Action Plans

ACTION PLANNING QUESTIONS

UPPER BIG WALNUT CREEK WATERSHED - Water Quality Management Plan (large PDF)

UPPER BIG WALNUT CREEK ACTION PLAN - 2003

ACTION PLANNING QUESTIONS (back to top)

Conservation Practices

• What can be done to make practices and management changes last over time – longer than a traditional contract?
• What are some new conservation practices that the Partnership should explore?
• With changing land use, are there additional practices or people that the Partnership should include and or target?

Monitoring and Evaluation

• What types of data should be collected?  Be specific and include all information needed.
• How should we manage this information?
• Who should be responsible for collecting the data? (ex. Citizen based monitoring program)
• Who should be responsible for managing the data?

Education & Outreach

• How can we get more participation in the Partnership?
• What types of education programs should the Partnership Sponsor?  Frequency of events?  Any specific ideas?
• Is there any individual or group that should be represented in the Partnership and currently is not here?  How should we encourage their participation?

All Groups:

• What are three things in order of priority that the Partnership should work on in the next 1-2 years to maintain and improve water quality in Big Walnut Creek?

UPPER BIG WALNUT CREEK ACTION PLAN  - 2003 (back to top)

• The creation and mailing of an annual report within the first 2 weeks of December each year.

Action: Create and mail annual report to watershed residents.  Include data from City of Columbus, Agricultural Research Service, Ohio River Valley Sanitation Commission Evaluation Project, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Total Maximum Daily Load, Conservation Practices and Events.  Include a watershed operator of the year recognition program.

• Promote CREP and the Partnership.  Sponsor booths or displays at county fairs (Delaware, Morrow, Hartford) and Farm Science Review.

Action: Staff a display at 1 county fair each year (Morrow County Fair in 2003).  Staff a display at the Centerburg Farming Festival each year.  Sponsor a booth at the Farm Science Review at the Conservation Park in 2003. Participate in a watershed display at the Delaware County Fair with other groups if time permits.

• Continue with atrazine reduction programs using education and outreach.  Include key speakers, CCA hours and lunch.  Sponsor workshops with OSU Extension in Delaware and Morrow Counties.

Action: Sponsor 1 educational event each year.

• Consider a field day to demonstrate tools for farming practices and incorporate new technologies including sprayers and nozzles.  Discuss innovative funding programs that are available to off-set high costs. Develop a wallet reference guide

Action: Sponsor 1 field day in 2003.

• Tillage demonstration project comparing tillage type, atrazine use, and yields.

Action: Assist in planning 1 demonstration project in 2003.

• Be an active participant in the ARS program in the watershed.

Action: Develop and sign a Memorandum of Understanding with ARS about this project in Spring 2003.

• Work with SWCDs to consider a fee waiver for use of District owned equipment to plant CREP buffers.

Action: Discuss fee waivers with Licking SWCD (Knox SWCD already has this in place).  Develop appropriate paperwork if approved.

• Target areas for continuing EQIP - include a precision application component.

Action: Work to continue supporting a $10-15 per acre incentive for atrazine management.         The watershed should still be identified as a priority because of this year’s Total Maximum            Daily Load, as well as our nationally recognized CREP.

• Publicize / build awareness of our watershed work. 

Action: Place large maps(include a paragraph on the map stating: If you live in this areas, you are eligible for…) and program information in chemical dealer’s locations continually. Co-sponsor a watershed field day and/or farm city day at the end of August or beginning of September with other groups in Sunbury or Galena to inform the public about this project. Activities are organized in these communities on Memorial Day, Labor Day and the 4^th of July.  A program for watershed schools should be developed this fall and winter.