A Conversation with MillerCoors Grant Finalist - Butler Soil & Water Conservation District

In the early 1940s, residents of Butler County, Ohio who were concerned about local soil and water resource protection petitioned to organize a local Soil and Water Conservation District and, in May of 1942, the Butler SWCD was established. Conservation programs and practices from Soil & Water Districts are vital components for enhancing and protecting local economies, food resources, education and the environment

Q&A with Butler Soil and Water Conservation District

RN: How does your proposed project complement your organization’s mission?

BSWCD: Butler SWCD’s mission is to promote the conservation, restoration, and wise use of our natural resources through technical assistance and education. This project encompasses everything from Agricultural to urban interests, storm water to ground water, natural systems vs. constructed systems, public and private interests, and much more. We have been involved all along to provide our technical assistance and think this is a perfect partnership with Edgewood City Schools to promote education and outreach of our natural resources to not only the students in the school, but the public as well as our partners in the county, region and state.

RN: How will your proposed project make an impact on water and agriculture quality, conservation and/or public education in your community?

BSWCD: This project is an innovative collaboration to ensure the development is a success for both the land users and the natural resources involved. Located at an agricultural and urban development interface will be a constructed land lab to bio-remediate storm water run off before it infiltrates into the Great Miami River Buried Valley Aquifer on the new School’s site.

Our project receives 200 acres of cropland and livestock agricultural production storm water run off bio-remediate through vernal pools, meanders and plug plantings before entering an infiltration basin where the water percolates down into our Great Miami River Buried Valley Aquifer. This aquifer feeds two major water suppliers well heads with ground water for public use and industry. This will all be constructed on the site of the New Edgewood High School where it will be used in science classes, and other high school curriculums. It will also serve as a model for our community, county, region and the state to everyone from residents to engineers to public officials.

RN: Why are local watershed protection programs like yours so important?

BSWCD: Being a locally led special District subdivision of the State of Ohio we have intertwined ourselves into the development process and review to look at natural resource concerns in our county that no other agency looks at to the detail we do for Butler County. This set up also enables us to work on special projects and programs to better serve our natural resources that utility or permit type agencies normally do not have the flexibility to focus resources and time.

RN: What do you believe are the biggest problems facing American rivers and watersheds?

BSWCD: Disconnect! We all used to play outside. We played in streams, creeks and along the river banks finding “critters”, skipping rocks, all while growing our appreciation and affinity for natural resources and water courses. Now with safety and health concerns and ultimately an over stimulated society the only way we can connect with these water courses and watersheds is through TV, video games, website, and amusement parks. On many different levels kids and adults need to “play” outside!!

RN: Thanks for all you are doing to protect and restore water quality in Ohio.

View project summaries from the MillerCoors-River Network Watershed Protection Grant competition and cast your vote today!