For this article we will look at the misunderstood muskrat; what risks they pose and some strategies to discourage them from taking up residence. This information should be useful for HOA’s, private pond owners, or pond designers.
Stormwater ponds are inviting features for wildlife including the muskrat. The adult muskrat is usually from 18” to 24” in length including their tail. This rodent is dark tan to reddish brown in color. With their webbed back feet and a laterally flattened rudder like tail, they are well adapted to life in the water. 

The muskrat’s mouth also has some interesting adaptations. The teeth sharpen against each other and are well suited for gnawing and cutting vegetation like cattails. The mouth is valvular, so they close their lips behind their teeth and gnaw submerged vegetation without taking in water. They can stay underwater for as long as 20 minutes.   
Muskrats are most active at night, but you can see signs of them during the day. They will often burrow holes under the water surface. The holes will connect to bank dens and chambers. They also use vegetation to build huts.

While these activities are good for creating wildlife habitat and for clearing vegetation, they can cause problems in man-made ponds. Damage caused by muskrats is primarily due to their burrowing habits. One problem resulting from their burrowing includes the creation of soft areas in the bank that can collapse. They can also compromise dam walls leading to dewatering of the pond.
Prevention can be the best method to limit damage caused by muskrats. The dam should be built at a 3 to 1 slope with the outer face of the dam having a 2 to 1 slope. The dam should have a top width of at least 10 feet. Walking the bank of the pond or basin, look for the burrows and other signs of them. Riprap applied along the bank and extending underwater can help discourage burrowing. Removing their food source, cattails, can deprive them of a favorite food source and encourage them to move on. If all else fails, you can hire a wildlife management company to trap and remove them. Traps will need to be checked daily making this option expensive. Prevention is likely the most cost-effective management strategy for muskrats.

Article written by Travis Luncan, Urban Technician

References
Montana’s Official State Website, Montana Field Guide. Common Muskrat- Ondatra zibethicus https://fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=AMAFF15010 

Weather conditions can be dangerous at this time of year. Flooding can happen as late winter and early spring bring increased precipitation. Rain-on-snow events can be particularly devastating. Accumulated snow on the ground is like a bank of stormwater just waiting to be unleashed. Warm rain events will melt the accumulated snow and cause a large amount of water to run off the surface, especially if the ground is still frozen and water can’t soak in. With this sudden release of combined rainwater and snowmelt, you can expect certain areas to flood. Low-lying areas next to streams, storm sewers, and low spots in your yard can become inundated.

Ohio has a particularly fraught history of flooding. The Great Flood of 1913 caused widespread destruction and loss of life in the Miami Valley region. Around 428 people died, around 65,000 people were left homeless, and over 20,000 buildings and homes were destroyed. The Miami Conservancy District (MCD) was established after the flood, and they established the Flood Protection System. This system resulted in dams and levees being constructed along the Great Miami River. Flood plains adjacent to the Great Miami River were also placed into a conservation easement, keeping development outside of the flood plain to let the spongy floodplains do what they do best, store flood waters. Check out their website here for more history and the work they do with flood protection. The MCD also has a free, online flipbook of historic photos titled: “A Flood of Memories: Images from the 1913 Flood and Today.” which can be viewed here.

The flood of 1937, known as “Black Sunday”, saw the same amount of rain that fell during the 1913 Great Flood, with the rainfall spread out over twelve days rather than five. The MCD dams and levees that were built after the 1913 flood operated as designed, but there was still massive flooding in the Ohio River and Cincinnati was hit hard. PBS recounts the 1937 flood with a documentary which can be viewed here. This flood ravaged the city. Around 350 people died, and millions were left homeless in the tri-state area. After the rain fell, temperatures dropped, and six inches of snow fell. As the flooded city froze, frost-heaved gas pipes and soaked coal piles failed to provide much-needed heating to residents. This flood gained national attention which led to more flood control guidelines.

The Army Corps of Engineers eventually built flood-mitigating parks along the river front to help with flood control. Today, the stadiums and The Banks district along the riverfront are elevated above the 1937 flood line by sitting atop parking garages that act as sponges by storing water during floods.

Today, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides guidance on flooding. This past year, FEMA updated their flood maps as flood zones can change over time. They notified residents by mail if they were affected by this change. Check out this FEMA flood zone map to determine if you are in an area prone to flooding.
Even if you are just outside of a flood zone, it might be a good idea to purchase flood insurance, just in case. Meteorologists have recorded rainfall amounts since the 1800s in the U.S. and are reporting changes in rainfall patterns over the past few decades. Rain events are increasing in frequency and severity due to climate change. It is raining more often, and more rain is falling in a shorter amount of time, leading to flash flood type rain events. Areas that didn’t flood before might be prone to flooding now.

Are you in a flood zone and want to build a structure? You may need a flood permit to do that. Warren County SWCD houses the County's Floodplain Administrator. If you are considering a construction project (house, shed, barn, fence, septic, pool, or even a grading only project) and are unsure if you need a Flood Permit, please visit our website here to submit a Floodplain Determination Request Form. We can also help potential buyers if flood insurance will be required at a property that they are looking to purchase. 
With tax season upon us, I remember when Benjamin Franklin said: “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes”. But maybe a third thing can be true, Ohio Floods. Driving conditions can be dangerous this time of year, with ice and flooding out there. Check out the National Weather Service Radar here so you can plan ahead and be prepared. When in doubt, turn around, don’t drown!

Article by Urban Specialist Justin Bedocs

Pet Waste Management
 
Does your pet poop? Of course he does! Do you always pick it up? We hope you do! This month, we talk about how pet waste negatively impacts the quality of our public health/local waters and what you can do to help.
 
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, pet waste is a leading source of nutrient and bacteria pollution in urban streams and waterways. Scruffy might be cute and cuddly but his poop spreads zoonotic diseases (transmissible to humans) with ingredients like E. Coli, Giardia, Salmonella, Roundworms, Tapeworms, and more. When it rains, pet waste contaminates storm water which eventually makes its way to your local creek or lake. Considering that more than half of Ohio’s residents get their drinking water from surface water sources, it’s important to keep our water as clean as possible. Have you ever noticed your neighborhood pond or retention basin filled with algae? Decomposing pet waste also pollutes water with excess nutrients, causing algae to bloom out of control and harm other aquatic life.
 
Some communities in Warren County have pet waste management ordinances. For example, the City of Lebanon considers a violation of §505.08 Removal of Dog Excrement (Ord. 6569) a minor misdemeanor and can fine up to $150.
 
Can pet waste be used as fertilizer?
 
Dog poo in its raw form is NOT a fertilizer. Due to a high-protein diet, dog poop is acidic and will kill your lawn and plants. However, a 2005 study by the USDA and Fairbanks Soil & Water Conservation District found that dog waste from healthy individuals is a safe mulch or soil additive for landscaping (NOT for human consumption) when composted properly. The process involves mixing waste with carbon-rich materials, paying attention to air flow and moisture, and maintaining a temperature of at least 145°F for several days. Please note- “Cats may carry parasites that are harmful to human fetuses. We do not recommend adding cat waste or cat litter to your compost.”
 
Pro-Tips

• Repurpose plastic shopping bags or newspaper sleeves for poo bags.
• Hire a pet waste pick up service.
• Install an in-ground pet waste digester.
• For HOAs and residential communities:
  • Install and maintain pet waste station(s).
  • Utilize a DNA-testing waste management program.

Thanks for being a responsible pet owner!

We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but the end of summer is quickly approaching.
While that means pumpkin spiced lattes, football, and changing leaves are all around the corner, it might also mean you are thinking about closing your pool for the season. 
There are several things you should consider when preparing for the end of the season to help protect the natural resources and infrastructure in your area.

Draining Pool Water 101
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1. Make Sure Pool Water is Chemical-Free Before Draining 

Let pool water stand for a week (7 days) without adding any additional chemicals. This allows for chlorine to dissipate from the water. The pH range should be between 6.5 and 8.0 and residual chlorine/bromine needs to be less than 1.0 mg/l (ppm) before discharging. You can use a home test kit or strips to verify levels. Before draining, also clear as much sediment, debris, leaves, etc. from the pool water as you can.

Note: Any pool chemicals, pool filter backwash, and saltwater pool discharges are prohibited from being discharged in stormwater systems and drainage channels leading to steams. Water that is conveyed through stormwater systems is not treated prior to being discharged into natural waterways. 

2. Be Mindful of Where You are Draining

Once pool water is free of all chemicals, the water should be discharged over landscaped area, lawns, or woods. These areas soak up water better than bare soils and helps to prevent erosion and sediment runoff. This practice also prevents picking up additional contaminants off hard surfaces like roadways or sidewalks. Be sure to keep the discharges on your property to prevent hardship to any neighbors. 
​

​3. Do Not Drain Everything at Once

Rather than a fast moving, concentrated stream, the best practice is to drain the water slowly over a few days to allow for the absorption of water into the ground.  ​Spreading the water out over an area can also help to prevent erosion from the discharge.  If draining from a hose, move the hose around to prevent continued saturation in one area. 

4. Do Not Drain Pool Directly into Septic System

This can overwhelm the system and cause failures. Failed septic systems can discharge waste that has not been properly treated and pollute stormwater systems and natural waterways as well.  

Bonus Tip to Protect Your Natural Waterways :
Make sure your pool chemicals are stored in labeled and lidded containers in a secure and dry storage area. Make sure that you are disposing any leftover chemicals or storage containers according to the direction on the container.  

For more information on proper pool closure, contact our office at 513.695.1337

In Warren County, Ohio storm drains and yard drains lead directly to creeks and drinking water reservoirs with no treatment. Water conditioners, chlorine, bromine, algaecides, biocides, stabilizers, salts and other chemicals used in pool and spa water are toxic to fish and other aquatic life and disrupt the natural balance within waterways.
 
Pool chemicals are prohibited by law from being discharged into storm drains or waterways. Allowable discharges include dechlorinated pool water that has no trace of chemicals. Pool filter backwash or saltwater pool discharges are prohibited in storm drains and drainage channels leading to streams.
 
How to Properly Drain Pool/Spa Water
 

• Before draining, let pool water sit for a week (7-10 days) with no addition of chemicals. The pH range should be between 6.5 and 8.0 and total residual chlorine or bromine needs to be less than 1.0mg/l (ppm) before discharging. Use a testing kit to verify levels.
• When pool water is free of all chemicals, drain pool water to landscaped areas, lawns or woods. Control the flow of the draining pool water to prevent soil erosion. Drain the pool slowly over a period of a few days to allow vegetation to absorb most of the water. You can also devise a pool drain “fountain” to spread water in your yard and avoid erosion.
• Consider using sanitary sewer connections in or around the home.
• Drain pool water slowly enough to avoid flooding of your neighbor’s property or any other property nearby.
• DO NOT drain swimming pool or spa water to your septic system as system failures may occur!  

 
The community you live in may have more stringent requirements under local laws for swimming pool discharges.  Therefore, it is important that you also check with your community to determine what requirements they may have in place.
 
For questions regarding Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District programs and/or technical assistance on water or soil questions, visit http://warrenswcd.com or call, 513-695-1337.