“Watersheds—Our Water, Our House” is the theme for the 63rd NACD Stewardship Week, April 29-May 6, 2018. Water is a natural resource that we all need every day. It is important that each of us does our part to keep it clean. Try joining in a community roadside, stream or river clean-up day. We would have zero litter if people would take the extra step of dis-posing of trash properly. Take a look at a parking lot in your community; do you see oil and litter? Where do you think it will go when it rains? It could be a nearby river or stream. Clean water is important to everyone. Watersheds come in all sizes and shapes. No matter where you are right now, you are

2018 Stewardship Week

The entry deadline is May 25, 2018. For questions about the application contact Division of Soil & Water Conservation at 614-265-6682 or dswc@agri.ohio.gov.

The Ohio Department of Agri-culture (ODA) is accepting nom-inations for the 2018 Conserva-tion Farm Family Awards. This program recognizes Ohio farm families for their ef-forts in managing natural and human resources while meeting both production and conserva-tion goals. The program empha-sizes the application of techni-cally sound, innovative and cost-effective conservation practices

and encourages the sharing of this information with others farmers and the general public. Five area finalists will be se-lected from across the state and will be recognized at the annual Farm Science Review in Sep-tember. They will also receive a $400 award, courtesy of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, and be featured in the Septem-ber issue of the Ohio Farmer magazine.

ConservationCloseUp H a nc oc k S o i l & W at er C on se rv at i on

2018 Conservation Farm Family

Spring 2018

in a watershed. Take the time to

learn about your local community

water supply sources, and volun-

teer for river or stream clean-up

days. You can make a difference!

For more information about

Stewardship Week and conserva-

tion, contact the NACD website

at: http://www.nacdnet.org/

general resources/stewardship-

and-education-materials/2018-

watersheds-water-home/.

Tips on how you can help keep your watershed clean and healthy.

• Conserve water every day. Take shorter showers, fix leaks & turn off the water when not in use.

• Don’t pour toxic household chemicals down the drain; take them to a hazardous waste center.

• Do not over apply fertiliz-ers. Consider using organic or slow release fertilizers instead.

• Use surfaces like wood, brick or gravel for decks & walkways; allows rain to soak in & not run off.

• Never pour used oil or anti-freeze into the storm drain or the street.

• Pick up after your dog, and dispose of the waste in the toilet or the trash.

What can you do ?

Camp Canopy The Ohio Forestry & Wildlife Conservation Camp has a new name and logo! The new name is Camp Canopy and it is held at FFA Camp Muskingum in the rolling hills of Carroll County. The camp is June 10-15, 2018 with a camp fee of $375. The camp began in 1950, and will feature the same learning top-ics, traditions and fun activities as the previously-named camp. About ten thousand high school students from all over Ohio have attended the camp. Campers learn through programs such as dendrology, forest ecology, silviculture, forest prod-ucts, wildlife management, and wa-tershed health. Each camper will learn to ID trees and wildlife, learn about in-sects, timber harvesting and forest ecology. Campers will conduct stream sampling, hike through the woods, monitor for wildlife and much more! Free time activities in-clude fishing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, volleyball and more! Camp is open to students who are at least fifteen years of age and who have completed the eighth grade. Forestry Camp is tobacco free and all tobacco products are strictly prohibited. Deadline to apply for camp is June 8, 2018. For more information contact: Ohio Forestry Association Foundation at 888-38-TREES or e-mail: info@ohioforest.org. or you may visit the website at: www.ohioforest.org. or https://campcanopy.com/camp/

2018 Ditch Spraying Gary Tuttle reports that 10 ditch-es over 25 miles are scheduled to be sprayed in 2018. The ditches are: Lanning Ditch 23,087 ft. John E. Fox #109 2,462 ft. Keiper Jt. Ditch 7,050 ft. W.B. Kring Ditch 15,145 ft. A.O. Minks Jt. Ditch 16,665 ft. Renshaw Bricker 15,067 ft. J.E. Fox #134 4,259 ft. Brookman Ditch 23,800 ft. Silver Creek Ditch 24,631 ft. Gary also reports that the Roth Ditch is scheduled for a dip-out in 2018. Gary and Chad Carroll will be working on the continuous Blanchard River maintenance. This maintenance is for the removal of logjams and leaning trees. If you have any questions or concerns; please contact Gary Tut-tle at 419-422-6569.

Log jam Removal

Maintained Ditch

Ag BMPS The Ohio State University Ex-tension (OSUE), with funding from the Ohio Soybean Council, and sup-ported through efforts of Ohio’s SWCDs, has developed a website to assist farmers and landowners in identifying appropriate Best Man-agement Practices for their opera-tions. This website focuses on conser-vation concerns resulting from row crop production activates targeting nutrients, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus and sediment concerns under Ohio conditions. Some prac-tices will be best implemented in consultation with conservation pro-fessionals at the Soil & Water Con-servation Districts, Natural Re-sources Conservation Services or Technical Support Providers. The goals are to have more eyes to identify critical conservation needs on the farm, to not walk past high priority concerns, and to use more conservation projects whether self-implemented or cost shared with available assistance programs. When you visit the site at https://agbmps.osu.edu, you will find pic-tures and descriptions of critical re-source concerns, listings of all BMP practices and contacts for further inquiry, frequently asked questions and helpful background infor-mation, a place to submit pictures of critical concerns or BMP’s in action and people to assist in answering questions. Some of the BMP’s you will find are: Ditch/Stream Bank Stabiliza-tion, Land Conversion, Nutrient Management, Organic Nutrients, Soil Surface and Profile and Water Control or Filtering. Each of these topics have many sub-topics that are extremely beneficial to the farmer/landowner. For more information you may contact the Hancock SWCD at 419-422-6569/www.hancockswcd.com or the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts at 614-784-1900 or www.ofswcd.org.

Bluegill are deep slab-sided fish with a small mouth and a long pectoral fin. Colors vary, but the ear flap is al-

ways black and bluegills often have a black blotch near the back of the soft dorsal fin. Bluegill are nest spawn-

ers and typically build nests in large groups, or beds, sometime between May and August. Peak spawning, in

Ohio, usually occurs in June.

The largemouth bass is a popular sport fish. It is native to Ohio and can be found in every county in the state.

Largemouth bass are moderately compressed with a deep body. The back of the mouth, when closed, extends

past the eye. This characteristic distinguishes it from the smallmouth bass where the back of the mouth does not

extend past the eye. The largemouth also has a black band that extends down the side of the body. They prefer

ponds, lakes and slow, sluggish streams. Large mouth bass usually spawn between mid-April and mid-June..

The yellow perch is native to Ohio and is found in lakes, impoundments, ponds, and slow moving rivers. Sides

are golden yellow to brassy green with six to eight dark vertical saddles with a white to yellow belly. Yellow

perch have many small teeth, but no large canines. It prefers clear water with moderate vegetation and lots of

sand or gravel bottoms. Yellow perch spawn from mid-April to early May by depositing their eggs over vegeta-

tion or the water bottom, with no care given.

The channel catfish is a popular sport and food fish. It is active during the night, moving around and finding

food after dusk. During the day it will most likely be found in deep water with little activity. The channel cat-

fish has a slender body with a deeply forked tail. The upper jaw is longer than the lower jaw and there are bar-

bels around the mouth. The dorsal and pectoral spines are sharp and deeply serrated, and the anal fin is curved

and has between 24 and 30 rays. The body is bluish silver on the sides and generally has dark spots. Channel catfish are native to Ohio and

can be found in most large streams, lakes, and many farm ponds. Channel catfish prefer areas with deep water, clean gravel boulder sub-

strates and low to moderate current. However, they are tolerant of a wide range of conditions

The fathead minnow is commonly sold as bait for fishing. Fathead minnows have short bodies with a triangular

shaped head. Coloration ranges from olive to olive-yellow on the back tinged with copper or purple in larger

fish. Historically the fathead minnow widely populated only in the western part of Ohio. They prefer muddy

brooks and creeks, as well as ponds and small lakes. However, fatheads can tolerate a wide range of water con-

ditions. Fathead minnows spawn in the spring and may continue into August.

The grass carp is not native to Ohio, but was introduced from China as a biological way to control aquatic vegetation. The grass carp is a

long slender member of the minnow family. Grass carp differ from the common carp with the lack of a sucker-

like mouth, and the absence of barbels on the mouth. Furthermore, grass carp are usually silvery-white, rather

than the brownish-yellow of the common carp. Grass carp spawn in flowing water and do not reproduce in

lakes and ponds. The grass carp grows very rapidly, and young fish stocked in the spring at 8 inches will reach

over 18 inches by fall, and adults often attain nearly 4 feet in length and over 70-90 pounds in weight. They grow 10 pounds a year at

least. They eat up to 3 times their own body weight daily.

Redear sunfish are a deep, slab-sided fish similar to the bluegill sunfish, except the ear flap (opercle) is black

with a red or orange spot at the rear edge. Redear sunfish do not have distinct vertical bars like bluegill sun-

fish, when they are present they are broken and blotchy. Redear Sunfish also lack the black blotches at the rear

base of the dorsal and anal fins that bluegill sunfish have. Redear sunfish prefer clear waters with more rooted aquatic vegetation than that

of the bluegill sunfish. Spawning normally occurs in May or June.

The Hybrid Bluegill is a cross between a Male Bluegill and a Female Green Sunfish. As a result of the cross

the Hybrid Bluegill is 80-90% male, giving it a reduced reproductive potential and making it an ideal choice

for those ponds prone to Bluegill stunting. This slows down fast reproduction by keeping the female popula-

tion to a minimum. Do to their hybrid nature, they can also be slightly larger and have a bit more coloration than regular bluegill.

Japanese Koi are ornamental varieties of domesticated common carp. Koi varieties are distinguished by colora-

tion, patterning, and scalation Koi are an omnivorous fish, and will eat a wide variety of foods, including peas,

lettuce, and watermelon. Naturally koi are bottom feeders with a mouth configuration that is adapted for that.

Some koi will have a tendency to eat mostly from the bottom and will eat duckweed.

**Information by Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife. Visit www.ohiodnr.com for more information.