Current PWM Grant Recipients
2023-2024 Partners in Watershed Management Grants
Project No. 1 Stillwater Creek Channel Improvement Plan
Applicant Stillwater Watershed Partners
County Belmont/Harrison
Total Project Cost $200,000.00
Requested Grant $ 75,000.00
Approved Grant $ 75,000.00
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Stillwater Watershed Partners are seeking funding for a study to investigate the causes of flooding and stream degradation in the Stillwater Creek Watershed. The money requested from the Partners in Watershed Management (PWM) Projects Assistance Program will be used as a local match for the Planning Assistance to States (PAS) program. The United States Army Corps of Engineers has outlined the project as follows:
Phase 1: Determine the primary causes of flooding along Stillwater Creek and its tributaries.
Phase 2: Establish alternatives to potentially mitigate flooding.
Phase 3: Modeling of proposed flooding mitigation alternatives; and
Phase 4: Provide recommendations based on study results.
Project No. 2 Village of Baltic Streambank Stabilization
Applicant Tuscarawas Soil and Water Conservation District
County Tuscarawas
Total Project Cost $26,820.00
Requested Grant $26,820.00
Approved Grant $26,820.00
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This project is in the Village of Baltic. It is the Upper Branch South Fork Sugar Creek Watershed. This drains all the way to the Beach City Dam. This is a proposed streambank restoration project along the Village’s Park. The stream is actively eroding and becoming close to the parks walking trail in a few areas along the playground and ball fields. The proposal for the design of this project to regrade and shape approximately 300 ft. of the existing streambanks to a 2:1 slope with the possibility for the need of rip rap rock for stabilization. Removal of any potential hazardous trees or debris.
Project No. 3 Small Scale No-Till Seeder
Applicant Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District
County Ashland
Total Project Cost $16,130.00
Requested Grant $13,130.00
Approved Grant $13,130.00
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Ashland Soil & Water Conservation District is proposing the purchase of a new ground driven no-till seeder. This proposal would complement MWCD’s existing commitment to cover crop implementation as a conservation tool throughout the watershed. Through this proposal, the seeder would be available for farmers in Ashland and surrounding counties to rent in order to provide conservation seedings for pollinators, buffers, pasture reseedings and wildlife plots to improve soil health, water quality and enhance biodiversity.
Project No. 4 South Barberton Flood Mitigation Snyder SCM Construction
Applicant City of Barberton
County Summit
Total Project Cost $334,725.00
Requested Grant $274,725.00
Approved Grant $274,725.00
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The south side of the City of Barberton has had historic flooding issues. This area of Barberton from Suma Hospital on Lake Avenue south to the old sand and gravel quarry north of Eastern Road, is a flat area of town flowing both north and south to the Ohio & Erie Canal and the Tuscarawas River. The area is roughly 700 acres with over 81,000 linear feet of stormwater pipes, multiple stormwater basins, and an older underground aqueduct (no longer working). This application will provide construction and construction oversight dollars for this first phase green infrastructure element, which is located within the MWCD boundary. Phase 1 will install an oxbow wetland and in-stream grade structures on an existing City of Barberton owned property at the southeast intersection of Lamberton Avenue and 1st Street SE.
Project No. 5 Cranberry Lane Culvert Replacement
Applicant Licking Township
County Muskingum
Total Project Cost $161,636.00
Requested Grant $154,236.00
Approved Grant $220,236.00
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This project consists of the replacement of a 100 foot long, 7-foot diameter culvert that crosses Cranberry Lane approximately 1,500 feet south of the Cranberry Lane / Shannon-Valley Road intersection. The existing culvert was installed in the early 1960s as one of several regional improvements associated with the Dillon Reservoir Project on the Licking River in Muskingum County. The culvert in question serves as an equalizer pipe when the backwaters of the Dillon Reservoir spill outside the limits of the reservoir. The culvert resides within Zone A of FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Rate Map Panel No. 0155G.
Project No. 6 Shenandoah Flooding Corridor Mitigation Study
Applicant Noble County Engineer
County Noble
Total Project Cost $65,400.00
Requested Grant $58,860.00
Approved Grant $58,860.00
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This project consists of obtaining potential mitigation strategies through a study of the Shenandoah Flooding corridor. The watershed area consists of over 10 square miles and the focus of the study will be at least a mile up and down from the Noble Local School’s Campus.
Project No. 7 NPS-IS Development Plan
Applicant City of Marietta
County Washington
Total Project Cost $64,000.00
Requested Grant $64,000.00
Approved Grant $25,000.00
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The city has been experiencing an increase in rainfall frequency and intensity over the past several years. This has led to increased runoff that is contributing to streambank erosion, flooding, and water quality concerns. These issues are degrading to property, human health, and the ecosystem. During the preliminary design and cost estimates developed for these projects, the cost for minimal necessary improvements has exceeded original estimates and funding availability. The City of Marietta is seeking funding from MWCD for assistance to prepare 9-Element Nonpoint Source Implementation Strategic Plans (NPS-IS) for two HUC-12 watersheds within the City limits to allow these four project areas and others to become eligible to receive Ohio EPA 319 funding. These two watersheds include:
- HUC-12: 050302010904 Sugar Creek-Duck Creek
- HUC-12: 050400041204 Devol Run-Muskingum River
Project No. 8 Pomerene Riparian Corridor Restoration
Applicant The Ohio State University
County Coshocton
Total Project Cost $159,323.00
Requested Grant $ 72,701.00
Approved Grant $ 72,701.00
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This project aims to restore 11 acres of riparian forest and grassland habitat at Pomerene Forest Laboratory along a half mile section of headwater stream in the Muskingum Watershed near Coshocton, Ohio. Restoration will include invasive vegetation removal and re-establishment of native vegetation along the existing, highly invaded riparian corridor. To assess in-stream impacts of terrestrial restoration, we have a unique opportunity to monitor streamflow and water quality indicators pre- and post-restoration, while providing extension outputs to local agencies and landowners aimed at increasing local interest and capacity for riparian restoration action. Our project will (i) deliver direct riparian restoration action, (ii) improve scientific understanding of the short and long-term trade-offs associated with riparian invasive management on downstream systems; and (iii) engage and inform local land managers on best management practices for riparian restoration. Our project targets this critical gap as invasive control is high on the agenda of land managers, yet unforeseen short-term trade-offs may emerge from restoration interventions.
Project No. 9 Flood Reduction Plan Study
Applicant South Licking Watershed Conservancy District
County Licking
Total Project Cost $250,000.00
Requested Grant $200,000.00
Approved Grant $200,000.00
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Applicant is seeking funds to prepare a planning study to identify measures and funding requirements pertaining to flood damage reduction and environmental protection for the portion of the South Fork Licking River watershed within SLWCD boundaries. The planning study and findings will serve as the basis for updating the Official Plan for the SLWCD, which is based on a 1980 study and addendums. The Planning Study will also identify measures for inspecting and maintaining stream channels within the SLWCD boundary, for the purpose of preserving the flood carrying capacity and preventing large-scale channel bank erosion.
Project No. 10 Modeling of Tappan Lake for Algal Bloom Reduction Initiative
Applicant Youngstown State University
County Harrison
Total Project Cost $66,725.00
Requested Grant $66,725.00
Approved Grant $60,264.00
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Recently, YSU has completed a funded project from MWCD to monitor tributaries that discharge to Tappan and Atwood Lakes and develop scenario analysis for nutrient reduction in the Lakes from the watershed. The SWAT model was developed and various scenarios of possible combinations of nutrient reduction in both Lakes were proposed. The recently completed project was just focused on a watershed scale and lake modeling was not the scope of that project. Our investigation of our ongoing project showed that nutrient loadings from the watershed especially in Tappan Lake are not significant. Therefore, the SWAT-coupled EFDC model will be helpful in thoroughly investigating the phosphorus cycle inside the lake due to internal and external loadings. We will additionally collect time-varying water quality samples inside the lake for EFDC model calibration and validation. This proposal is one step further and provides an additional tool for the investigation of algal bloom inside Tappan Lake by utilizing the TLNRI data. For this, MWCD will provide the boat and boat operator for sampling, whereas USACE will provide equipment for data collection. Similarly, Harrison County SWCD will support by providing some watershed-specific information and logistics support. Since we have recorded flow and nutrient data from the tributaries that contribute to the Lake and developing the SWAT model, we will have all data sources to investigate further whether the algal blooms in the lake are due to the phosphorus loadings from the tributaries or due to the internal loading from the lake.
MWCD also awarded $134,865.50 for 15 debris removal projects in 8 different counties in 2023.