.1 acres
Fence 17,248 ft
Forest Stand Improvement 7.2 acres
Heavy Use Area Protection 2,796 sq ft
Herbaceous Weed Control 44.6 acres
High Tunnel System 2 units
Livestock Pipeline 405 ft
Nutrient Management 813.1 acres
Pasture and Hay Planting 29.3 acres
Roof Runoff Structure 2 units
Watering Facility 3 units
Total $293,473.27
EQIP 1,479.4 acres
16 Contracts $388,943.00

Managing Stormwater at Home with Rain Barrels

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With major storm events becoming more frequent, managing stormwater is an ever increasing issue for homeowners. Impervious surfaces such as roofs and pavement keep the water from being absorbed into the ground. Additionally, large lawns of turf grass often do a poor job of soaking rain in quickly which can contribute to high volumes of water runoff. Stormwater runoff poses many issues for the environment and communities. Runoff frequently carries pollutants such as fertilizers, herbicides, pet waste, and litter into our waterways. If the water does not have a way to properly drain, it can lead to flooding and other property damage. Given the wide range of issues that can be caused by increased volumes of stormwater, it is important to consider different management strategies.

The most impactful way to manage stormwater properly is to figure out how to ‘slow it down and soak it up’. Slowing the water down can help prevent erosion and allows stormwater systems to adequately handle storm events. If stormwater can be absorbed into the ground on your property, that is even better since it prevents the water from entering and potentially overloading our sewer systems. There are many different strategies that homeowners can take to ‘slow it down and soak it up’ on their properties such as decreasing the amount of turf grass in their lawn or planting native gardens.

If changing your greenspace isn’t an option, consider installing a rain barrel or two. Rain barrels capture water from the roof and hold it for later use. They are typically attached to downspouts and can collect most if not all rain that falls on your roof. Once in the barrel, the water can then be used to irrigate your lawn, water house plants, or dispelled onto your property any time after the storm. Just 1/4 inch of rainfall can yield up to 150 gallons of water from a 1000 square foot roof. Imagine the water bill savings if you used that water in your outdoor irrigation! Rain barrels can be purchased from Clermont SWCD, through Save Local Waters’ Rain Barrel Art Project, or you can build your own rain barrel using repurposed plastic containers. If you have any questions about using rain barrels on your property or about the Rain Barrel Art Project, please contact Education Coordinator Kat Zelak at kzelak@clermontcountyohio.gov.