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| History |
What is a Soil & Water Conservation District? A legally constituted unit of local government set up by the State Soil Conservation District Law; established through petition of landowners and by a majority vote of county residents. Therefore, a District is an independent subdivision of the State of Ohio, associated with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and funded by county and state taxes. The business of the district is conducted by an elected board of five landowners who serve three-year terms without pay. The purpose of a district is to help landowners work together and to provide technical assistance for solving soil and water conservation problems within the District boundaries. There are 88 conservation districts in Ohio and 3,000 nationwide. Medina County History The dust storms of 1935
paved the way for the birth of the Soil Conservation Service in our
Nation. Likewise, erosion
was a major concern for many citizens in the mainly agricultural Medina
County. A number of
organizations saw the need for improving and maintaining the
productivity of Medina County farms through proper land use and
conservation practices. As
a result, on June 3, 1944, the 28th District was organized in
Medina County. The purpose
of the District was to ensure that farmers, as a collective group, could secure
technical assistance in applying soil and water conservation practices
on the land. The newly elected Board
of Supervisors developed a work plan that dictated special emphasis be
placed on “proper land use.” Demonstration
plots were established to show good conservation and erosion control
practices. Such practices
included contour strip cropping, terraces, rotations, pasture
improvement, grassed waterways, forestry improvement and timber
management. Additionally,
the District was largely involved in the development of conservation
plans, reforestation, installation of field tiles, and even cost-share
programs for the planting of multiflora rose.
(Eventually, in 1987 the state would begin a program to help
landowners eliminate rose infestations).
Throughout the years,
our District has been growing and changing---along with the rest of the
County. Urbanization
of the County has brought about several new issues, which our office now
helps to address. |
| Mission Statement |
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To provide the Medina County community with education, guidance, and technical assistance that promotes the wise use of its soil and water resources. |
| MOTTO |
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Local leadership for soil and water conservation. |
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Personnel |
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Chairman
Vice-Chairman
Secretary
Treasurer
Fiscal Agent Celia
Kruggel –
Charles pope– Hinckley Township
Individuals interested in becoming an Associate Board Member should contact Jeff Van Loon at (330) 722-2628 ext. 111 or via e-mail. |
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The
office consists of 5 SWCD employees and one USDA Natural Resource
Conservation Service (NRCS) employee. SWCD JEFF Van LOON, District Manager Responsible
for implementing District programs and activities that meet the goals,
objectives, and policies established by the Board of Supervisors,
including the
coordination of short and long-term planning needs. He oversees the
day-to-day responsibilities of District staff, the
development and maintenance of the annual operating budget and related
funding requests, and
technical assistance related to the District’s Urban Program. Janet Kuthe, Administrative Assistant Responsible for the general office operations, including the annual tree sale program, correspondence and bookkeeping. Jim Dieter, District Technician Responsible for assisting landowners with conservation practices on their property; which include erosion, drainage, wildlife, wetland, and forestry enhancement. Additional duties include working with livestock producers and the management of manure, and assisting the County Engineer's office with their pond construction permit. Beth Schnabel, Education Specialist Responsible
for coordinating conservation education programs through presentations,
tours, workshops, newsletters, and educational displays. Gary Norcia, Watershed Coordinator Responsible
for the
District's involvement in the implementation of the NDPES Phase II Storm
Water Management Programs within the county. Currently interim watershed coordinator for the Upper West Branch of the Rocky River Balanced Growth Plan.
USDA-NRCS Dave Kopchak, District Conservationist Throughout
Medina SWCD’s existence, USDA has provided technical assistance and
shared resources in support of District programs and activities.
The District Conservationist provides Conservation Planning
assistance to clients, ensures that USDA-NRCS Standards and
Specifications are followed for engineering and conservation practices,
and is responsible for local
administration of some USDA farm and conservation programs. |
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Currently the District is working on a variety of projects funded by grants and other outside sources. The Upper CHIPPEWA CREEK Watershed Balanced Growth Plan The purpose of the plan will be to identify Priority Conservation Areas to protect critically important ecological, recreational, agricultural, heritage, public access, and other critical areas, and Priority Development Areas where growth and/or redevelopment should be supported. view press release |
| Employment Opportunities |
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No applications for employment are currently being accepted.
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| Directions |
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Travel south on Interstate 71 to the
State Route 18 (Medina) Exit From the South: Travel north on Interstate 71 to the
Interstate 76/State Route 224 interchange From the West: Travel east on State Route 162
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