The Ohio Stormwater Association and the Tinkers Creek Watershed Partners are hosting the conference. The 2012 Ohio Stormwater Conference is the fifth annual conference dedicated to advancing the knowledge and understanding of comprehensive storm water management for those dealing in all aspects of planning, design, implementation and regulatory compliance.  The conference will provide updates on environmental issues, new technologies, regulatory information and pollution prevention.  Professionals working on storm water issues, including engineers, consultants, watershed organizations, governmental organizations and academic staff will attend the conference for three days of best practices and information exchange.  Elected officials, citizens and students are invited to attend to become better educated about the public health and safety problems, as well as economic impacts, associated with poorly managed storm water and better, greener ways to confront these growing problems.

For more information or to register, visit the Ohio Stormwater Association Web site  or contact Harry Stark, conference co-chair, at (216) 385-5248, or at hstark@ohioswa.com.

Newly installed rain barrel with reversed lid planted with sedums

The GreenSpot Rain Barrel program has launched for 2012!  Developed by the City of Columbus and Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District in 2011, the rain barrel program has expanded this year to include unincorporated Franklin County, Canal Winchester, Gahanna, Hilliard, Upper Arlington and Worthington.  Homeowners in these areas, after learning about water conservation and the effects of storm water on surface water quality, can purchase an attractive, terracotta-colored, 45-gallon rain barrel for only $50.00.

The GreenSpot Rain Barrel Program allows homeowners, residing in their homes in the participating areas, to purchase one rain barrel in either of two ways.  In-person workshops are being offered throughout Franklin County, allowing homeowners to mail in a registration form with a check for $50 and take their barrel home with them.  An online self-study program offers a slide presentation on storm water issues, rain barrel use and water conservation, followed by a 10-question quiz.  When the homeowner passes the quiz with a score of at least 70%, a PayPal page opens allowing the purchase of one rain barrel for $50.00.  Those ordering online will pick up their barrels at the Franklin Soil and Water office, 1328 Dublin Road, Suite 101, Columbus OH 43215.

The in-person workshops are being facilitated by members of the local watershed groups Friends of Alum Creek and Tributaries (FACT) and Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed (FLOW), in addition to Franklin Soil and Water staff.

Local governments are interested in introducing their residents to rain barrels as a way to discuss storm water runoff.  When rain runs off hard surfaces such as roofs, roads and parking lots, it carries pollutants unfiltered to local streams.  The surge of water entering streams during a storm also leads to streambank erosion and flooding.  By intercepting runoff that would normally be piped to the curb, rain barrels can lessen this impact.

Water conservation is another benefit of interest to participating governments.  Using potable water to irrigate gardens uses both the water and the energy required to make it drinkable.  Not using potable water for irrigation is also a cost savings to homeowners.  Watering for one hour with a one-half-inch hose can cost about $4.00 each week.  Five months of watering equates to $80 for water over the course of the growing season.

This innovative program originated with a pilot project of the Columbus Department of Public Utilities in 2009.  Columbus partnered with EarthMinded, a rain barrel manufacturer, to distribute free rain barrels to an area in the Clintonville neighborhood of Columbus.  In June of 2011, Mayor Michael B. Coleman announced the Columbus GreenSpot Backyard Conservation Rain Barrel Program to be administered by Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District.  From July through October of 2011, approximately 800 rain barrels were distributed to homeowners in the City of Columbus.

The Web site for the GreenSpot Rain Barrel Program is http://GreenSpotRainBarrels.org

The workshop will be held at Highbanks Metro Park on Wednesday and Thursday, March 21 and 22, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Registration form and  information on the facilitators can be found here.

An age-group winner by Morgan M.

Teachers, in both formal and home-school classrooms, and youth-group leaders are invited to participate in the 2012 Conservation Poster Contest.  This nation-wide contest, sponsored by the National Association of Conservation Districts is open to students in kindergarden through twelfth grade.  The theme this year is Soil to Spoon.  Interested teachers can read the contest rules   and send in the registration form.

Butterflies on milkweed

One third of human food crops and 90% of flowering plants need animal pollinators for reproduction.  Pollinators include bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, birds and bats. Whether we realize it or not, each of us depends on pollinators to provide the wide range of foods we eat.  Abundant and healthy populations of pollinators can improve fruit set and quality, and increase fruit size.  On the farm, this improves production per acre.  In the wild, wildlife food sources increase.

According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) pollinators are in trouble.  Bees, bats and other animal pollinators face many challenges in the world today.  Habitat loss, disease, parasites and environmental contaminants have all contributed to the decline of many species of pollinators.

There are things that we can do in our own yards to help them thrive.  We can provide food and shelter by planting a variety of pollinator-friendly plants in our landscapes.  Shrubs and trees, including dogwood, locust, spicebush, sumac, blueberries and ninebark provide pollen and nectar at various times of the year starting in early spring.  Native flowers such as butterfly weed, asters, blazing stars and sunflowers provide a continuing food supply through the summer and into the fall.  Many also provide a food source for larvae, such as marsh milkweed does for the monarch caterpillar.  Consider planting a small native prairie patch or butterfly garden.  To attract many different pollinators, choose a wide variety of flower colors, shapes and fragrances that bloom at different seasons and heights.  Plant flowers in groups to increase pollination efficiency.

We can protect pollinators from accidental poisoning by eliminating or reducing the amount of pesticides we use in our yards.  When chemicals must be applied, they should be sprayed in the early morning or early evening when pollinators are not as active.

Provide a clean water source and consider leaving some dead tree trunks or branches for wood-nesting bees and beetles, as well as some leaf litter for shelter.  Areas of bare earth will provide ground-nesting insects easy access to underground tunnels.

To help create pollinator friendly landscapes, Franklin Soil and Water is offering a Bee and Butterfly Packet of trees and shrubs, packets of fruit trees and berries, a wide assortment of native perennials and seed packets that will provide three seasons of pollen and nectar.  You will be able to enjoy the gentle buzzing of bees in the garden, the colorful butterflies and flowers and also appreciate the fruits of their labors on your table for many years to come.

Tree planting at Hellbranch Meadows

This is the time of year that many nonprofit organizations remind you to review your charitable giving plans.  Did you know that gifts to Franklin Soil and Water may also be included with your other donations for tax purposes?   Our Conservation Fund is the beneficiary of proceeds from the annual tree and fish sale and the silent auction at the annual meeting, along with donations made through our Web site.

The Conservation Fund is how Franklin Soil and Water is able to implement or grow conservation projects that are not grant funded, including conservation easement acquisition, water quality improvement projects, demonstration rain gardens and tree plantings.  These projects vary in size and complexity from one-day volunteer tree plantings for Earth Day to neighborhood-wide green infrastructure planning.  In the same way, donations from a few dollars to thousands all play a role in protecting natural resources in Franklin County.  The cumulative value of small donations is shown every year in the Salvation Army’s red-kettle program.  Or if you would like to leave a legacy of clean water, productive soils, and improved wildlife habitat in Franklin County, feel free to contact assistant director, Emily Weber, at (614) 486-9613 about sponsoring or naming a Conservation Fund project.

If you would like to help conserve, protect and improve soil and water resources in Franklin County, type in your preferred amount in the “Donate Today!” box on the right side of this page and click “Contribute Now.”  This will allow you to use your credit card securely through PayPal.  You do not need a PayPal account to donate.

Teachers, did you know that you can receive continuing education credits through these fun and stimulating environmental education workshops?  Through a collaboration among Metro Parks and Delaware and Franklin Soil and Water Conservation Districts, four science-based workshops for educators will be held January through May 2012.

  Franklin Soil and Water environmental education specialist, Linda Pettit, is able to offer one graduate semester hour credit through Ashland University.  To receive credit, completion of any two sessions and the accompanying assignment is required.  Workshop information and fees are available here.

Responding to continuing requests from Franklin County landowners, Franklin Soil and Water staff are compiling lists of “Staff Picks” to help you in your efforts to protect soil and water resources and wildlife habitat.  The first of our Staff Picks is Plants to Attract Wildlife.  Many of these will be available from our annual tree and fish sale, so be sure to hit the “Contact Us” button at the top of the page and send me your information to be added to our mailing list.  The photo above is from Bob Harder who provides the wildflower seeds for our annual tree and fish sale.

Wildflowers:

Vine, Shrubs, Trees: