Congratulations to John and Joanie Grimes of Maplecrest Farms for being selected as the 2024 Cooperator of The Year by the Highland SWCD Board of Supervisors and Staff! Maplecrest Farms was chosen based on their determination and willingness to improve soil and water quality throughout their operation. Maplecrest Farms has implemented multiple conservation practices on their farms to protect our natural resources. This prestigious award was presented On October 10, 2024, at the SWCD Annual Meeting. L- R; SWCD Fiscal Agent Jim Carr, Joanie Grimes, Lindsey Hall, and SWCD Chairman Kyle Mustard.
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Drought Assistance
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Pictured (l-r) are coach Lara Hamilton, Gage Thompson, Jayden Hixson, Abigail Shepherd, Kylie O'Conner and Cloe Williamson.
Lynchburg-Clay to compete in National CompetitionThe Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts held their annual State Envirothon June 3-5 at Hocking College and Lake Snowden. The top four scoring teams from each of the five area envirothons were eligible to participate in the State Envirothon.
This year, the Lynchburg-Clay Gold Team, coached by Lara Hamilton, placed first in the Area 5 Envirothon earning themselves the honor of attending the state contest. The envirothon is designed to stimulate, reinforce and enhance interest in the environment and natural resources among high school students. The competition tests students' knowledge of soils, forestry, wildlife, aquatic ecology and the current environmental issues. This year the Lynchburg-Clay Gold team received 1st place in forestry and oral presentation. They also tied for first in soils. Each student on an envirothon team is challenged to contribute his or her personal best but the score that counts at the end of the envirothon is the combined team score. Once the results were tallied, the Lynchburg-Clay Gold team won first overall in the state competition. The Lynchburg-Clay Gold team will be participating in the 2024 NCF-Envirothon New York in New York. It will be held July 28 through August 3 at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York. 
2024 NCF - Envirothon New York
Ohio was proudly represented at the 2024 NCF-Envirothon New York in Geneva, New York July 28th through August 3rd by the Lynchburg-Clay Gold team. The Lynchburg-Clay Gold team placed 25th out of 49 teams this year, in their first ever National competition. They came in 11th out of all 50 teams in the Oral Presentation. This year’s topic was ”Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Future”. Each year over 25,000 high school students across the United States, Canada and China embark on an environmental and natural resource journey that involves problem-solving, teambuilding and leadership experience. Congratulations to Tennessee for being selected as the 2024 NCF - Envirothon New York champions during this years competition. 
Earth Day Clean Up Event
On Earth Day, April 22, the Highland SWCD had the pleasure of working with the Fur, Feather and Friends 4-H Club and the Rocky Fork Naturalist Joshua Pennington, to clean up part of the Rocky Fork Campgrounds. This year there were 23 kids and adults participating in the clean-up event. They beautified the area by picking up trash along wooded areas near the campgrounds. 
Bringing Quail Back!
Quail are disappearing from our landscape here in Southern Ohio, primarily due to habitat loss. If you are interested in conserving or creating habitat on your land, there are programs to help! Two such programs are; CRP is a rental program through the USDA, which gives cost share to convert existing farmland into natural habitats to address an environmental concern. After establishment, the USDA pays a rental rate on the land used to keep it in natural cover. EQIP is a more flexible program, not requiring existing cropland. Only cost share is offered, but this can help offset the personal expenses for otherwise costly work. Invasive control, habitat plantings, and more can be accomplished through the EQIP program. If you have any interest or questions regarding these programs, don’t hesitate to reach out to your local NRCS office, or to your area’s farm bill biologist. We are happy to assist, and with your help, we can ensure that future generations of the Buckeye State can experience the summer with all of its natural sights and sounds. 
Cover Crop Field Day Held
The Highland Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) hosted a successful cover crop field day on August 29, 2023, at the Rocky Fork Lake Restaurant. The event highlighted the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) that will provide conservation assistance to landowners in the Rocky Fork Watershed. Information was provided on the ODNR, Division of Parks and Watercraft dredging project and the importance of reducing sediment from entering the lake by planting cover crops. Participants learned about seed establishment and various ways to terminate cover crops, as well as an in-field drone seeding demonstration. This field day offered a unique opportunity for landowners to carefully consider all cover crop options that can be implemented to advance their farming operation while capturing nutrients for a long-term investment. The SWCD would like to thank everyone that helped to make the event a great success. 
Rocky Fork Funding Awarded
Lead Partner, Highland Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) was awarded funding for the Rocky Fork Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), which is one of three projects awarded in the state. The RCPP promotes coordination between NRCS and its partners to deliver conservation assistance to producers and landowners. With the help of various partners including Ohio Department of Natural Resources-Division of Parks and Watercraft & Division of Wildlife, City of Hillsboro-Drinking Water Treatment Plant and Wastewater Treatment Plant, and US Fish and Wildlife Service the project will protect water quality, reduce soil erosion, and provide habitat for at-risk species in the Rocky Fork Watershed. The Rocky Fork Watershed drains approximately 92,350 acres of land, with 46,650 acres of cropland that directly outlets into the Rocky Fork Lake, thus making it a highly sensitive area. The primary objectives of the RCPP is to protect water quality, enhance wildlife habitat and reduce soil erosion to alleviate algal blooms n the Rocky Fork Watershed region. The project will be carried out over the next five years with water monitoring being conducted through the life of the project to document trends and conditions. With sediment being the biggest challenge for Rocky Fork Lake, partnering with the ODNR Parks and Watercraft dredging operation, will maximize the benefits of reducing sediment from reaching the lake. This innovative project will implement a series of agricultural best management practices that will have an enormous positive effect on the economic and social development of the Rocky Fork Watershed, as well as, protect the City of Hillsboro’s drinking water supply and provide prescribed habitat for Ohio’s diminished Bobwhite Quail population and other at-risk species. Project goals for conservation practices include the installation cover crops, nutrient management, grassed waterways, and certain prescribed wildlife management practices that improve habitat for targeted species. If you are in the Rocky Fork Watershed and would like more information on the program you may contact the NRCS/SWCD office at 937-393-1922 ext 3. |
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Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Phone: 937-393-1922 Ext: 3 Located at: 514 Harry Sauner Road Ste. 2 Hillsboro, OH 45133 *Due to limited Staff please call ahead to make an appointment The Highland SWCD will hold their regular monthly Board meetings on the second Wednesday of each month, unless otherwise noted, at 8:00 am in the Hillsboro Service Center located at 514 Harry Sauner Rd. in Hillsboro. Meetings are open to the public, in accordance with the Sunshine Law. |
MISSION STATEMENT
The Highland Soil and Water Conservation District will protect our natural resources while meeting the needs of the citizens of Highland County and will promote the wise use of natural resources through the use of technical and educational assistance with available funds. |
All Highland Soil and Water Conservation District programs and services are offered on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status.