This fall, we had 10 new Master Rain Gardeners complete our 6 week course. Upon installation of their rain gardens, they will have finished all requirements for their Master Rain Gardener Certification!
Rain gardens are shallow depressions filled with native plants that collect and absorb stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces (where water cannot infiltrate) like roofs and driveways. Instead of sending polluted water straight into storm drains, rain gardens slow the flow, filter out contaminants, and allow the water to soak into the ground. This reduces erosion, improves water quality, and helps protect local streams.
Congratulations to this group and we are so excited to see their beautiful rain gardens installed this spring. Check out cincyraingardener.org to learn more about rain gardens and future courses!
With the recent snow and frigid temperatures, many of us have worked hard to clear our porches, driveways and sidewalks of snow and ice. Commonly we simply spread rock salt over these areas – it is simple and it works. Salt, though, can damage some metals, concrete, and asphalt, and can be harmful to plants, lakes and ponds, and drinking water. Less threatening alternatives to salt are readily available.
A low-corrosion alternative to rock salt is calcium magnesium acetate (CMA). Salt breaks down the surfaces of metals, concrete and asphalt, causing cracking and weakness with extended use season after season, where CMA is only as corrosive as ordinary tap water. Also, CMA is not harmful to vegetation where salt can be deadly to shrubs, orchards, gardens, and trees. CMA actually strengthens the soil and can stimulate plant growth by providing abundant organic acid in the way that liming a garden improves vitality. In surface water such as streams, lakes, and ponds, CMA does not stimulate algae growth or kill aquatic plants as salt does. For CMA to be as damaging to aquatic life as salt is, there would have to be three times the accumulation as that of salt to achieve even half of the damage. The downside to CMA is that it generally takes longer to melt ice and snow compared to rock salt, so it may not be as suitable for rapid ice removal.
Of course, there is the old chemical free option of shoveling. If you want to minimize the amount of work, just shovel a small walking path on sidewalks and two tire paths on driveways. Shoveling these pathways clear even part of the time while also using CMA reduces the chance of accidents and also lowers the threat of salt and chemical damage to the environment.
Our Watershed Technician Americorps member, Abbie Frazer, was unfortunately impacted by federal cuts to the Americorps program. Luckily, we were able to bring Abbie on temporarily to continue her amazing work on water quality monitoring projects. We’re so excited to have you back, Abbie!
We also welcomed two college interns from UC Clermont this summer. Ione Sally and Ben Bowerman will be joining us to help with behavior change campaigns, agriculture projects, and GIS mapping.
A very big thank you is due to our two amazing West Clermont High School interns, Ryan Magnussen and Suzy Lemon, for all their work with us this spring! During their term, they helped with environmental education programs, invasive removal, tree planting, social media, and much more. We are happy with the work they have done and are excited to continue this program with WCHS going forward.
Finally, we are sad to lose our Urban Specialist, Jacob Lynch. Jacob has worked for the district for almost two years inspecting erosion and sediment runoff control practices at construction sites. Needless to say, he has been very busy, and we will miss him very much. Jacob will start work closer to home with the Butler County Engineers Office in June. Thank you Jacob, and we wish you the best!
We had a great spring field trip season this year! We loved taking groups out to Williamsburg Wetland, Chilo Lock and Dam, and Sycamore Park to explore soil and water quality. Students participated in activities like fish seining, macroinvertebrate collection and identification, canoeing, water chemistry testing, habitat assessments, and more.
Want to take your group out for a field trip? Our programs are FREE to any school, K-12 organization, or even adult groups in Clermont County. Contact Elea Cooper at ecooper@clermontcountyohio.gov to request summer and fall field experiences!
This year, we had 13 Clermont schools participate in our School Supply Donation Program. In total, they donated over 2000 pounds of school supplies that will be diverted from the landfill! This includes new and used pencils, markers, crayons, notebooks, binders, glue, books, and more. After sorting and weighing supplies, we donate them to local community partners or take them to be recycled.
Through this program, we are always surprised to see the quantity of brand new supplies that are thrown away! We encourage teachers and parents to think twice about what students will need in the upcoming school year. Stopping waste at the source is the most effective action we can take.
Thank you so much to all of our amazing teachers who help coordinate this program! If you would like to get your school involved, volunteer with supply sorting, or know an organization in need of school supplies, contact our Education Coordinator, Elea Cooper, at ecooper@clermontcountyohio.gov
Clermont County has seen much progress since last spring when the Ohio Department of Agriculture expanded H2Ohio funding statewide. H2Ohio is a voluntary, incentive-based program that assists farmers with planning and the implementation of best management practices (BMPs) to improve soil health and water quality. In the first round of statewide sign-ups, Clermont County enrolled 8,173 acres of cropland land. Through H2Ohio, producers receive nutrient management plans compliant with the Tri-State Fertilizer recommendations. These recommendations help producers strike the right balance – applying enough fertilizer to achieve expected yields without overapplying. Overapplication can increase the risk of excessive nutrient runoff into our shared waterways. At this point in the process, all Clermont County producers enrolled in H2Ohio have received their volunteer nutrient management plans for the 2025 and 2026 growing season – effectively helping to ensure our waterways stay cleaner!
A strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, also known as HPAI, or more commonly as the Bird Flu, has seen a proliferation of cases, spreading throughout this past winter and early spring. Within Ohio, this disease has largely been restricted to a handful of counties in the West central area, including Auglaize, Darke, Mercer, Portage, Stark, and Van Wert counties. As of May 5th, 2025, there have been a total of 14,961,612 birds impacted in Ohio. Currently, there has not been a confirmed case of bird flu with in Clermont County according to the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s (ODA) tracking effort.
For the time being, make sure to monitor your flocks – even if you have just a handful of backyard layers – and try to increase your biosecurity measures. If you notice any unusual symptoms in your birds, reach out to ODA (614-728-6220, or afterhours 888-456-3405) or USDA (614-856-4735) for assistance. They can send a field veterinarian or inspector to take samples of your flock.
For more information on the signs of HPAI, ways to increase biosecurity, or updates to the current tracking system, visit the ODA website:
The Master Rain Gardener (MRG) Course is a 6-day course that takes place over 7 weeks. During the course, students are guided through the rain garden design and installation process by experienced regional professionals. The fall course will be hosted by Clermont Soil & Water, with guest speakers from Clermont County Park District and OSU extension.
Where: Pattison Park Lodge, 2228 US-50, Batavia, OH 45103
When: Thursdays from 1:00-4:00 pm October 2nd – November 13th (no class November 6th)
$50 Registration Fee. 50% Student Discount Available – Call 513-946-8032
Get ready for the 2025 Ohio River Sweep on Saturday, June 28th – 9:00am-Noon! Clermont County will be hosting four locations:
Funding for these local cleanups come from the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission, the Adams-Clermont Solid Waste District, Clermont Soil & Water, and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Questions? Contact: ksnider@newrichmond.org
The Adams-Clermont Solid Waste District is still offering the Earth Machine Compost Bins. The Earth Machine Compost Bin has an 80 gallon capacity and is made with 50% recycled plastic and provides a convenient way to keep food & yard waste out of the waste stream. This is North America’s #1 selling backyard compost bin because it features snap-together construction, an off-set retrieval door, 4 anchor pegs to secure the unit to the ground, a locking lid and a “how-to guide. The compost bin is collapsible and can fit in the trunk of most cars. The Earth Machine retails for $100.00, but is available for purchase for only $60 until sold out. Additionally, 2 gallon Kitchen Collectors are also available for purchase for only $5.00 each. They are designed for convenient kitchen food scrap collection. The kitchen collector is a mess-free, odor free and easy-to-use food scrap pail that is easily to transport from the counter to your outdoor organic collection or compost bin. Features bag clips for compostable bag liners and a snap lid with double rim which minimizes odors. Dishwasher safe, BPA free and Made from recycled content. These are currently in stock and will only be available until quantities run out. For additional information visit https://oeq.net/home-composting/ or contact Doug Snyder at dsnyder@clermontcountyohio.gov or 513-732-7744.
We still have rain barrels in stock. The use of rain barrels lowers municipal water demands and saves energy at water treatment facilities by reducing water pollution and storm water runoff. It’s a great way to conserve water and its free water for use in your landscaping. Today’s rain barrels are equipped so that they can easily be connected to your downspout, have overflow devices in case they fill up, and have screens and other elements that prevent mosquitoes from becoming a problem. Rain barrels are a great source of water during those especially dry periods and can help significantly reduce your water bill. They can be used in conjunction with a rain garden, a conventional garden, or even if you just want a supply of water for your lawn. Available in granite 50 gallon capacity large opening lid with locking feature lid can be reversed to act as a planter. FlexiFit™ diverter and all parts included for installation. FlexiFit™ diverter returns rainwater to downspout when barrel is full – no spillover 10 Year UV Resistance made from 30% recycled content. Dimensions 39”H x 23.5”Diameter (Tapered). Visit https://store.clermontswcd.org/ to purchase or contact Connie Miller at (513) 732-7075 ext.2 cmiller@clermontcountyohio.gov for additional information.
