Strategic Plan

Transcription

1 Strategic Plan Providing Natural Resources Conservation and Stew- ardship in Delaware County in Partnership with USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service

2 Welcome to the Delaware SWCD Strategic Plan During the fall-winter of 2013, your Delaware Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) collected public input through a variety of surveys and utilized several focus groups to gather information on the natural resources priorities of Delaware County for the next 10 years. As we move forward, we will focus on the following strategic areas: Water Quality & Quantity, the Rural/Urban Interface, Education & Marketing the Conservation Message, and Conservation Policy Development & Legislative Affairs. Within these strategic areas, we have identified goals and objectives to maintain the productivity of our soils and protect our land and water resources. We are committed to: Improving the quality of water and maintaining the available water supply for all Delaware County residents; Maintaining the delicate balance between the land use needs of our agricultural users and the economic business growth of our county while protecting the health and vitality of our watersheds; and Helping Delaware County residents learn about our abundant natural resources, the role each person plays in protecting them, and how we can serve individually as stewards of our environment. While this document will serve as a framework to guide the work of the SWCD through the next 10 years, we also recognize that, as with all strategic plans, it is a fluid plan, changing as the needs of our residents and the land change. We greatly appreciate all the public input into crafting this document which will serve as our roadmap into the future and will help us achieve our mission of Helping You Help the Land. We encourage you to continue providing input, and just as importantly in guiding the conservation work here in Delaware County. Yours in conservation, fâx VâÇÇ Çz{tÅ Sue Cunningham SWCD Board Chair

3 History of Delaware County Delaware County is located in central Ohio within the Central Lowland Province. The first settlers in the area were probably the Mound Builders. Later, and until the beginning of the 1800 s, the Delaware and Mingo tribes were the area s main inhabitants. Other inhabitants included the Shawnee, Wyandot, and Seneca tribes. The first European settlement was in After the signing of the Treaty of Greenville in 1814, there was a flood of settlers mainly of European descent, and most of the Delaware tribe left the county. Delaware County was formed in 1801 and has a total area of 283,527 acres, or 443 square miles. Its present boundaries were established in Marion and Morrow Counties border to the north, Knox and Licking Counties to the east, Franklin County to the south and Union County to the west. In 1810, the population of the county was 2,000. In 1990, the population reached 66,929. After the 2000 Census, the population of the county was 109,989. In 2010, the population jumped to 174,214 and in 2013 rose to 186,803. The city of Delaware is the county seat, with a population of over 34,000. The city of Powell in southern Delaware County has a population of 11,500 (up from 6,247 in 2000), and the village of Sunbury is 4,400. The Franklin County municipalities of Dublin (41,751) and Westerville (36,120) have also shown significant growth in last ten years. According to the 2012 Ohio Department of Agriculture statistics, 164,308 acres comprises the county s Acres of Current Agricultural Use a decline from 175,000 acres in the year There are 53,871 additional acres of forest land in the county according to the USDA Forest Service statistics. SWCD Organization The Delaware SWCD was organized in 1944 by concerned landowners interested in protecting and improving the county s soil and water resources. Its jurisdiction consisted of all the lands within Delaware County including incorporated and unincorporated villages and cities. As a separate unit of state government, the SWCD receives funding from the Delaware County Commissioners, the Genoa Township Trustees, the city of Powell, the village of Shawnee Hills, and the Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Donations, sales programs, equipment rentals, and fees generated

4 from development-related services generate additional funds. Our sister agency, the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, provides technical guidance and assistance to the SWCD. The Delaware SWCD is governed locally by a five member volunteer board of supervisors, duly elected by Delaware County landowners and/or residents, for three-year terms. The board establishes SWCD policy, guides the work of the SWCD, utilizes funds and hires personnel to carry out the work of the SWCD. All programs and services are offered on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or familial status. Mission Helping You Help the Land! Vision The Delaware SWCD will serve as a role model in providing natural resource conservation leadership, information, education, and technical services to the community in a dynamic, professional, and personalized manner.

5 Soil & Water Resources Protection & Improvement Issue Statement: The stewardship of Delaware County s finite land resources has a measurable impact on the health of our soils, as well as the quality and quantity of our water resources. Goals & Objectives Assist agricultural landowners in improving soil health by reducing sediments and nutrients entering surface waters in Delaware County. Promote nutrient applications and management by encouraging farmers to use the right source, at the right rate, at the right time and the right place. Encourage producers to install buffers and streambank stabilization practices to reduce streambank erosion. Encourage farmers to utilize no-till and conservation tillage whenever appropriate. Promote innovative water management practices. Provide technical assistance for the design of agricultural best management practices (BMPs) that address private land conservation problems. Educate land users on the benefits of cover crops. Seek new revenue sources for and provide financial incentives to encourage farmers to utilize conservation BMPs. In cooperation with USDA, provide technical support to farmers enrolled in agriculture conservation programs.

6 Assist urban landowners and developers with methods to improve water quality. Promote nutrient applications and management in lawn and garden applications by encouraging homeowners to use the right source, at the right rate, at the right time and the right place. Explore ways and means to retrofit older stormwater basins to meet current EPA water quality standards. Provide technical assistance for the design & installation of urban BMPs. Provide educational opportunities for urban constituents to learn of the benefits of utilizing urban conservation BMPS.

7 Rural/Urban Interface Issue Statement: The population growth of Delaware County impacts the agricultural community, health and vitality of our watersheds, as well our woodland and wildlife habitats. Goals & Objectives Take active role in promoting farmland preservation in Delaware County. Seek and partner with a local sponsor of farmland preservation and cooperate to develop a preservation strategy. Identify and map potential agricultural areas to be targeted as preservation corridors. Identify funding sources for farmland preservation. Promote conservation and drainage easements. Encourage developers to set aside sensitive areas as a conservation/drainage easement. Publicize information and maps about conservation easements on the SWCD website. Continue holding conservation/drainage easements on development sites. Build relationships and collaborate with traditional and non-traditional partners. Develop conservation programs and opportunities for urban/ suburban homeowners and condominium associations by building relations with other townships/villages (similar to ongoing programs in Powell and Genoa Twp.).

8 Improve the efficiency and quality of the county s stormwater management infrastructure and drainage protection. Maintain a comprehensive drainage maintenance program that addresses current and future infrastructure enrolled in the county maintenance program. Utilize available camera technology to scope existing drainage mains to determine condition of storm tile. Utilize storm water systems management software to better track assets, infrastructure, and dynamic event management. Work with County Engineer to develop policy and procedures for inspection and maintenance to be used to determine the amount of annual assessment, as well as future capital improvement needs. Work with the County Engineer and Commissioner to develop a procedure to implement six-year hearings for all projects. Work with County Engineer to develop policy for collection of surety bonds for basins accepted on county maintenance before lots are built out when the basin is used for sediment control.

9 Education & Marketing the Conservation Message Issue Statement: The general public s ability to use today s digital information and participate in conservation programs impacts their ability to take action. Goals & Objectives Develop a technology driven marketing program to share more information digitally to improve public access, both in office and online. Update maps and other data to make a more attractive, interactive and user-friendly website. Maximize outreach by utilizing workload data and trends to guide the delivery of SWCD services. Work with Delaware Co. GIS and IT to increase the quality and quantity of information available online. Provide in-office support to customers seeking maps and spatial information. Promote conservation through appropriate technologies. Expand our outreach and presence in the community though the use of social media. In cooperation with our partners, plan and host new programs to promote innovative conservation practices. Adapt to changing technology by researching new software, mobile apps, etc. and making them available to staff and constituents. Grow the number of followers of the SWCD through social media.

10 Collaborate with other natural resource agencies and partners to provide conservation education opportunities and market our conservation message. Develop strong working relationship with OSU Extension and Delaware County Farm Bureau. Partner with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, USDA Forest Service, and others to develop conservation education programs. Partner with the Delaware General Health Department, Preservation Parks, townships, and villages to deliver conservation programs. Work with Delaware County Regional Planning to educate developers, local trustees and zoning officials on the benefits of incorporating conservation into the planning process.

11 Facilitate environmental encounters between people and the land through new and enhanced conservation programs and services. Develop a conservation land user packet to be presented to new county residents through various media. Seek and apply for grants to support staffing, projects, and programs. Offer internships, work study, and seasonal employment to assist with program delivery. Create and refurbish handouts and displays to insure materials are cutting edge. Create an in-office GIS workstation that can also serve as a mobile unit for use at events and field days. Facilitate conservation programs, events, and workshops for the general public. Promote conservation to pre K-12 th grade students and teachers through classroom presentations and educator workshops. Develop programs and materials which meet Ohio s education standards. Encourage high school teachers and students to participate in the Envirothon program. Apply for grants to support the conservation education program.

12 Policy Development & Legislative Affairs Issue Statement: The public looks to the SWCD for leadership to provide guidance, development and execution of responsible land and water use policies to meet the diverse needs of the county. Goals & Objectives: Participate in natural resources legislative and policy development at the state, county, township and municipal levels. Develop a Policy Handbook to guide our legislative initiatives and when making contacts with our legislators concerning needed conservation legislation. Lobby for SWCD representation on local and state land-use, decisionmaking boards. Champion local conservation issues by developing strong SWCD Board policy relating to major land-use changes affecting Delaware County and central Ohio watersheds. Work with local governmental entities to include easements, codes, and ordinances within comprehensive plans to conserve sensitive and natural areas.