The mission of the Meigs Soil and Water Conservation District is to provide assistance for the wise use of our natural resources for present and future generations.
Board of Supervisor Meetings
The Meigs Soil & Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors will hold their regular monthly board meetings at noon at the district office.
The office is located at 113 E. Memorial Drive, Suite D, Pomeroy.
Rest of year board dates
March 28th, 2024
April 25th, 2024
May 23rd, 2024
June 27th, 2024
July 25th, 2024
August 22nd, 2024
September 26th, 2024
October 24th, 2024
November 21st, 2024
December 5th, 2024
The Meigs Soil & Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors will hold their regular monthly board meetings at noon at the district office.
The office is located at 113 E. Memorial Drive, Suite D, Pomeroy.
Rest of year board dates
March 28th, 2024
April 25th, 2024
May 23rd, 2024
June 27th, 2024
July 25th, 2024
August 22nd, 2024
September 26th, 2024
October 24th, 2024
November 21st, 2024
December 5th, 2024
2024 Watershed Day Camp Registration is OPEN!
Camp will be June 11, 2024 9am to 4pm at the Meigs Conservation Area near Rutland.
Camp is for students 5th through 8th grades.
Camp is FREE for the first 50 participants!
Register before May 31st. Health form also need completed and submitted with registration.
Educator Workshop
presented by Athens and Meigs Soil and Water Conservation District
Wednesday May 29, 2024 at the Ohio Division of Wildlife District 4 office in Athens from 9am to 4pm.
Cost is $25 to cover the cost of Project Wet materials and light morning refreshments.
Participants will receive Project Wild/Aquatic Wild manuals for free and made possible by the Ohio Division of Wildlife.
Pre-registration is required.
Register at www.athensswcd.org
OPEN TO FORMAL AND IN-FORMAL EDUCATORS!
The Winter 2024 Meigs SWCD newsletter features:
Freeman named Technician of the year
SWCD bid farewell to litter project
Winter Application of manure in Ohio
Environmental Quality Incentive program update
Agronomy Update registration information
"Like" us on Facebook @ MeigsSWCD Conservation Area or Meigs Soil and Water Conservation District for the latest updates.
Freeman named Technician of the year
SWCD bid farewell to litter project
Winter Application of manure in Ohio
Environmental Quality Incentive program update
Agronomy Update registration information
"Like" us on Facebook @ MeigsSWCD Conservation Area or Meigs Soil and Water Conservation District for the latest updates.
Ohio Landowner/Hunter Access Partnership
The OLHAP program is funded from the USDA Voluntary Public Access – Habitat Improvement Program (VPA- HIP) and offers farmers and landowners financial compensation for allowing public hunting on private lands. The goal is to provide public access to over 20,000 acres of private land across the state of Ohio and habitat practices may also be financially incentivized through the program.
· OLHAP Users are required to:
You can also visit Ohio Landowner/Hunter Access Partnership Program | Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ohiodnr.gov)
The OLHAP program is funded from the USDA Voluntary Public Access – Habitat Improvement Program (VPA- HIP) and offers farmers and landowners financial compensation for allowing public hunting on private lands. The goal is to provide public access to over 20,000 acres of private land across the state of Ohio and habitat practices may also be financially incentivized through the program.
- Eligible landowners: Landowners with a significant amount of wildlife habitat established on their properties, and those enrolled in designated conservation programs, will be given preference. However, all landowners statewide will be eligible to apply for the OLHAP program.
- Agreement Duration: Agreements will be for public access until June 1, 2024.
- Access Payments: The OLHAP program will issue incentive payments to enrolled landowners on a per-acre basis for providing public access to lands they own. Annual payments will be
- Opportunities on Enrolled Properties: Public access will be granted through an online check-in system from September 1st to June 1st each year between the hours of 5:30am and 10:00pm. All hunting opportunities, except deer gun hunting, are permitted.
- Post and maintain accurate signage according to the OLHAP agreement.
- Maintain or increase current wildlife habitat on enrolled lands and throughout the agreement period.
- Maintain ownership and control throughout the agreement period.
· OLHAP Users are required to:
- Agree to hold landowners harmless for liability while on the property.
- Have an OLHAP Permit while on the property.
- Follow all the rules for the OLHAP Program.
- For More Information: Please contact 1-800-Wildlife or Dave Kohler at David.Kohler@dnr.ohio.gov
You can also visit Ohio Landowner/Hunter Access Partnership Program | Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ohiodnr.gov)
Help Save the Monarch Butterfly by Protecting Native Milkweed
The iconic monarch butterfly, which has long been a welcome sight in backyard gardens across Ohio, faces many threats. In Ohio, one way we can ensure future generations of monarch butterflies continue to visit flower gardens throughout our state is by protecting native milkweed plants.
Every year in the fall, monarch butterflies across the eastern U.S. and Canada begin a 3,000-mile-long journey down to wintering grounds in Mexico. In the spring, these same butterflies head back north, and delight us with their presence once again. However, this amazing journey would not be possible without milkweed, a group of plants critical to the survival of the monarch butterfly. As butterflies, monarchs can feed on the nectar of a number of different flowering plants, but as caterpillars, monarchs are entirely dependent on the availability of milkweed.
Monarch caterpillars hatch from eggs laid on milkweed plants and feed on the leaves of the plant as they grow. If these plants are mowed, removed, or sprayed with pesticides or herbicides, the caterpillars will not survive. Protecting these plants, especially during the egg-laying period from July through September, helps both monarch butterflies and caterpillars continue their life cycle and ultimately results in more monarch butterflies that can complete their journey to Mexico and back.
In the past, milkweed was viewed as a toxic weed. Today, we know that milkweed is a very important group of native plants that helps support many species of wildlife, including monarch butterflies. Learn more about ways you can help ensure these beautiful butterflies are around for generations to come by visiting the Monarch Joint Venture or the click on Save the Monarch for more information.
Honoring Meigs County’s agricultural roots
through ODA’s Century Farm Program
Meigs County is blessed with an agricultural heritage that has provided many historic, social and economic benefits to today’s citizens. Our early farm families laid the foundation for today’s food and agriculture industry - the no. 1 industry in the state - which adds $105 billion to our economy each year, according to Jenny Ridenour, program administrator for the Meigs Soil and Water Conservation District.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Century Farm program was established in 1993 as a way to honor our pioneering farm families, and the Bicentennial Farm program was added in 2013. More than 1,000 Ohio farms which have been in the same family for at least 100 years are now registered as Ohio Bicentennial or Century Farms.
The Meigs SWCD is proud to recognize four local farms registered as Ohio Century Farms: Arthur Nease, Racine (1833), Virgil Windon, Chester (1869), James Osborne, Reedsville (1872), and Windy Hill Farm, Pomeroy (1920).
Ridenour encourages Meigs County families who may qualify to learn more on the program website (www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/cent_farms/), or to contact Program Manager Cindy Shy at cindy.shy@agri.ohio.gov or 614-752-9817.
through ODA’s Century Farm Program
Meigs County is blessed with an agricultural heritage that has provided many historic, social and economic benefits to today’s citizens. Our early farm families laid the foundation for today’s food and agriculture industry - the no. 1 industry in the state - which adds $105 billion to our economy each year, according to Jenny Ridenour, program administrator for the Meigs Soil and Water Conservation District.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Century Farm program was established in 1993 as a way to honor our pioneering farm families, and the Bicentennial Farm program was added in 2013. More than 1,000 Ohio farms which have been in the same family for at least 100 years are now registered as Ohio Bicentennial or Century Farms.
The Meigs SWCD is proud to recognize four local farms registered as Ohio Century Farms: Arthur Nease, Racine (1833), Virgil Windon, Chester (1869), James Osborne, Reedsville (1872), and Windy Hill Farm, Pomeroy (1920).
Ridenour encourages Meigs County families who may qualify to learn more on the program website (www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/cent_farms/), or to contact Program Manager Cindy Shy at cindy.shy@agri.ohio.gov or 614-752-9817.