Funding available for projects advancing conservation, environmental stewardship

Ohio environment, agriculture, and natural resources leader Karl Gebhardt has been appointed to the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) board of directors by the Conservancy Court. The Court is the 18-judge body that oversees MWCD operations and makes appointments to its board. The Court appointed Gebhardt at its recent annual meeting at the Tuscarawas County Courthouse.

“I applaud the Court for selecting Karl for the MWCD board. Time and again he has demonstrated not only his deep knowledge of the natural resources issues in Ohio but also his commitment to public service, having served as a township trustee, senior leader at cabinet agencies and on international committees for the Great Lakes. We are lucky to have his knowledge and experience at work for the MWCD and are deeply grateful for his willingness to serve,” said Craig Butler, MWCD Executive Director.

Gebhardt’s service to Ohio includes leading farmland preservation efforts at the Department of Agriculture, as well as deputy director of Water Resources and chief of the Division of Surface Water for the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. He also served as deputy director at the Department of Natural Resources, overseeing its Division of Soil and Water Resources and leading the Ohio Lake Erie Commission. He has also served as a township trustee and as a member of the International Joint Commission’s Water Quality Board, a U.S-Canada body that works on shared issues impacting the Great Lakes. He has a master’s in public policy from The Ohio State University and bachelor’s in business from Franklin University.

 “Among Ohio’s many natural gems are the Muskingum River’s watershed and the conservancy district that was created 90 years ago to both help control its flooding and also steward its natural beauty for future generations. There are very few places in the country where public lands are managed as responsibly and where people can so fully enjoy them. I am honored to have the chance to contribute to this work and look forward to partnering with my fellow board members and the talented MWCD staff in continuing this strong legacy,” said Gebhardt.

 Members of Board of Directors are appointed by the Conservancy Court to oversee the operations and business affairs of the MWCD, which manages more than 58,000 acres of land and water dedicated to public use. Board members meet once a month in open, public session.

 

The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) invites you to hit the trails this summer for a chance to win fabulous prizes while having a great time outdoors with your family and friends now through Labor Day!

Find a canvas and enter to win a prize! Guests are encouraged to try and find all six canvases at each of the MWCD parks but have a maximum of three entries per person. (One entry per person, per park.) Three winners will be randomly selected. First, second and third place winners will receive a $200, $100, or $50 gift card respectively, thanks to our sponsor, Encino Energy.

The first 200 entries will receive a custom MWCD walking stick medallion, and all participants with three entries from different parks will receive a walking stick.

Five local schools created the artwork that is on display to encourage residents to get outdoors and explore the trails. MWCD provided the materials, and students painted canvases. Participating schools and the locations of their artwork are:

New Philadelphia High School: Atwood Lake Park

Dover High School: Atwood Lake Park, and Charles Mill Lake Park

Lucas High School: Pleasant Hill Lake Park

Caldwell High School: Seneca Lake Park

Claymont High School: Tappan Lake Park

“We are excited to collaborate once again with local school districts to encourage people to explore our trails and experience nature at one of our parks,” said Pete Novotny, MWCD Chief of Recreation. “We strive to connect people to the outdoors and have focused on improving and adding trails. This is a great opportunity to invite people out to the parks and feature local talent at the same time.”

The artwork will be on display, and the contest will run from Memorial Day through Labor Day. To enter, visit one of the MWCD park locations and search for the canvas on the trail. Once found, take a photo of the canvas and visit www.mwcd.org/capturethecanvas to enter your information, upload your photo, find contest rules and trail maps. Must be 18 years of age to participate. Winners will be notified September 12, 2024

​​​MWCD Celebrates Earth Day by Planting 100 Trees at Clendening Marina and Collecting 33,000 Pounds of Tires at Atwood Lake

NEW PHILADELPHIA, OHIO — Earth Day was celebrated nationally on April 22, but ended up as a week-long event at the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD). The festivities began with litter clean-up events and culminated with a tire take-back.

Mid-week, MWCD partnered with MPLX to plant trees near Clendening Marina. This initiative was designed after the area was clear-cut due to the maturity of the previous white pine trees. MWCD staff, alongside staff from MPLX planted 100 native fruit and nut trees in the marina area.

“The restoration of this area through tree planting is vital for ecological balance and wildlife habitat restoration. Native fruit and nut trees will not only beautify the landscape but also provide essential food sources for local wildlife. By diversifying the tree species, we aim to attract a variety of birds and other wildlife to this important ecosystem. We appreciate the support from MPLX in advancing our conservation mission and are glad to welcome their employees to get this important work done,” said Matt Thomas, MWCD Chief of Conservation.

Other Earth Day activities included a tree giveaway, sponsored by the Williams Companies where more than 800 trees were provided to the public including white pine, red oak, and white oak. The remaining 100 trees were donated to Camp Tuscazoar.

A tire–take back event, sponsored by Kraton Chemical (Dover), Encino Energy, and Muskingum Watershed Conservancy Foundation culminated the week-long activities resulting in 1,100 recycled tires weighing in at more than 33,000 pounds! This event was designed to provide area residents an opportunity to reduce the environmental impact of discarded tires by bringing them to MWCD for proper disposal. Willig Tire Recycling LLC was onsite to accept the tires.

“Our Tire Take Back Event is a crucial step in reducing the environmental hazards posed by discarded tires,” said Thomas. “We were pleased with the programs that took place all week long and are grateful to all of the sponsors who have helped make these opportunities come to life.”

MWCD encourages everyone to join together in protecting and preserving the natural beauty of Eastern Ohio. More information on future MWCD’s events can be found at www.mwcd.org.

In Celebration of Earth Day

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  Tree Giveaway

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  Clean-Up Challenge

  Clean-Up Challenge

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  Earth Day Clean-Up

  Earth Day Clean-Up

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  Tire Take Back

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Tree Giveaway

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Clean-Up Challange

Rules and Regulations

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Earth Day Clean-Up

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Tire Take Back Day

Join us at Atwood Lake Park on August 17, 2024, for our second annual Country Waves Concert with Joe Nichols, Travis Denning & Catie Offerman performing.

Tickets are on sale NOW – Click Here to Purchase

Joe Nichols is an ACM and CMA Award Winner and Grammy nominated multi-platinum country music star! He has been a mainstay of country music for two decades, racking up a half-dozen Number 1 singles and ten Top 10 hits including “Gimmie That Girl”, “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off”, and “Brokenheartsville”.

Also, taking the stage is Travis Denning and Catie Offerman. Rising star, Travis Denning, is known for his Top 10 single “After A Few”. He is also known for hits “David Ashley Parker From Powder Spring” and “ABBY”. Catie Offerman is new to country music but is quickly making a name for herself in Nashville with her debut track “Happyland Trailer Park”. She’s been touring with national acts such as Parker Mccollum, Ian Munsick and Ashley Mcbryde, and recently opened for George Strait.

            

 

Schedule:

4:30 PM – Gates open (along with food trucks & beer garden)

5:30 PM – Catie Offerman

7:00 PM – Travis Denning

8:30 PM – Joe Nichols

 

Thank you to our sponsors for making this event possible!

• WTUZ Radio 99.9FM
• Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District
• Ferris Chevrolet Toyota on the Wabash
• Valley Septic
• Wayne Door
• Aultman and AultCare
• Simpson Salute
• Saltwell Western Store
• Atwood Lake Boats
• General RV
• TMK Valley Propane

In a commitment to ensure the safety and well-being of our visitors, our dedicated park rangers recently participated in a comprehensive CPR and First Aid training program. This training heightens our emergency response capabilities within our parks, solidifying our commitment to public safety and service.

During this training session, our rangers learned not only the fundamentals of CPR but also gained a comprehensive understanding of basic first aid techniques. From treating minor cuts and bruises to responding to more severe injuries, our rangers are well-prepared to provide immediate assistance until medical help arrives. This training emphasizes real-life scenarios that rangers may encounter during their duties. This hands-on approach ensures that the skills are practical and can be seamlessly applied in the field. Our rangers practiced administering CPR, applying bandages, and dealing with common injuries, fostering a confidence in their ability to respond effectively in an emergency situation.

As we move forward, this investment in the skills and capabilities of our rangers reflects our commitment to the safety and enjoyment of all those who explore our natural wonders. The knowledge gained from the training gives our rangers the ability to stand ready to respond with skill, compassion, and confidence, ensuring that our parks remain safe and welcoming for everyone.