2017 2017

Activity ReportActivity Report Celebrating 11 Years of Success!Celebrating 11 Years of Success!

2006 2006 -- 20172017

2017 Board of Directors2017 Board of Directors Headwaters Representative Vacant

The Outlet/Lye Creek Representative Richard Kozlowski

Eagle Creek Representative Bob Connour

Ottawa Creek Representative Don Croy

Riley Creek Representative Robert Antibus

Cranberry Creek Representative Jeremiah “Bud” Haselman

City of Findlay Representative Grant Russel

Village of Bluffton Judy Augsburger

Village of Ottawa Representative Tim Macke

At-Large #1 Representative Shane Myers

At-Large #2 Representative Chad Kirchner

At-Large #3 Representative Jane McCleary

At-Large #4 Representative Elaine Reynolds

At-Large $5 Representative William Doyle

Watershed Coordinator Phil Martin*

*non voting

2017 Board Governance Com-2017 Board Governance Com-

mitteemittee Jane McCleary Richard Kozlowski

Grant Russel Elaine Reynolds

Phil Martin

2017 Executive Committee2017 Executive Committee

President Elaine Reynolds Vice President Don Croy

Treasurer Tim Macke Secretary Bob Connour

2017 Contact Information2017 Contact Information

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1237

Findlay, OH. 45839-1237

Phone Number: (419) 422-6487

Email: brwp1237@gmail.com

Web Site: www.blanchardriver.org

Facebook: Blanchard River Watershed

Partnership

3

2016 Annual Meeting

Thank You SupportersThank You Supporters 2017 Members, Corporate Sponsors and Major Donors2017 Members, Corporate Sponsors and Major Donors

INDIVIDUALINDIVIDUAL

Chad MarzecChad Marzec Bert RaylBert Rayl Ryan ShoemakerRyan Shoemaker

Gary WilsonGary Wilson

FAMILYFAMILY

Robert AntibusRobert Antibus Paul ChesterPaul Chester Bob ConnourBob Connour

Michael ReedMichael Reed Pete & Elaine Reynolds Pete & Elaine Reynolds Leo & Rita SchroederLeo & Rita Schroeder

Greg and Amy SmithGreg and Amy Smith Ty & Emily WeberTy & Emily Weber

MEMBERSHIP PLUSMEMBERSHIP PLUS

Tim BrugemanTim Brugeman Croy Mowing Ltd. Croy Mowing Ltd. William & Maile DoyleWilliam & Maile Doyle

Tim MackeTim Macke Phil MartinPhil Martin Maumee Conservancy Dist.Maumee Conservancy Dist.

Mc Comb Family DentalMc Comb Family Dental Chad KirchnerChad Kirchner Dick & Jane McClearyDick & Jane McCleary

Jeff NewcomerJeff Newcomer John & Jenny PilarowskiJohn & Jenny Pilarowski Park Dist. Foundation AllenPark Dist. Foundation Allen

Jim & Karon SpurgatJim & Karon Spurgat Thermoplastic Materials & Thermoplastic Materials & CountyCounty

Steve & Jodi WilsonSteve & Jodi Wilson ManufacturingManufacturing

COMPANY / AGENCYCOMPANY / AGENCY

City of FindlayCity of Findlay Hancock County CommissionersHancock County Commissioners Stan Doty D.D.S.Stan Doty D.D.S.

Hancock Park DistrictHancock Park District Millstream Area Credit UnionMillstream Area Credit Union Putnam County Putnam County

Village of BlufftonVillage of Bluffton Village of OttawaVillage of Ottawa CommissionersCommissioners

Stateler Family FarmsStateler Family Farms Whirlpool CorporationWhirlpool Corporation

RAIN BARREL SPONSORSRAIN BARREL SPONSORS

AE CurbsideAE Curbside BeercoBeerco BPO Elks Lodge #75BPO Elks Lodge #75

Hancock County Farm Hancock County Farm Hancock SWCDHancock SWCD Hancock Wood Electric Hancock Wood Electric

BureauBureau CoopCoop

Hempy Water ConditioningHempy Water Conditioning Legacy Farmers Coop.Legacy Farmers Coop. Putnam SWCDPutnam SWCD

And THANKS to the MANY farmers, landowners and residents along the Blanchard and creeks of the subwatersheds for their

ongoing cooperation and permission with water quality monitoring, stream observation walks and assistance discussing watershed

action plans. Add your name to this list in 2017, get involved, volunteer and donate to the BRWP!

Special thanks to all the local, state, and federal agencies for the help and support!Special thanks to all the local, state, and federal agencies for the help and support!

4

Partnership ActivitiesPartnership Activities this past year!this past year!

December 2016

Erected signage on fields that were enrolled in the two Great Lakes Basin

mini grants in the Middle Riley Creek and Lower Riley Creek (Allen County

portion) watersheds. The grants are being administrated by the BRWP. In

2016 there were 485.48 acres enrolled in cover crops and 504.72 acres

enrolled in conservation tillage. The top picture to the right shows the signage

placed on one of the fields.

Completed the BRWP Water Quality report to the ODNR, Division of Wildlife. The BRWP monitored 21

sites on the Blanchard River, Little Riley Creek, Lye Creek and Riley Creek using macroinvertebrate

identification.

January 2017

State of Ohio and grant reports were completed and submitted.

Attended meeting in Defiance on Lake Erie and the Algal Bloom.

2017 BRWP Planning meeting was held at the Hancock County Engineer’s meeting room.

February 2017

Nine area high schools entered 24 rain barrels in our “Rain Barrel Decorating Contest”

in the area high school. The decorated barrels were displayed at the Car Show held the

Findlay Village Mall. Several of the barrels were sponsored by local businesses. The

remaining barrels were sold to the public.

The coordinator was invited to attend the International Joint Commission on

Watershed Management of Nutrients in Lake Erie Workshop in Windsor, ON

The BRWP sponsored the watershed category at the Putnam County Science Fair held

in Ottawa.

There was $124,497 left in the Water Pollution Loan Fund (WPCLF) grant for

replacing/repairing failing HSTS in Hancock County. The BRWP is working with the

Hancock County Commissioners and the Hancock Public Health Department on the

grant. The coordinator is the initial contact and does most of the paper work. We

received 2 applications this month.

5

March 2017 Coordinator attended conference of BMPs for Reducing P losses from Cropland at Heidelberg University. The BRWP held their first Community Advisory Council meeting in Ottawa for the Western Region of the

watershed. The meeting is with business people and other agencies to gather input on what problems they feel exist in the watershed.

Coordinator the advisory committee meeting for HABRI modeling in the Maumee River Basin at Heidelberg University. This group involves The Ohio State University and other universities that are doing modeling on concerns in the WLEB.

Coordinator attended the Advisory Council Committee meeting on the Blanchard River Demonstration Farms in Columbus.

The winter issue of the quarterly newsletter, BRWP Times, was published. If you want a copy of the news-letter send an email to brwp1237@gmail.com with you contact information

Sierra Club’s Chemical testing resumed at 70+ sites in the watershed. The testing is being done by the Blanchard River Watershed Partnership’s Board members and volunteers.

April 2017 The BRWP applied for a Freshwater Futures grant to write the new required

9-element non source pollution implementation strategy plans (NPS-IS plan). The plans replaced the watershed action plans that were written at the HUC - 10 level. A NPS-IS plan is written at the HUC-12 level. $10,000 was awarded.

Another 2 projects were applied for under the WPCLF grant. Working with Dr. Spiese from Ohio Northern University, BRWP volunteers

collected water samples from the 120+ EPA TMDL sites for chemical testing by the university. A report was create and can obtained from a BRWP member.

The BRWP applied for a $14,678 mini grant from the Great Lakes Commission to do a research grant on increasing the soil organic matter in soil. The grant was awarded.

Completed and submitted all state and grant reports.

May 2017

Photo documentation of all fields enrolled in grants was completed by the coordinator

Three low income Home Septic Treatment Systems projects were started as a part of the $150,000 WPCLF

grant.

Coordinator attended a meeting at EPA’s office in Bowling Green concerning using a SandWand

demonstration day on the Blanchard River Watershed

Sierra Club’s Chemical testing occurred at 70+ sites in the watershed. The testing is being done by the Blanchard River Watershed Partnership’s Board members and volunteers.

6

June 2017

The BRWP had a display at the Putnam County Fair in Ottawa

The coordinator attended the Ohio Farm Bureau Demonstration meeting at

Ohio Northern University.

The Coordinator took our display to the Riverfront Gathering Festival in

Defiance.

The East-Central Community Advisory Council (CAC) had their first

meeting at the Hancock Ag. Center.

The Headwaters Region Community Advisory Council (CAC) had their first

meeting in Bluffton.

Spring Issue of the BRWP Times was published. The BRWP sponsored two SandWandTM Demonstration Days in Bluffton

and Findlay. The EPA supported the demonstration days to show how useful

the technology is to clean-up the small section of a stream. The site in

Bluffton had be degraded to a poor level on the stream index used by the

BRWP when we do our macroinvertebrate study. By August, the index had

recovered to an excellent level.

Sierra Club’s Chemical testing occurred at 70+ sites in the watershed. The testing is being done by the Blanchard River Watershed Partnership’s Board members and volunteers.

July 2017

Coordinator started to work on the NPS-IS plan for the HUC-12 Tiderishi Creek watershed in Hancock

County.

The coordinator attended the WLEB coordinator’s meeting in Bowling Green.

The coordinator work on the Hardin County Hazard Materials handling committee in Kenton.

Another 2 projects were applied for under the WPCLF grant. Sierra Club’s Chemical testing occurred at 70+ sites in the watershed. The testing is being done by the

Blanchard River Watershed Partnership’s Board members and volunteers.

August 2017

The coordinator attended the Maumee River Basin Council of

Local Governments and the Toledo Metropolitan Area of

Government Council meeting in Defiance

The BRWP had a display at the Allen County Fair.

The BRWP sponsored a river clean-up with 14 incoming

freshman from the University of Findlay.

Sierra Club’s Chemical testing occurred at 70+ sites in the watershed. The testing is being done by the Blanchard River Watershed Partnership’s Board members and volunteers.

The coordinator attended Soil & Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model meeting at The Ohio State University.

Another 3 projects were applied for under the WPCLF grant. Sierra Club’s Chemical testing occurred at 70+ sites in the watershed. The testing is being done by the

Blanchard River Watershed Partnership’s Board members and volunteers. 7

September 2017

The BRWP had a display at the Hancock County and Hardin County Fairs.

The coordinator attended the “Understanding Algal Blooms: State of the

Science Conference” in Toldeo.

Completed the fall Water Quality monitoring using macroinvertebrate on

the Blanchard River, Lye Creek, Riley Creek and Little Riley Creek. .

The coordinator attended the Maumee River Basin Modeling Conference

at Heidelberg University.

The WS04-13-06 grant the BRWP was in charge of implementing ended. Final data from the grant

showed:

400.90 acres enrolled in conservation tillage with an estimated load reduction of 50.96 tons of

sediment, 81.02 pounds of phosphorus.

724.67 acres enrolled in cover crops with an estimated load reduction of 55.61 tons of sediment, 4,244

pounds of phosphorus. The grant covered a three year period.

Sierra Club’s Chemical testing occurred at 70+ sites in the watershed. The testing is being done by the Blanchard River Watershed Partnership’s Board members and volunteers.

The 2018 Rain Barrel Decorating Contest was announced to the area schools.

October 2017

Three additional low income HSTS project were started.

The coordinator taught classes at Arlington High School and Liberty Benton

High School concerning our Water Quality Monitoring project. The

coordinator led a field trip with each school to sites on the Blanchard River.

The coordinator delivered 24 rain barrels that have been entered in the 2017

contest.

Sierra Club’s Chemical testing occurred at 70+ sites in the watershed. The testing is being done by the Blanchard River Watershed Partnership’s Board members and volunteers.

November 2017

Signage will be placed on the fields enrolled in the Great Lakes Basin

grants in the Middle Riley Creek watershed.

Final results from the WPCLF grant to replace/repair failing Home

Septic Treatment Systems show that there were 17 project completed

during the 2016-17 grant period. The load reductions from these

projects were estimated to be:

7,884 pounds/year total suspended solids

935.3 pounds/year total phosphorus

2,469.3 pounds/year total nitrogen

Nearly $139,000 of the grant was used to do the replacement/repairs.

88

9

2017

Act

ive

an

d A

wa

rd G

ran

ts

2018 Projects2018 Projects

Continue implementation of all active grants.Continue implementation of all active grants.

Provide support for partners in seeking grants for projects such as: Provide support for partners in seeking grants for projects such as:

1. removable of debris behind Riverside Dam, 1. removable of debris behind Riverside Dam,

2. replacement of trees lost to the emerald ash borer, 2. replacement of trees lost to the emerald ash borer,

3. agriculture BMPs to reduce the phosphorus loadings,3. agriculture BMPs to reduce the phosphorus loadings,

3. restoration of brownfield and riparian areas and 3. restoration of brownfield and riparian areas and

4. other projects as identified by our stakeholders and / or partners.4. other projects as identified by our stakeholders and / or partners.

Continuation of existing BRWP projects: Continuation of existing BRWP projects:

1. water quality monitoring, 1. water quality monitoring,

2. Ohio Sentinel Program with the Sierra Club and 2. Ohio Sentinel Program with the Sierra Club and

3. Rain Barrel Decorating Contest.3. Rain Barrel Decorating Contest.

Write at least two NPSWrite at least two NPS--IS PlansIS Plans

Seek funding for Coordinator’s position. The present grant ran out on June 30, 2017Seek funding for Coordinator’s position. The present grant ran out on June 30, 2017

Seek funding for the BRWP. Our main source of support is from our membership dues and sponsorships.Seek funding for the BRWP. Our main source of support is from our membership dues and sponsorships.

How can you help?How can you help?

Become a member and volunteer!Become a member and volunteer!

How Can You Stay in Touch?How Can You Stay in Touch?

Follow us on Facebook at:Follow us on Facebook at:

Blanchard River Watershed PartnershipBlanchard River Watershed Partnership

and on Our Web Page at:and on Our Web Page at:

www.blanchardriver.orgwww.blanchardriver.org

10