In the last few years we have experienced record rainfall events. While rainfall (otherwise known as stormwater) is a natural occurrence, unfortunately our environment is not always in a “natural” state. In other words, we have developed areas such as roads, sidewalks, roof tops, parking lots and other impervious surfaces where stormwater does not have a chance to soak down into our soil. This stormwater becomes runoff and picks up pollutants from our lawns and streets (examples - vehicle emissions, oil residue, grass clippings, pesticides, leaves, and pet waste) and enters our lakes and streams by way of storm drains thus causing water pollution and impairments within our local bodies of water.

Stormwater runoff is the number one threat to our water quality according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. How can we help? Below are some simple management ideas that could be implemented within the landscape to help store and clean some of this stormwater thus lessening the amount of water entering our stormwater sewer systems. 

Utilizing Rain Barrels
Rain barrels connect to downspouts to collect rain water. The collected water can then be used to water gardens, and be used as grey water for washing outdoor items.  Water collected from rain barrels is not for human consumption, however.  Some of the other benefits of rain barrels include:

• Safely and efficiently reducing water use and water bills.
• Protecting our local water ways by reducing the amount of rain that enters drains during major storms.
• Potentially improving plant health because stormwater does not contain chlorine as municipal water sources do.
• Using less water in our yard conserving limited freshwater resources in the future.

Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District will be offering a free online webinar on Tuesday, June 23 @ 2pm.   Register for this event at https://www.warrenswcd.com/rain-barrel-webinar.html

Creating a Rain Garden
Rain gardens are a unique feature that can be added to the landscape and is disguised as a flower garden. They have many benefits that include: providing wildlife habitat, providing nectar and pollen sources for pollinators, transforming rainfall runoff into a resource rather than a nuisance, and improving storm water quality as it is infiltrated and redistributed through soils.

Rain gardens are purposefully located to maximize the amount of stormwater runoff that flows into the garden rather than off the property. It is important to note that it is not just a garden bed. Garden size, depth, slope, soil amendments and drainage all need to be considered before putting a shovel into the ground.
Plants that thrive in your landscape and in southwest Ohio should be considered. Native plants are good choices because they tend to offer more benefits to pollinators and have better survivability in native soils.

To help prepare your rain garden’s site, check out the following resources:

• Central Ohio Rain Gardens - http://www.centralohioraingardens.org/
• Blue Thumb Planting for Clean Water - https://bluethumb.org/raingardens/
• Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District - https://www.warrenswcd.com/rain-gardens.html

For more detailed information on building a rain garden, Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District will be offering a free online webinar on Tuesday, July 28 @ 12pm. Register for this event at https://www.warrenswcd.com/operation-rain-garden.html
Before putting any of these water management strategies into place, please check local ordinances to make sure you understand what is allowable. For more questions regarding rain barrels and rain gardens, contact us!  513-695-1337.

Simple, small changes in our everyday lives can make large impacts on the environment. With the approach of cold winter weather, some of these changes can also make a big impact on your economic savings! Here are a few conservation and energy saving tips for this winter:

Properly plug drafty leaks Conserve energy and money by weather-stripping and caulking air leaks in windows and around doors. Reducing drafts in a home greatly reduces energy use and cost which is good for your wallet and the environment! 

Choose a safe De-Icer  Shoveling your snow into areas that are level and able to absorb the water once the snow has melted decreases ice build up, and allows potential pollutants from roadways and driveways to be filtered out by plants before reaching our streams. If salting is necessary for safety, remember that chemical de-icing salts that wash off of impermeable surfaces run into our local streams where is it harmful to the fish and other aquatic life. Sweep up excess salt and dispose of properly. An alternative to conventional de-icing salt is to purchase de-icer made from calcium magnesium acetate (CMA), potassium chloride (KCl), or calcium chloride (CaCl2). These are non-toxic de-icing products that do not have the same negative impact on the environment.

Recycle Your Old Christmas Lights  As we decorate our homes, some of us may have found we have a few strands of lights that no longer twinkle. Instead of trashing them, recycle them. Find a drop off location here.

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​Zero Waste Gifts  Instead of giving items that also come with lots of packaging for all of your gifts, consider giving the gift of amazing experiences! These gifts create memories that last a lifetime in our hearts, and not a lifetime in the landfill.

Reusable Bags For your holiday gifts that do require wrapping, use reusable bags and cloth  packaging. This includes buying those yummy holiday foods. When you hit the grocery, remember to bring along your reusable bags! During our stream cleanups we always find plastic bags caught up in the stream or wrapped around trees. By using reusable bags, you are reducing the number of plastic bags in our landfills and in our environment.​​

Buy Local, Seasonal Produce Season-appropriate produce requires less energy for transport, is less expensive and often tastes better than out of season produce which must be shipped long distances. According to the Ohio Farm Bureau, late autumn produce includes apples, beets, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, cilantro, corn, grapes (table), kale, onions, parsnips, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, spinach, squash, tomatoes, turnips, and watermelons. There is a little something for everyone!

​So stay savvy and sustainable this winter season!

...and we must leave it for our children in (hopefully) a better state than it was when we borrowed it.  Yet in a sense, maybe the world is somewhat "given by our fathers", like a gift we are preparing to leave the next generation.  And as the blustery winds of winter start to arrive, the holiday season presents a perfect opportunity to act on that sentiment.  Many of us our busy decorating and prepping for the various celebrations that occur this time of year.  The holiday season fosters much reflection and connection to those around us, and is a wonderful opportunity to share moments and memories.  While we ready our homes for this special time of year, WCSWCD wishes to encourage folks to keep our natural world in mind and take steps to reduce waste and negative environmental impacts.

There are many eco-friendly ideas for gearing up for the holidays! Here in our office, we are turning the below items into festive decor and ornaments!

Here are some ideas and resources that we are using, and we want to share them for others to try as well!

3-D Snowflake or Star:
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-3D-Paper-Snowflake

https://www.greenmoxie.com/31-diy-christmas-trees-made-from-recycled-materials/
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Recycled Single-Serve Coffee Maker Cup Christmas Bell Ornament http://www.glimmercreations.com/2014/11/recycled-single-serve-coffee-maker-cup.html
 
Recycled Paper/Book Pages Decorations and Ornaments
http://lorajeansmagazine.blogspot.com/2008/04/paper-bag-flower-from-scratch.html
https://www.sassabyparties.com/blog/21-diy-paper-christmas-ornaments-decorations
 
Recycled Jar Lids for Holiday Ornaments
https://www.debbie-debbiedoos.com/recycled-jar-lids-christmas-ornaments/
 
Tin Can Pull-top Ornament
https://www.thriftyfun.com/Tin-Can-Pull-top-Ornament.html
 
Recycled DIY Holiday Crafts
http://www.architectureartdesigns.com/30-cute-recycled-diy-christmas-crafts/

https://www.goingzerowaste.com/blog/2015/11/28/a-zero-waste-christmas
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Winter weather is here, so we would like to share some ways to enjoy the snow and protect the environment all at the same time! Consider these friendly tips for weathering the winter while staying conservation minded.

Reusable Bags
While you are out purchasing your holiday gifts and groceries, remember to bring along your reusable bags! During our stream cleanups we always find plastic bags caught up in the stream or wrapped around trees. By using reusable bags, you are reducing the number of plastic bags in our landfills and in our environment.

Tree Recycling
If you have a natural Christmas tree this year, please consider recycling or reusing your tree instead of sending it to a landfill. Warren County has a number of drop-off points where you can take your tree to be composted. Click here to visit the Warren County Solid Waste District site for a list of locations.

Ice and Snow
To avoid ice buildup, try to remove snow from hard surfaces before it becomes compacted into ice. Shovel your snow into areas that are level and able to absorb the water once the snow has melted. This allows potential pollutants from roadways and driveways to be filtered out by plants before reaching our streams.

Putting salt on walkways, driveways and sidewalks helps to keep everyone safe from ice. However, keep in mind that the salt only works when pavement temperatures are 20 degrees or higher. This means the product won’t melt snow and ice during extreme cold temperatures. Also, more salt doesn’t mean it will work better. Make sure to follow proper application guidelines when using the product. 

If you still have piles of salt on your hard surfaces after the snow and ice clears, make sure to sweep up and dispose of the extra salt that didn’t get used. If salt isn’t cleaned up, rain or snow melt will carry the salt to our local streams where is it harmful to the fish and other aquatic life.

Our furry friends seem to have it all figured out.  They weather the winter quite well.  They happily scurry and play in the snow and enjoy the food they have worked hard to collect all year long.  We can do the same!  We can enjoy this winter weather and protect our environment all at the same time in turn securing it for future generations of wildlife and mankind. Here are  few tips for weathering the winter while staying conservation minded...

• Consider using non-toxic de-icing substances such as clean clay cat litter, sand, or fireplace/stove ash to prevent hazardous waste from chemicals. Chemical de-icers can be hazardous to your pets, your trees and shrubs, and the environment. Antifreeze that leak from car engines and chemical snow melters on driveways, roads, and runways can pollute surface waters and groundwater through the soil.

• Winterize your vehicle by checking your air filter and fluid levels, checking tires for tread wear and proper inflation, and checking the condition of your windshield wipers. Ensuring your vehicle is ready for weather changes will reduce damage, which prevents waste from broken parts, and will keep you safe on the road.

• If you have a wood-burning fireplace, save your ashes in a tin instead of throwing them away. Cold wood ashes can be mixed in your compost heap to create a valuable soil amendment that provides nutrients to your garden.

• Use electric snow removal products rather than gasoline-powered ones. While electric products consume energy, they do not emit greenhouse gases. As alternatives, use snow shovels, ice crackers, and brooms to clear snow from your sidewalk, porch, or driveway.

• If you have a manual thermostat or no thermostat at all, one way to save energy and money this winter is to install a programmable thermostat. When installed and used with the four pre-programmed temperature settings for weekend and weekdays, you can save about $100 each year while staying comfortable. Before leaving for vacation, turn down your thermostat (or use a programmable one) so that you don't waste natural resources by generating unneeded heat. You can also buy outdoor and indoor lights with timers so that lights don't stay on all night.

• Close the recycling loop. Many articles of clothing, such as jackets, scarves, gloves, and boots, are now made from recycled materials. Most fleece products are made from recycled plastic soda bottles, and certain clothing and shoe manufacturers use recycled cotton scraps and rubber tires to make their products.

• Winter storms often cause power outages. Prevent waste by keeping rechargeable batteries rather than disposable ones stored throughout your house with your flashlights. If you do use disposable batteries, prevent hazardous waste by buying batteries with low mercury content.

• Recycle old newspapers by making rolled paper logs for your fireplace. Roll newspaper sheets around a broom stick until your log is the desired size, then soak your log thoroughly in water. Dry the log overnight and use like ordinary wood. Always follow proper safety precautions when burning anything around your home.

• To make sure your heating system (boiler, furnace or heat pump) is operating at its most efficient, it is a good idea to have a contractor perform a routine check-up and any necessary maintenance on the equipment before freezing weather drives up your energy bill.

• If your heating equipment more than ten years old, it may be time for a replacement to a more energy-efficient unit. While initially an expensive investment, replacing old equipment with ENERGY STAR qualified equipment saves more energy and money in the long run.

Read more winter tips from the United States Environmetal Protection Agency HERE.