MCSWCD reflects on year of conservation, education and partnerships

As 2025 comes to a close, we at the Medina County Soil & Water Conservation District are proud to look back on a year of partnerships, hands-on education and steady conservation progress. Each December, I review our annual plan of work, and I’d like to share how 2025 was another solid year for our office.

Our team continues to provide practical, on-the-ground guidance to landowners. This year, staff completed more than 140 technical assistance visits, including drainage assessments, pond permit reviews, streambank evaluations, erosion consultations, pollinator habitat visits, concept plan reviews and soil health recommendations. These visits give us the chance to meet residents where they are, hear their concerns and help them find realistic solutions that improve their land and our shared water resources.

We also continued our support of several key conservation programs. Through our partnership with the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, local producers planted cover crops on 206 acres this fall, part of an ongoing effort to build soil health, reduce erosion and support the Muskingum watershed.

Education and outreach remain at the heart of what we do, and this year kept us busy. We kicked off 2025 with a variety of winter programs, including presentations for senior centers, Girl Scout troops and 4-H groups, as well as a zoning inspector training focused on identifying riparian setbacks.

Spring brought even more activity. Our staff helped with the Area 2 Envirothon, hosted a sediment and erosion control workshop for contractors and developers, and took part in the Earth Day Festival at Buffalo Creek Retreat. Our booth highlighted the Invasive Species Buyback Program and helped residents learn how to identify common invasives. We also continued our long-running traditions, hosting seedling sale pickup at Geig’s Orchard and distributing more than 33,000 fish during our spring fish sale.

Summer was filled with workshops and hands-on learning across the county. We partnered with the Medina County Park District, OSU Extension and local libraries to offer programs on composting, rain barrels, wildlife-friendly gardening, invasive species and native plants. Youth education remained a major focus as we visited classrooms at Blake Elementary, Canavan Elementary, Fenn Elementary, Wadsworth High School, Eliza Northrop Elementary, Wadsworth Middle School and others, reaching hundreds of students with conservation-based lessons and activities.

As fall arrived, we teamed up with the Izaak Walton League for Salt Watch monitoring, hosted a grazing workshop at George Phillips’ farm, and welcomed the Medina County Herb Society for a prairie and rain garden walk. We ended October with a native seed collection event alongside the Medina County Park District and Wild Ones Greater Cleveland.

Several new initiatives also took shape this year. With support from the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District and Davey Resource Group, work began on a Nonpoint Source Implementation Strategy for the River Styx watershed. This plan will help pinpoint sources of water quality concerns and open the door to future restoration grants. Thanks to funding from the Ohio Environmental Education Fund, we’re also excited to soon add a Rolling River Trailer to our education toolbox. In partnership with Lorain OSU Extension, this mobile river model will make it easier to demonstrate stream processes, stormwater impacts and best practices at schools, community events and municipal trainings.

We were pleased to gather with partners, landowners and community members at our 81st annual meeting at Buffalo Creek Retreat. Guests enjoyed a recap of the year and celebrated several outstanding contributors to conservation in Medina County. Richman Farms was named Cooperator of the Year, Mark Ludwig received the Conservation Educator Award, and Thomas DeCastra was recognized as Conservation Community Member of the Year. The Big Tree Contest was also highlighted, with this year’s nomination submitted by Walter Starcher. With a strong turnout and an excellent program led by emcee Rick Dumperth, it was a fitting close to the season.

None of this would be possible without the dedication of our staff – Mary Aungst, Abby Costilow, Kellie Docherty and Jim Smith. Their enthusiasm, creativity and commitment continue to strengthen our programs and expand our impact across Medina County.

Thank you to the partners, volunteers, landowners and community members who make this work possible. We look forward to another year of collaboration and conservation in 2026.

Eric Hange serves as District Manager for the Medina County Soil & Water Conservation District.