MWCD Celebrates Earth Day
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.
About Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District
The MWCD, a political subdivision of the state, was organized in 1933 to develop and implement a plan to reduce flooding and conserve water for beneficial public uses in the Muskingum River Watershed, the largest wholly contained watershed in Ohio. Since their construction, the 16 reservoirs and dams in the MWCD region have been credited for saving over $10.7 billion worth of potential property damage from flooding, according to the federal government, as well as providing popular recreational opportunities that bolster the region’s economy garnering more than 5 million visitors annually. A significant portion of the reservoirs are managed by the MWCD and the dams are managed for flood-risk management by the federal U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). For more information about the MWCD, visit www.mwcd.org and follow the MWCD on Facebook and Twitter.
