Buckeye Basins Newsletter: Fall-Winter
2006
Buckeye Basins is produced by the Ohio State University Extension, Watershed
Team. It is compiled quarterly for watershed coordinators, Extension
specialists, and natural resource professionals to include within their
newsletters, programs, or however they see fit. Please feel free to ask
questions, share ideas, or provide feedback.
In This Issue:
Hello and welcome to the fall edition of Buckeye Basins.
The leaves have fallen and there is a chill in the air. Now is a wonderful time to visit our nearby streams,
rivers and lakes to witness the change of seasons and take in the quiet beauty.
We at OSU Extension and our partners at over 100 community watershed organizations throughout the state continue to educate,
monitor, restore and protect our wonderful watersheds for future generations. If you are interested in joining a community
watershed group or perhaps finding out whether a community watershed group exists in your area please visit
http://www.ohiowatersheds.osu.edu. We hope you enjoy this issue of Buckeye Basins!
J.P. Lieser
OSU Extension – South Centers
Co - Editor – Buckeye Basins
Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Reflections on Watershed Leadership
From the Ohio Watershed Leaders Conference August 31, 2006, Camp Akita
By Joe Bonnell and Anne Baird, OSU Extension, Watersheds
What causes some individuals to become leaders in watershed protection, while the vast majority choose less demanding roles? What are the qualities that make for an effective leader in watershed protection? How do you find and encourage effective leaders?
We posed these questions to a panel of highly respected watershed leaders from the Friends of Alum Creek and Tributaries (Margaret Ann Samuels), the Delaware Soil and Water Conservation District (Ed Miller), and Ohio EPA (Hugh Trimble). The following is a summary of wisdom shared by our panelists and participants at the Ohio Watershed Leaders conference held at Camp Akita on August 31, 2006. We conclude the article with some suggested questions for self-reflection or recruiting watershed coordinators and board members with leadership potential.
Balancing roles: leader vs coordinator
Panelists and audience members noted that effective watershed leaders must be ahead of the pack at times, while at other times they are most effective working behind the scenes, coordinating and facilitating. Leading involves being out front, initiating change, and being the expert. Leading comes with risk, so effective watershed leaders need to have a tolerance for risk. Being on the forefront means that sometimes a leader will be held responsible when things don’t work out. Coordinating involves facilitating change, nurturing others’ dreams and ideas, adding value to group efforts and supporting others. Coordinating means sometimes a leader must step aside and allow others to take credit when good things happen. Coordinating also implies relinquishing control, which, for some, is one of the most challenging aspects of leadership.
In the end it’s about people
Panelists and participants frequently came back to the idea that, in the end, what matters is the people. Getting to know who the key individuals in a community are and their interests is an important first step for any leader. Next, a leader must find out these key individuals dreams and passions and help them make a connection with the watershed initiative. Effective leaders spend much of their time listening to stakeholders and residents so that when they speak, they can speak directly to the interests and concerns they have heard. One common denominator of all successful watershed leaders is their ability to create and utilize networks of individuals and organizations to address shared interests and concerns.
Be good to yourself
Good leaders are often thought of as being selfless and sacrificing. But one of the themes that arose from our discussion was that effective leaders take care of themselves and set aside time to develop their knowledge and skills. Dr. Steven Covey, in his groundbreaking book "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" calls this attention to self-growth "sharpening the saw". Several people mentioned on-the-job training as the primary way they developed leadership skills. You can enhance that process by intentionally seeking out mentors with skills that you admire and want to develop.
Taking risks
Effective watershed leaders know their limitations but have the courage to go beyond those limitations when necessary. On one hand, effective leadership sometimes means setting limits and being able to say ‘no’. On the other hand, effective leaders must also be willing to step outside their comfort zones and risk failure or embarrassment. For example, Ed Miller, Watershed Coordinator with the Delaware Soil and Water Conservation District, realized early on in his job that he couldn’t wait for key stakeholders in his watershed to approach him about water quality issues. Going against his familiar way of doing business, Ed started calling up potential collaborators to introduce himself and learn about their issues and concerns. Taking risks sometimes means taking action when outcomes are uncertain. Participants expressed the importance of being able to grapple with these risks and uncertainties and still move forward. The grappling involves being able to initiate corrections, build in safety nets, and forgive yourself and others for things that don’t go as planned.
Time management
The demands of watershed leaders can be overwhelming. Panelists and participants offered several suggestions for leaders dealing with too many demands on their time. A detailed work plan works for some, but everyone agreed that an effective work plan must allow for time to deal with unexpected crises and opportunities. Effective leaders are able to focus on long-term goals, but remain responsive to changing conditions. Participants described the importance of being able to “sift out the noise” and to set and keep priorities. But participants also recommended scheduling time for daydreaming and contemplation. After all, effective leadership often begins with creative and innovative thinking, which doesn’t often happen when one’s nose is pressed firmly to the grindstone.
So, how can you apply these lessons on leadership? Below, we offer some questions that you can use as a leadership self-assessment tool or as a starting point for interviewing watershed coordinator candidates or Board of Director candidates that might give you insight into hidden leadership qualities:
- Think of a time when you felt most like a leader? What were the qualities that made you an effective leader?
- What is your leadership style? Are you more likely to create a vision for others to follow or to involve others in creating a shared vision?
- When a group project gets off track, are you more likely to step up and do it yourself, or rally the troops and delegate tasks?
- If you found yourself in an elevator with a key stakeholder and you had thirty seconds to make a connection with them. What would you say?
- Tell us about a project you were involved in that required you to involve others. What was most challenging? What was most rewarding? What did you learn about yourself?
- Steven Covey talks about “sharpening the saw” as a key habit of effective leaders. How do you keep your “saw” sharpened?
- Watershed work can be very demanding and the opportunities for involvement can be overwhelming. What will you do to avoid becoming overwhelmed as a [watershed coordinator/Board member]?
- Watershed work often means making decisions with incomplete knowledge. Think of a time when you had to make a difficult decision with uncertain consequences. How did you handle making that decision? What did you learn about your relationship to risk?
- Watershed work often requires developing new relationships and working with difficult people. What do you feel are your strengths in building relationships? What are your weaknesses?
- Sooner or later, everyone is confronted with having more things to accomplish than time permits. How have you handled these situations in the past? How has your approach changed over time?
- Watershed work often involves working toward long-term goals but also requires addressing immediate crises and opportunities. Under these circumstances, how would you go about prioritizing responsibilities?
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THE OHIO BREEDING BIRD ATLAS II:
Put the Nesting Birds of Your Property on the Map!
By Aaron Boone and Paul Rodewald
School of Environment & Natural Resources, OSU
From rural woodlots and farmlands to scattered wetland patches, Ohio boasts a wide variety of birds in summer that nest and raise their young. In fact, approximately 180 species of birds nest in Ohio each year!! This relatively high diversity of breeding birds can be attributed to the wide variety of habitats that occur throughout the state. Over the next 5 years (2006-2010), this incredible variety of birds will be documented in all habitat types across Ohio with the Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas II, a project coordinated by The Ohio State University and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources-Division of Wildlife.
Ohio’s first breeding bird atlas was conducted from 1982-1987 under the direction of Bruce Peterjohn and Daniel Rice, and culminated in the publication of The Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas in 1991. This book detailed the natural history of each bird species and displayed valuable maps of each species’ breeding distribution in Ohio (see http://www.ohiobirds.org/obba2/pdfs/pdfselect.php for an electronic version of this volume). In 2006, Ohio joined the ranks of several other states by initiating its second breeding bird atlas.
Simply put, a breeding bird atlas is a grid-based survey that documents the status and distribution of all bird species that breed within a given area. Ohio has been divided into 4,437 blocks, each equaling approximately 10 square miles. Since most of Ohio’s birds nest in the spring and summer, project volunteers will survey atlas blocks from late-April through August and compile a list of nesting bird species for each block. This new information will be used to revise the current knowledge of Ohio’s breeding birds and create new maps of each species’ distribution.
Surveying the birds in each atlas block will require a substantial amount of effort, and the success of Ohio’s second breeding bird atlas will strongly depend on the dedicated efforts of hundreds of individuals who will form a statewide network of atlas participants and contributors. As one of Ohio’s private landowners or land managers, you can play a key role in the new Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas II. The cooperation of private landowners is especially important in this project because nearly 95% of Ohio’s lands (and 87% of Ohio’s woodlands) are privately owned.
Have you ever wondered what birds might be nesting on your property? Now is the perfect time to find out! At the same time, you’ll have the opportunity to help the Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas II accomplish its goal of putting Ohio’s breeding birds on the map! If you are interested in compiling a list of the breeding bird species that use your property and nearby areas, we would be more than happy to provide you with all the information needed to participate in this project. We can also arrange to have an atlas volunteer document breeding birds on your property or show you how it’s done.
The Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas II offers everyone an exciting way to learn about Ohio’s rich natural heritage while encouraging participants to explore more of Ohio’s beautiful landscapes. Anyone can participate and submitting observations of breeding birds is easy. Even if you have only a casual interest in birds, we need your help! Contact us todaywe look forward to working with you in this new project!
If you are interested in participating or coordinating your property survey with another atlas volunteer, please contact us. We can be reached by phone at (614) 247-6458 or by email at boone.70@osu.edu. All other inquiries can be directed to: Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas II, c/o Aaron Boone, School of Environment & Natural Resources, 210 Kottman Hall, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210-1085. In addition, visit our website (http://www.ohiobirds.org/obba2/), which contains a wealth of information about the Atlas.
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The Making of an Ohio Watershed Coordinator Forum
By Lynn Garrity, Cuyahoga SWCD
Ohio watershed coordinators work on a variety of water quality issues and thus possess diverse skills and experiences. To take advantage of this a forum has been established to share ideas among coordinators, foster support for each other, and to strengthen the local efforts that each coordinator performs. The Forum, formed by Coordinators for Coordinators, provides an opportunity to share the many success stories conducted by the coordinators as they build local capacity for watershed stewardship.
The Forum was initiated as a result of a 2005 OWLS Coordinator meeting session. In 2006, three forums were conducted. During the first forum, organizational goals were developed and a format established. At the second forum, the Miami Conservancy trading program was presented and State Representative Tony Core attended to discuss coordination with state legislators. The third forum provided an opportunity for coordinators to share information about their projects organizational and funding structures.
A listserve for coordinators and a website have been established and the launching of the Forum’s first newsletter will be available by the end of 2006. Stay tuned as Ohio Watershed Coordinators work together across the state to serve their local watersheds.
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The Newly Formed Western Lake Erie Basin Partnership
By Robert McCall, OSU Extension, Watershed Educator
OSU Extension’s involvement in the Statewide Watershed Initiative, a collaboration with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and many local communities, has been ongoing for the past several years. Now another watershed initiative in Northwest Ohio has formed which includes the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), US Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) and US Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur in collaboration with local watershed stakeholders.
NRCS’s role is to conduct a rapid assessment of nine 8-digit hydrologic units in the Western Lake Erie Basin. These assessment reports will provide several GIS maps and data regarding the condition of the watershed on a larger scale. For more information on NRCS’s plans for assessing other watersheds within the Maumee Basin go to http://www.oh.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/erie_basin/erie_basin_project.html.
The US Army Corp of Engineer’s role is to collaborate with OSU Extension and agencies that work with local stakeholders to identify documented existing conditions that have potential solutions that could be implemented. For more on the development of this process and the WLEBP go to http://www.lrb.usace.army.mil/missions/wleb/index.html.
Currently, the Western Lake Erie Basin Partnership is gathering information on the Blanchard River Watershed that will be compiled in a report for Congresswoman Kaptur. Other 8-digit hydrologic units that will be assessed in the future include the St. Mary’s, Auglaize, Portage, Upper Maumee, Lower Maumee, Tiffin, St. Joseph and the Ottawa River Watersheds. Counties within those watersheds are identified on a map that can be viewed at the NRCS web site listed above.
The USACE’s reports on the Western Lake Erie Basin watersheds focus on five areas including; flooding, navigation, recreation, water quality and fish and wildlife habitat. While this process is different than other watershed planning models, it is similar to and compliments existing efforts of the Statewide Watershed Initiative, OSU Extension’s Community Based Watershed Planning and the Lake Erie Commission’s Balanced Growth Initiative.
If you have local knowledge of impaired areas that fall within the Western Basin and wish to start a local planning effort feel free to contact Robert McCall, Watershed Educator, at the Extension Center at Lima at 419-422-6106 or email at mccall.57@osu.edu.
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Duck Creek Watershed Project Hires New Coordinator
By J.P. Lieser, OSU Extension, Watershed Educator
The Duck Creek Watershed Project has hired Tim Holbert as their new Coordinator. Tim grew up on his family farm a few miles outside of Barlow in Washington County, Ohio. Tim said, “We raise a few cattle but my main interest is Club Lambs”. He earned a BS in Agriculture from Ohio State University in 2006 and has worked for NRCS as a WAE Soil Conservation Technician.
The main water quality issue Tim faces in Duck Creek, which flows through Noble and Washington Counties, is sedimentation. He understands the importance of getting the local community involved to tackle sedimentation as well as the challenge to get stakeholders to participate. Please, welcome Tim to his new position. His contact information is below.
Tim Holbert
Duck Creek Watershed Coordinator
Washington SWCD
21330 St. Rt. 676, Suite E
Marietta, OH 45750
(740) 373-4857 ext. 243
Tim.Holbert@oh.nacdnet.net
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Interpretive Sign Project Completed in the Sunday Creek Watershed
Two interpretive watershed education signs were dedicated at the Little Cities of the Forest Day held at Miller High School on October 15th. The signs were installed by Miller High’s Vocational Agriculture and Natural Resources class. Instructor Dana White stated "these signs are really beautiful and nicely frame the entrance to our school’s 80 acre land lab." OSU Extension Watershed Educator Jerry Iles managed the sign project from concept to installation. "These signs were my idea, Iles said, but I needed great partners like Dana White, Dan Imhoff, Kaabe Shaw, Emily Boyer, and a host of VISTA volunteers provided by Rural Action, to bring the idea to fruition."
One of the educational signs illustrates the anatomy of a stream ecosystem. The other focuses on streams degraded by acid mine drainage (AMD) that is produced from abandoned surface and underground coal mines. The signs are located on school grounds next to the AMD polluted West Branch of Sunday Creek. Iles stated, "My hope is that these signs not only educate about the creek’s current condition but that they also inform the viewer that the Sunday Creek watershed partners are working toward watershed restoration and water quality improvement. It would be great if these signs help foster some hope that this creek will recover."
The Little Cities of the Forest day, in its twelfth year, was created to tell the story of the Hocking Valley Coal Regions boom to bust coal era. Also, it provides an opportunity to share coals legacy in the region. This year’s event featured many local forest related activities, tourism businesses and state and federal agencies. The day long event, sponsored in part with support from the Ohio Environmental Education Fund, was attended by over 350 people. For more information contact http://www.littlecitiesofblackdiamonds.org.
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Ohio Receives Nearly $350,000 for Watershed Projects
By Dana Oleskiewicz, OSU Extension, Watershed Educator
Nine Ohio watershed partnerships have been awarded funds for watershed initiatives through the Great Lakes Basin Program for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control managed by the Great Lakes Commission. These projects will bring close to $350,000 into Ohio towards efforts to reduce nutrient and sediment loading to the waters of Lake Erie.
Four demonstration projects with planned educational outreach were funded; 1) to establish a retention pond in the Powers Brook watershed of Summit County ($32,370), 2) to show farmers the technique of planting grass winter cover crops after soybeans in the Sandusky River basin ($36,822), 3) to test different tillage methods in Erie and Huron Counties ($74,868), and 4) to demonstrate a straw mulcher for seeding ditch construction projects ($29,265).
On-the-ground stream bank stabilization projects were also awarded money in two locations, Sugar Creek ($75,000) of the Ottawa River watershed and West Creek ($70,500) near Cleveland. Educational efforts that were funded include; 1) expanded capabilities for the Conservation Tillage Conference held annually since 1987 ($10,000), 2) additional public outreach for the Lake Erie CREP Program ($10,275), and finally 3) workshops and a website to educate on the effectiveness of raingardens as a stormwater management tool in Summit County ($8,160).
Congratulations to the grant award recipients! For more information, visit http://glc.org/basin/pubs/keeping/pdf/0802.pdf.
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Contact Buckeye Basins:
J.P. Lieser (Editor)
OSU Extension, East District
16714 SR 215
Caldwell, OH 43724
(740) 732-2381 fax (740) 732-5992
lieser8@ag.osu.edu
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