February 2014 ~ Vol. 63 No. 2 SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT Published Monthly Board of Supervisors STAFF – MIAMI SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT (Miami SWCD) Kreig Smail - Dist. Admin. Linda Raterman - Information/PR Spec Kristin Lewber - Administrative Asst. Jennifer Korte - District Technician Travis Puckett - Drainage Technician STAFF – USDA NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS) Melissa Shuck - Dist. Conservationist Karen McCalister - Res. Conservationist Brian Leptak - Civil Eng. Tech. Dean Houchen - Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Biologist Dan Batdorf Scott Clark Jeff Francis Wade Wilhelm Diane Yingst Miami County Tire Recycling Day!! Wednesday, March 12, 9A-3P Miami County Fairgrounds, Troy SPONSORED BY: Miami East FFA, Miami Soil & Water Conservation District, Miami County Sanitary Engineers, Miami County Ag Society, Kelbley Transport For Miami County Residents, Farmers, Municipalities & Townships Only We CANNOT accept tires from junk yards, garages, auto repair shops, tire, automobile, truck and farm equipment dealerships or motorcycle/ATV repair shops or dealerships. PASSENGER TIRES Register by 4:30PM Friday March 7th at Miami SWCD, 1330 N. County Rd 25A, Troy or until we are full: FARM/SEMI TIRES 1. 2. 3. 4. Register # of tires Set up drop off time Make your payment Drop off on March 12th at Miami County Fairgrounds 1650 N. County Rd 25A, Troy (Harrison St. entrance) Sorry, check or cash only. No Phone Registrations. First come, ﬁrst served. We are limited to collect an estimated 1600-2000 tires. REGISTER TODAY!! For more information phone 335-7645 or visit www.miamiswcd.org. (up to 17 inches) .50¢ per tire $5.00 per tire • • • • Miami East FFA students and other volunteers will be on hand to unload tires. Each participant is limited to 10 tires per load. REMOVE ALL RIMS. Tires should be secured. According to the ohio revised code, tires must be secured, tarped, or enclosed. Right of refusal may be used. The Upcoming Events Newsletter ANNOUNCEMENT The Miami SWCD Board of Supervisors conducted a combined meeting for January and February on January 30th at 8AM. JAN-MAR 14 Tree Seedling Sale JAN-MAR 14 Larry Studebaker Memorial/Miami SWCD Scholarship Application Window Regularly scheduled meetings are held the second Tuesday of the month at 8AM at the District ofﬁce, 1330 N. County Road 25A, Troy. The next meeting is scheduled to take place, Tuesday, March 11th, at 8AM. The public is always welcome! FEB 4 & 18 Adult Exploration Hike Maple Ridge Reserve 9AM Miami County Park District Event (MCPD)*** FEB 7 Souper-Walk Series “Owl Prowl” Lost Creek Reserve 7PM (MCPD)*** 2014 Annual Tree Seedling Sale Continues through March 14! FEB 8 & 22 “Market on the Miami” Indoor Farmers Market at The Tin Roof at Treasure Island, Troy. 9AM-Noon. This collaboration of local vendors who produce locally grown, homemade cottage foods, local non cottage foods and artisan items are available on the second and the fourth Saturdays of the month through May of 2014. FEB 12 Wednesday Morning Birding Stillwater Prairie Reserve Rangeline Road Access 9AM (MCPD)*** 2 0 1 4 Miami SWCD Annual Tree Seedling Sale If you’ve been wanting to plant more trees or replant after losing some trees, the Miami SWCD is happy to offer you the chance to do so through the 2014 Annual Tree Seedling Sale! Order forms are available at the District ofﬁce at 1330 N. County Road 25A Troy or go online to www.miamiswcd.org. Deadline for ordering will be March 14, 2014 (POSTMARKED). A FEW TRUTHS ABOUT TREES… • The U.S. Department of Agriculture says a single acre of trees puts out four tons of oxygen -enough to meet the annual oxygen needs of 18 people. • This same acre of trees can absorb the carbon dioxide produced by driving a car 26,000 miles. • Not only do trees give us the oxygen we need to breathe, they also ﬁght air pollution by directly reducing nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide, major components of photochemical smog, ozone pollution and acid rain. • Trees act as a giant ﬁlter on the world. Their leaves, stems and twigs trap and ﬁlter out particulate matter, such as dust, ash, pollen and smoke, from the air. • Trees also help keep our water clean. (With increased impervious surfaces in neighborhoods and business districts, rain from storms ﬂows more quickly across paved areas than it does across treed areas.) The faster this storm runoff moves, the more it erodes and washes sediment and chemicals into drainage channels. The runoff carries with it oil and grime from parking lots, soil from construction sites, fertilizers from lawns, and chemicals from industrial discharges. http://www.dnr.state.oh.us FEB 14 & 15 Valentine Dinner and a Show at The Hayner Center 6PM-9PM. Contact 937-339-0457 or www.TroyHayner.org FEB 15 The Great Backyard Bird Count Stillwater Prairie Reserve meet at bathroom near parking lot 10AM-Noon (MCPD)*** FEB 16 The Great Backyard Bird Count Charleston Falls Preserve meet at bathroom near parking lot, 10AM-Noon (MCPD)*** FEB 16 Dog Social “Valentine Dog Lovers Social” Charleston Falls Preserve 1PM–3PM (MCPD)*** FEB 17 The Great Backyard Bird Count Charleston Falls Preserve meet at bathroom near parking lot, 9:30AM-11:30AM (MCPD)*** FEB 17 Presidents Day Ofﬁce Closed FEB 18 Septic System Workshop (see story) FEB 23 Naturalist Adventure Series “Winter Tree Identiﬁcation” Charleston Falls Preserve 1PM-4PM. (MCPD)*** FEB 28-APR 2 Exhibition of the History of Troy and the Hayner House 301 West Main Street 937-339-0457 www.TroyHayner.org ***Please register for MCPD events @ [email protected] or call 335-6273 x 104. Miami SWCD 2014 SCHOLARSHIP Window Open ‘til March 14th! Two $750 scholarship awards are available through Miami Soil & Water Conservation District. If you know a student already in college or a senior in high school interested in Agriculture or Natural Resources, encourage them to apply. These scholarships are for the purpose of continuing higher education at a two or four year college or university. The Larry Studebaker Memorial/Miami SWCD Scholarship are both available to incoming freshman, sophomores, juniors and seniors. Also, if you’ve received this scholarship in the past, you’re eligible to receive this scholarship again! To learn guidelines, rules and recommendations regarding these scholarships, visit www.miamiswcd.org or call Kristin Lewber at 335-7645, ext.101. Applications, recommendations and school transcripts must be received by Friday, March 14, 2014 (POSTMARKED). The application and information received will be property of the Miami SWCD and will be held in strict conﬁdence. And Remember…. Septic System Workshop TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18th 6:00PM-7:00PM Stop in the Name of Sludge! Monroe Township Basement What does the average home owner have to do to maintain their septic system? You’ll get the information you need at this workshop You’ll also learn about different systems, construction, innovations, practices, what services are available to you and more! Your guest speaker will be from Miami County Health District and other professionals who can give you the answers and peace of mind you need. This is a free workshop, but you must register by contacting TippMonroe Community Services at 667-8631 or emailing Katie Sonnestine at [email protected]. Coming in MARCH….. Boehner Farm Forum MARCH 1 9:00AM-1PM Edison Community College. North Hall Theatre, Piqua Please call (937) 339-1524 for more information! Seminar for Professionals TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014 Upper Valley Career Center Applied Technology Center For years, the Miami SWCD has assisted Norton Engineering in providing a worthwhile and informative seminar on Stormwater issues, practices and innovations and providing credits to professionals. This year will be no different. We’ll tell you more in March’s Newsletter, but contact John Norton at Norton Engineering at 937-223-5848 or [email protected] or check out the website at www.environmentalengineering.net if you have questions now! The Newsletter You’re invited! Pheasants Forever Open House February 12th and 26th 10 am - 11am Dean Houchen, your local Pheasants Forever wildlife Biologist, would like to extend an invitation to you, your family, and friends to come join him at the Miami Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) ofﬁce for a presentation on wildlife habitat on one of two dates, February 12th and February 26th from 10AM to 11AM. Dean will talk about: 1. What grasslands used to be like in Ohio 2. What grasslands look like now 3. What interested parties can do to improve and/or establish some native grassland on their property Anyone and everyone (farmers, small acreage landowners, gardeners, and wildlife enthusiasts) are encouraged to come join Dean for the presentation. However, seating is limited. In preparation, please email [email protected] or call 740-624-7945 if you plan to attend. The dates, times, and location of the presentation will be February 12th and 26th from 10 am - 11am in the Miami County SWCD conference room, 1330 N. County Road 25A, Troy. OR if you are in the mood for a drive... Brown County SWCD 2014 Wildlife & Habitat Management Workshop Saturday, March 8, 2014 8:30 am - 3:00 pm Southern State Community College Fincastle, Ohio The 2014 Wildlife and Habitat Management Workshop is for the landowner or wildlife enthusiast wanting to manage land and wildlife successfully. Pre-registration is required. The cost of $15 includes morning refreshments, lunch, and handout materials. To request a registration brochure, contact the Brown County SWCD ofﬁce at 937-378-4424. Registration Deadline: Friday, February 28th, 2014 The Newsletter Y CHWIETERMAN NC. Over 65 years experience MIKE SCHWIERTERMAN 4240 St Rt 49 Arcanum, OH 45304 Drainage Solutions is Our Business Fully Insured Office: 937-548-3965 Mobile: 937-417-0985 Fax: 937-548-4105 Email: [email protected] Systematic Drainage • Excavating • Waterways Sewage Systems • Conservation Projects Just Drain It Pullins Enterprises GPS Grade Control Paul Pullins 12662 Shanley Rd. Quincy, Ohio 43343 Home 937-362-2665 Fax 937-362-3878 E-mail [email protected] Mobile 937-539-0621 John Pullins 937-539-0386 Samuel Pullins 937-539-0370 To be responsible leaders in promoting innovative stewardship of natural resources through the development of conservation partnerships to enhance the quality of life. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternate means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202/720-2600 (voice and TDD). RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Nonproﬁt Org. US Postage Paid Versailles, OH Permit No. 19 1330 N. County Road 25-A Troy, Ohio 45373 Miami Soil & Water Conservation District