A student explores the aquatic education trailer. (Photo submitted by Muskingum SWCD)

NEW PHILADELPHIA, Ohio — This year, the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) is celebrating the 15th anniversary of its Partners in Watershed Management (PWM) grants program by awarding $1,305,707 in new grants to 11 projects that will support flood mitigation and water quality improvement and conservation across Eastern Ohio.

“Eastern Ohio is blessed with talented, committed professionals and organizations that share a common mission: preserving and managing the Muskingum River watershed to protect life, property and our natural resources. For 15 years, MWCD has shared its resources with dozens of these organizations to invest over $10 million in strategic efforts to both reduce flooding and drive conservation. They have made a difference, and we look forward to another 15 years–and more–of working together,” said MWCD Executive Director Craig Butler.

Since its inception in 2009, PWM has provided over $10.7 million in grant funding for 156 projects in 18 counties across the Muskingum River watershed, the largest watershed contained entirely within Ohio and a watershed covering almost a third of the state. The program is highly competitive with a multi-step review process to ensure that highly effective projects receive grant dollars. All applications are reviewed by MWCD staff and a select group of volunteer industry experts prior to the Chief Engineer and Chief of Conservation recommending applications for approval to the Executive Director and the Board of Directors.

Here’s what others are saying about PWM and its 15th anniversary:

“We have received three impactful PWM Grants over the last several years and are so grateful for the partnership with MWCD. The first funded our Aquatic Education Trailer, teaching water quality through a visual contrast of healthy and polluted streams. Since 2011, hundreds of students have benefited. The second grant supported water testing in farm tile drainage, leading some farmers to reduce fertilizer use without impacting yield. The latest grant funds our ‘Grow Native’ project, providing a small no-till drill to help landowners establish pollinator habitats.” – Lisa Crock, district administrator, Muskingum Soil and Water Conservation District.

First hellbender to be found reproducing and released. (Photo submitted by Rural Action)

“The PWM Grant Program has been an instrumental part of maintaining and improving water quality in the Muskingum River. Rural Action has received eight PWM grants since the program began, which has supported everything from outreach and education, to research on endangered species. The most exciting outcome of one of our projects was when the first reintroduced eastern hellbender to have ever been found reproducing in the wild, was discovered in a nest box that was installed with PWM funding. We are so thankful for the support.” – Nate Schlater, senior director of ecological restoration, Rural Action.

“The support from MWCD’s PWM grant program was instrumental in advancing our flood mapping efforts in collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the USGS. This funding allowed us to gain critical data and insights that helped us better protect our community from flood risks and plan for a more resilient future. We are grateful for MWCD’s commitment to improving watershed management across the region.” -Bobbie Beshara, city manager, City of Rittman.

This year’s projects are:

* Ashland County Park District – Ashland – Greentown Native American Preserve Acquire 58.4 acres of Black Fork river bank habitat to protect native wildlife, high-quality meadow, forest, wetland areas, and historic Native American sites. – $194,000

* Buckeye Lake for Tomorrow – Licking – Buckeye Lake Water Quality Monitoring Expand water monitoring to canals and inlets to collect more data and enhance nutrient mitigation. – $33,721

Nutrient monitoring is conducted in the Walhonding River. (Photo submitted by Rural Action)

* Carroll Soil and Water Conservation District – Carroll – Carroll SWCD Green Infrastructure Design Green infrastructure and architectural improvements to the HQ building to enhance usability and serve as a model for best practices. – $21,850

* Holmes County Health District – Holmes – Sewage Treatment System GIS Development Create an inventory of existing sewage treatment systems to facilitate permitting and inspections in pursuit of better water quality and public health. – $95,000

* Village of McConnelsville – Morgan-McConnel Run Stream Project Restore and stabilize McConnel Run Stream in the Village of McConnelsville to enhance floodplain control and allow for redevelopment of the adjacent property. – $150,472

* Muskingum Soil and Water Conservation District – Muskingum – Grow Native Purchase a mobile seed drill to assist removal of invasive plants by replacing them with native species in small or hard-to-access areas. – $25,760

* Natural Areas Land Conservancy – Summit – Clinton Wetlands Preserve Acquire 19.17 acres of wetlands in Village of Clinton and help protect Tuscarawas River water quality. – $114,551

* Noble County Engineer – Noble – Noble Local School District Flood Reduction Mitigation efforts to reduce flooding impact to buildings and bus routes and can force school closures. – $156,945

* Stillwater Watershed Partners – Harrison – Milacik Log Jam Removal Remove current log jam that is impeding Stillwater Creek natural watercourse and flow. – $321,039

* Tuscarawas Soil and Water Conservation District – Tuscarawas – Village of Baltic Streambank Stabilization Stabilize 500 ft of streambank in Village of Baltic along Brush Run Creek to protect against soil erosion and preserve water quality. – $156,869

* West Creek Conservancy – Richland – Clear Fork Mohican River Wetland Restoration Project Restore 62-acre property with riverfront forest and wetlands to mitigate downstream flooding and protect water quality in the Clear Fork Mohican River. – $35,500

Organizations interested in future rounds of funding are encouraged to contact MWCD to discuss their projects at least 30 days prior to the application deadline of September 1, 2025, to learn more about the application process and have their applications preliminarily screened for eligibility. Please contact Lynn Gilland, Administrative Specialist at 330-556-4817 or by email at lgilland@mwcd.org. Further information about the PWM program can be found at www.MWCD.org.

The MWCD, a political subdivision of the state, was organized in 1933 to develop and implement a plan to reduce flooding and conserve water for beneficial public uses in the Muskingum River Watershed, the largest wholly contained watershed in Ohio. Since their construction, the 16 reservoirs and dams in the MWCD region have been credited for saving over $7 billion worth of potential property damage from flooding, according to the federal government, as well as providing popular recreational opportunities that bolster the region’s economy. A significant portion of the reservoirs are managed by the MWCD and the dams are managed for flood-risk management by the federal U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). For more information about the MWCD, visit www.mwcd.org and follow the MWCD on Facebook and Instagram.