spring 2005 voice of the mill creek newsletter, mill creek watershed council

8/9/2019 Spring 2005 Voice of the Mill Creek Newsletter, Mill Creek Watershed Council

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Spring 2005 TENTH YEAR

Published by:Mill Creek

Watershed Councilof Communities

Serving:

Amberley Village

Arlington Heights

Blue Ash

Butler County

Cincinnati

Colerain Township

Elmwood Place

Evendale

Fairfield

Fairfield Township

Forest Park

Glendale

Golf Manor

Green Township

Greenhills

Hamilton

Hamilton County

Hamilton County

Storm WaterDistrict

Liberty Township

Lincoln Heights

Lockland

Montgomery

Mount Healthy

Millcreek ValleyConservancy District

North College Hill

Norwood

Reading

St. Bernard

Sharonville

Springdale

Springfield Township

Sycamore Township

West ChesterTownship

Woodlawn

Wyoming

Voice of the Mill Creek

USEPA approves Mill Creek TMDL

On April 26, 2005, the United StatesEnvironmental Protection Agency ap-proved the Total Maximum Daily Loadsfor Mill Creek (TMDL) Final Report.This report represents the culminationof a cooperative effort between theOhio EPA and watershed stakeholdersthat began in 1999. The final TMDLreport can be viewed and downloaded

at: www.epa.state.oh.us/dsw/tmdl.TMDLs are intended to identify andevaluate water quality problems inimpaired waterways and propose solu-tions to bring them towards attain-ment of state water quality standards.

The Mill Creek report establishes loadreductions for phosphorous and nitro-gen that should result in improved wa-ter quality in local streams. Localpoint and nonpoint source reductionefforts will play a role in achievingthis goal.

In a related effort, the Council sub-mitted the revised Upper Mill Creekwatershed action plan to the state inMay for endorsement. Development ofMill Creek sub-basin action plans is akey step in implementation of the newTMDL. For more information, callNancy Ellwood at 513.563.8800.

Mill Creek Valley economic impact assessed

The Army Corps Mill Creek flood pro-ject is on hold until local matchingfunds are secured. The Millcreek Val-ley Conservancy District (MVCD), localsponsor for the project, is workingwith watershed stakeholders to iden-tify a financial strategy for acquiringthe $144 million needed to fund thelocal share of flood project costs. Atthis time it appears a regional fundingapproach may be part of the solution.

To aid in this effort, the Mill CreekWatershed Council of Communities(MCWCC) has been working to garner

local support for the flood project. InMarch, MCWCC commissioned theHamilton County Development Com-pany to assess the regional economicimpact of businesses located in theMill Creek 100 year flood plain. Infor-mation gathered during the effort re-vealed that businesses and homes inthe Mill Creek flood plain are criticalto the regional economy.

The study identified over 15,000 jobsin 2004 yielding more than $1.5 billionin annual wages with payroll taxes forjust two communities totaling over$13 million. For the same year, real

(Continued on page 2)

Inaugural Carp Diem5k takes off!Details on page 3

10 yearsand growing

Ten years ago, seventeen communitiesgathered on the banks of the Mill

Creek to sign a historic intergovern-mental agreement committing themto promote improvement of the MillCreek. A decade later, our communi-ties are the glue that holds us to-gether. Happy Anniversary!


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PAGE 2M I L L C R E E K W A T E R S H E D C O U N C I LS P R I N G 2 0 0 5


estate values for properties within the flood plainwere estimated at $469 million. Last year these

generated $5.14 million in property taxes$3.6million of which went to local schools. Personalproperty taxes for the same real estate were $8.7million in 2003.

These study findings were presented to the Hamil-ton County Commissioners on April 11th. On April13th, the commissioners passed a resolution stat-ing their support for the local flood project andinitiatives to identify regional funding mechanismsfor securing local costs. The Countys resolutionjoins a similar resolution signed on February 9thby the City of Cincinnati and an April 17th letter

of support for the flood project submitted to the

(Economic Impact Study, continued from page 1) Hamilton County Commissioners by the membersof the Hamilton County Environmental ActionCommittee.

The next step to move the flood project forwardwill be further exploration by MVCD of potentialfinancing mechanisms. To ensure success of anyfunding strategy, it will also be necessary to cre-ate public awareness and support for the project.

For further information on the economic impactstudy call the MCWCC office at 513.563.8800 oremail Nancy Ellwood, MCWCC Executive Director,at [email protected]. Inquiriesrelated to funding the flood project should be di-rected to Robert Jansen, Millcreek Valley Conser-

vancy District, 513.721.8173.

The Mill Creek Watershed Council of Communitiestook the first step towards a new image with se-

At the invitation of the Philadelphia Water Depart-ment, Nancy Ellwood, Executive Director of theMill Creek Watershed Council of Communities(MCWCC), traveled to Philadelphia to assist a

fledgling watershed groups efforts in becoming anon-profit corporation. On April 26th, Ms. Ellwoodmet with the Interim Board of the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Partnership. A formal presenta-tion on the history of our Council, our structureand our legal framework was followed by an op-portunity for Board members to ask questions.

The relationship between MCWCC and Philadelphiabegan in 2004 after Water Department staff vis-

Watershed Director assists

Philadelphia area watershed group

New nameNew logo lection of a new logo at the April 28th Councilmeeting. The updated design embraces the con-nection between our communities, local streamsand the watershed. The Council thanks graphicdesigner Amanda Wallace for donating her time tohelp create our new look.

This issue of the Voice of the Mill Creek marks thefirst formal use of the logo. In the coming year animage awareness/marketing campaign will be

launched and the Council website will be updated.Individuals who wish to assist with these effortsshould contact Nancy Ellwood at 513.563.8800.

ited the Councils website prompting a series ofphone calls and email exchanges. MCWCC benefitsfrom this relationship by gaining insight into howother urban watershed groups face issues similarto those found in the Mill Creek watershed.

Local Shriners hear Mill Creek talk

On May 18th, Executive Director Nancy Ellwoodwas the guest speaker at a Syrian Shrine TempleLuncheon held at their William Howard Taft Roadlocation in Cincinnati. Ms. Ellwood presented abrief history of the Mill Creek Watershed Councilof Communities and discussed current activities.Several of the luncheon attendees had past deal-ings with the Mill Creek either as residents whogrew up near the stream or through their profes-sional careers.


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In the chilly pre-dawn hours of

April 17th, a band of intrepidvolunteers arrived to set up reg-istration tables, water stationsand information booths. Threehours later, the sound of thestarters pistol signaled the be-ginning of the inaugural CarpDiem 5k racesending enthusias-tic runners and walkers througha hilly course set in the heart ofthe Mill Creek valley.

The Mill Creek Watershed Coun-

cil of Communities held its firstfundraising rac eotherwiseknown as the Run with the

The Carp Diem Planning Committee would like to thank this years sponsors:



First Mill Creek 5k fundraiser a success!

The event would not have hap-pened without generous contri-butions from our major spon-sors: Burgess and Niple, theCinergy Foundation, Cognis,CH2MHILL, Fleet Feet Sports,General Electric, Rumpke,Spring Grove, and Subway/BP.

The Council extends its thanksto race planners Ken Edgell, KimLahman, Melanie McNulty andMark Rogge. Thanks also to allthe volunteers who gave up theirmorning to help us out.

Planning for the 2006 Carp Diemrace begins this fall. Call513.563.8800 if you wish to jointhe fun.

Fishesin anticipation of the

annual carp spawning season.The race and after-event festivi-ties took place at the beautifulSpring Grove Cemetery and Ar-boretum.

Aside from introducing the pub-lic to the Mill Creek and its deni-zens, the race raised money tohelp Council efforts to make theMill Creek watershed a betterplace to live, work and play.This years race raised enough

funds to publish and distributetwo quarterly newsletters orpurchase ten watershed signs.

Runners get underway after John Dowlin (right) fires the starting pistol.

Brad Neumann, the Carp Diem 5Kfirst place runner, nears finish line.

Adrian Fly-Fishing OutfittersHamilton County

Environmental ServicesMetropolitan Sewer District

of Greater CincinnatiPPC CommunicationsSpringfield Township


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We cant do it without you . . .To better meet the changing needs of our communities,

Mill Creek Watershed Council is listening and is responding.

The Mill Creek Watershed Council of Communities needsyour support now more than ever.

We have an ambitious work plan to complete in 2005 withmany projects dependent on available funding.

Your new or renewing membership would help.

Please complete the membership form below and return with a check (payable to Mill Creek Watershed Council) to:

2005 Membership Drive

Mill Creek Watershed Council of CommunitiesOne North Commerce Park Dr., Ste 124Cincinnati, OH 45215

For more information, call our office at 513.563.8800 or visit our website at www.millcreekwatershed.org.

*Please consider increasing your support for the Mill Creek Watershed Council by upgrading your membership to:

For office use: Recd Proc Amt Ch#

Platinum: Name/logo on website &quarterly newsletter. Link on website

Gold: Name on website & quarterlynewsletter. Link on website.

Silver: Name on quarterlynewsletter

Mill Creek Watershed Council of Communities Membership Category:* (Circle appropriate category)

Platinum($1000)

Gold($500)

Silver($250)

Political Jurisdiction($150)

(e.g. County, city,village, township)

GovernmentOrganization

($125)(e.g. County agency,

department)

Business or Organiza-tion ($50)

(Company, nonprofit,community group)

Individual:Voting($25)

Individual:Non-voting

($15)

Last Name - Voting Member First NameTitle (if appropriate)

Organization Name(if appropriate)

Address

City State Zip Code

Phone # Email Fax #

Last Name - Alternate Vot-ing Member

(if appropriate) First Name

Phone # Email Fax #

Member Signature Date


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Upper Mill Creek ValleyA perspectiveSecond in a two-part series submitted by Mike Busam

Today, Bypass 4 is a rough di-vider between the Mill Creekand Great Miami River water-sheds. But two hundred yearsago, streams such as WalkersRun on the south side of the val-ley, and a few unnamed streamson the north side of the valley,all of them on the west side ofBypass 4, flowed east to the MillCreek, not west to the GreatMiami. The ditching workedfora while. People living todayalong flood-prone Pleasant Runin Fairfield dont appreciate theditching work of the 1800stheyprobably dont even know of thetremendous efforts spent tosend Pleasant Run a little bitof extra water by diverting itfrom the Mill Creekbut resi-dents of the area back in thecanal days sure did. The ditcheswere credited for reducing ma-larial outbreaks and opened upthousands of acres of primefarmland. The soil here is excel-lent, rich, and blackat least inareas where it hasnt been de-graded through carelessness ordestroyed by development.

Once the water situation wascontrolled, other industries en-tered the valley. In the shadowof the drained Big Pond, threelarge ice ponds were con-

structed right along the canal.And Walkers Run, which hadbeen channeled into the canal,was used as a water source forthe ice making operations. Intime, the ice houses and the ca-nal went bust, leaving behindthe footprints of building foun-dations and ice ponds and theshallow scars of miles of ditches.

But the farmers stayed. Everyfew decades, portions of theditching system in the Upper MillCreek Valley deteriorated, andareas around sites we know to-day as the Butler County Re-gional Airport and Gilmore Pondsexperienced massive floods. Thefarmers and property ownersrepaired the old ditches and dugnew ditches, or sometimes theycreated dikes in an effort tocontrol flooding by impoundingwater in particularly flood-proneand marshy areas. The dike sys-tem at Gilmore Ponds is a goodexample of this type of flood-control system. The last majorditch project in the area I knowof was dug around 1950 and canbe seen on the south side of theCanal dike at Gilmore Ponds.

The Upper Mill Creek Valley wasan industrial backwaterliterally

and figurativelyuntil the 1970swhen the first large industrialparks began to rise out of thefarm fields. Today, West Ches-ters portion of the valley is be-ing rapidly developed, and fromI-75 and Union Centre Boule-vard, all the way west up Sym-mes Road to Fairfield, new busi-ness and industrial parks openon a regular basis, and almostall the available undeveloped

land has someones build tosuit sign staked into the earth.There are even housing develop-ments and apartment complexessprouting up not far from theedge of the Mill Creek, land-scaped with oddly-colored artifi-cial streams and retentionponds, which are probably in-tended to serve functions that



the residents are not madeaware of. Though the residentialareas are always situated justshy of the various floodways andfloodplains, one wonders whatwill happen to the area should amajor flood occur.

Efforts have been made to se-cure land in this stretch of thevalley, and hundreds of acresalong the Mill Creek and Miami-Erie Canal corridor have been

purchased by the Port-Union toGilmore Ponds Conservation Cor-ridor group, but the farmlandsoutside the floodplains andfloodways are going for top dol-lar and they wont last for long.Its unsettling to see bulldozerscutting away hillsides, knockingdown trees holding red-tailedhawk nests, and then creating afew hundred yards away, new,carefully landscaped decorative

mounds using the earth of thehill they just destroyed. Still,there are many wild places inthe Upper Mill Creek Valley.From spotted sandpipers breed-ing among muskrat lodges at aUnion Centre construction site,to blooms of state-endangeredbeaked burhead at the WestChester Wetlands and GilmorePonds to sandhill cranes, shore-birds, and warblers that still use

the valley as a migration corri-dor, a lot of life remains in therapidly developing Upper MillCreek Valley. Hopefully, the ani-mals and plants that have longlived within or traveled throughthe valley will find a way to sur-vive. As in real estate, its all amatter of location, location, lo-cation.


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To:

For more information, contact:

Nancy Ellwood, Executive DirectorMill Creek Watershed Council

of CommunitiesOne North Commerce Park Drive

Suite 124Cincinnati, Ohio 45215

Phone: 513.563.8800Fax: 513.563.8810

E-mail address:[email protected].

Website: www.millcreekwatershed.org

Mill Creek Watershed Council of CommunitiesOne North Commerce Park Drive, Suite 124Cincinnati OH 45215

Spring 2005 Council Meeting

Thursday, July 28, 2005 2:00 p.m.City of Springdale Municipal Building

11700 Springfield Pike (Route 4), Springdale, Ohio

Meeting Topics:Local Funding for the Army Corps Mill Creek Flood Project

Mill Creek TMDL & Watershed Action PlansFundraising Efforts

This meeting is open to the public.

Mill Creek Watershed Council of Communities

Metropolitan Sewer Districtof Greater Cincinnati

CDM

Butler County, Ohio

2005 Platinum Members

City of SharonvilleFMSM Engineers, Inc.

General Mills

2005 Silver Members

2005 Gold Members

City of SpringdaleVillage of Evendale

XCG Consultants

spring 2005 voice of the mill creek newsletter, mill creek watershed council

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