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OPERATION BEST FOOT FORWARD
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Take a gaze at this Grazing video!
Volunteers Spend the Day Cleaning Ohio Brush Creek
Have you ever noticed all the litter in our streams? Ever wonder how it got there? Ever think about how hard it is to remove the litter from our streams? Do you realize how harmful it can be to wildlife and water quality? The answers to these questions and many more are addressed each year during the Ohio Brush Creek Sweep.
Saturday, June 3 marked the 30th year that this event has taken place. The only time the event has been canceled was 2020 and 2021 during the COVID outbreak. The group of volunteers began the day at Creeks Bend on Waggoner Riffle Road and finished at the newest access point to the creek at McKenzie’s Run. Both of these access points to Ohio Brush Creek are located on property owned by The Nature Conservancy. Prior to the first canoe being put in the water, Martin McAllister, Community Engagement Specialist at the Edge of Appalachia Preserve, shared the history of The Nature Conservancy and how the preserve was established. The Edge of Appalachia Preserve is one of the top tourism attractions in the county, helping contribute toward the $49.6 million in total economic impact to the county. Tourism is now one of the top employers in the county with over 700 jobs directly or indirectly supported by tourism. Seven million dollars in tax revenue is generated in the county by tourism alone.
This year’s haul consisted of 200 pounds of steel and 560 pounds of tires, both of which have been recycled. In addition, there was 280 pounds of garbage that was disposed of properly at the landfill. A total of 1040 pounds of harmful litter was removed from Ohio Brush Creek!
Adams Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), along with support from Adams Brown Recycling & Litter Prevention and Adams-Clermont Solid Waste District, organizes and implements this annual canoe-based creek cleanup. The purpose of this event is to not only improve water quality by removing harmful litter, but to also create awareness and to educate the public about some of the threats to our environment.
Additionally, keeping Ohio Brush Creek clean is just one of the ways that benefits Adams County through the returns from travel and tourism dollars from paddlers coming to spend a day on the water.
Most people may not realize that the litter they see along roadways eventually will likely end up in our streams. The easiest, most efficient way to keep our streams clean is to prevent litter in the first place. The second most efficient method is to pick it up along the roadsides before it has a chance to enter our streams. The hardest, most labor-intensive way is to remove it from the stream itself. Many times, the litter found in the stream will become snagged or tangled and likely will become a permanent eyesore until someone comes along to remove it. Once litter makes it to the stream there is little chance that it will be removed and properly disposed of. What usually happens is one of two things. It will eventually wash downstream and accumulate with the other trash from the rest of the watershed, creating a massive problem, or it becomes a permanent eyesore, along with all the other trash that accumulates, for many years to come. It is far more cost effective and easier to maintain a clean watershed than it is to fix one that is impaired.
This annual event could not happen without the dedication and commitment of many volunteers who offer their time and hard work to make Adams County a better place.
Saturday, June 3 marked the 30th year that this event has taken place. The only time the event has been canceled was 2020 and 2021 during the COVID outbreak. The group of volunteers began the day at Creeks Bend on Waggoner Riffle Road and finished at the newest access point to the creek at McKenzie’s Run. Both of these access points to Ohio Brush Creek are located on property owned by The Nature Conservancy. Prior to the first canoe being put in the water, Martin McAllister, Community Engagement Specialist at the Edge of Appalachia Preserve, shared the history of The Nature Conservancy and how the preserve was established. The Edge of Appalachia Preserve is one of the top tourism attractions in the county, helping contribute toward the $49.6 million in total economic impact to the county. Tourism is now one of the top employers in the county with over 700 jobs directly or indirectly supported by tourism. Seven million dollars in tax revenue is generated in the county by tourism alone.
This year’s haul consisted of 200 pounds of steel and 560 pounds of tires, both of which have been recycled. In addition, there was 280 pounds of garbage that was disposed of properly at the landfill. A total of 1040 pounds of harmful litter was removed from Ohio Brush Creek!
Adams Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), along with support from Adams Brown Recycling & Litter Prevention and Adams-Clermont Solid Waste District, organizes and implements this annual canoe-based creek cleanup. The purpose of this event is to not only improve water quality by removing harmful litter, but to also create awareness and to educate the public about some of the threats to our environment.
Additionally, keeping Ohio Brush Creek clean is just one of the ways that benefits Adams County through the returns from travel and tourism dollars from paddlers coming to spend a day on the water.
Most people may not realize that the litter they see along roadways eventually will likely end up in our streams. The easiest, most efficient way to keep our streams clean is to prevent litter in the first place. The second most efficient method is to pick it up along the roadsides before it has a chance to enter our streams. The hardest, most labor-intensive way is to remove it from the stream itself. Many times, the litter found in the stream will become snagged or tangled and likely will become a permanent eyesore until someone comes along to remove it. Once litter makes it to the stream there is little chance that it will be removed and properly disposed of. What usually happens is one of two things. It will eventually wash downstream and accumulate with the other trash from the rest of the watershed, creating a massive problem, or it becomes a permanent eyesore, along with all the other trash that accumulates, for many years to come. It is far more cost effective and easier to maintain a clean watershed than it is to fix one that is impaired.
This annual event could not happen without the dedication and commitment of many volunteers who offer their time and hard work to make Adams County a better place.
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE BOBCAT KIND
The Bobcat is often talked about but seldom seen here in Ohio. Historically it was common throughout most of Ohio until habitat destruction took its toll and ultimately led to this species being extirpated (gone from a certain geographic area) from Ohio by about 1850. As forests and habitat returned in the mid-1900’s, so did this apex predator. Because of the scarcity of this carnivore it was listed as an Ohio Endangered Species for many years. As trail cameras became more popular and more verified sightings occurred, the state eventually removed it from the Ohio Endangered and Threatened Species list in 2014. The sightings continue to rise.
The chance sighting of one of these magnificent creatures in the wild continues to be few and far between. Most sightings are as one streak across the road at dusk or dawn. Their numbers have now risen to the point that a few years ago there was an effort to have a limited trapping season on them in select counties. Although there is still no trapping season for them, bobcats occasionally incidentally find themselves caught in a leg hold trap and must be released unharmed. How? one might ask. The answer…VERY CAREFULLY!
It is important to note that any wild animal is likely going to defend itself when captured or cornered and therefore you need to be extremely cautious while releasing it. The safest way is to use a sheet of plywood with a small half circle cut out at the bottom, which allows you to place it over the foot and trap and protect you from the animal. Ideally you should have two people working on this together for safety. A third person is even better to take video of the event and to call 911 if needed!
It is important to note that although uncomfortable while in the trap, the bobcat was not harmed and was released with no injuries.
Here are some pictures and a video of an incidental trapping of a bobcat in Adams County in December 2020.
The chance sighting of one of these magnificent creatures in the wild continues to be few and far between. Most sightings are as one streak across the road at dusk or dawn. Their numbers have now risen to the point that a few years ago there was an effort to have a limited trapping season on them in select counties. Although there is still no trapping season for them, bobcats occasionally incidentally find themselves caught in a leg hold trap and must be released unharmed. How? one might ask. The answer…VERY CAREFULLY!
It is important to note that any wild animal is likely going to defend itself when captured or cornered and therefore you need to be extremely cautious while releasing it. The safest way is to use a sheet of plywood with a small half circle cut out at the bottom, which allows you to place it over the foot and trap and protect you from the animal. Ideally you should have two people working on this together for safety. A third person is even better to take video of the event and to call 911 if needed!
It is important to note that although uncomfortable while in the trap, the bobcat was not harmed and was released with no injuries.
Here are some pictures and a video of an incidental trapping of a bobcat in Adams County in December 2020.
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Adams County Visitor Guide
ADAMS
Soil and Water Conservation District
(SWCD)
807 NE Main St., #B
West Union, OH 45693
Phone 937-544-1010
___________________________________________
Office Hours
Monday -Friday
8:00 am - 4:30 pm
We are frequently out of the office conducting field visits or education programs. Before making a trip in to our office please call and confirm that someone will be available to assist you.
Artwork by local artist Rhonda Willett
There can be no greater issue than that of conservation in this country.
~Theodore Roosevelt
~Theodore Roosevelt
con·ser·va·tion
noun \ˌkän(t)-sər-ˈvā-shən\
: the wise use of natural resources (such as soil, trees, water, oil, etc.) to prevent them from being lost or wasted
noun \ˌkän(t)-sər-ˈvā-shən\
: the wise use of natural resources (such as soil, trees, water, oil, etc.) to prevent them from being lost or wasted