Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District

09/26/2023

UPDATE: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced that the partial closure of Seneca Dam Road has been DELAYED. A closure will occur at a later date yet to be determined.

UPDATE: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced that the partial closure of Seneca Dam Road has been delayed. A portion of Seneca Dam Road (OH-574) will now be closed from 6:00 a.m. July 25th through 7:00 p.m. July 28th approximately one-half mile south of the Lashley Road (OH-313) intersection.

Motorists are advised to use the following alternate route to access Seneca Lake Park:
Use Alternate Route 313 East/West to Route 285 South to Route 566 East to Route 574 North.

The closure is happening to allow maintenance to be completed on Senecaville Lake equipment. A second round of closures is expected to begin in August.

For more information, contact the USACE Public Affairs Office at 304-399-5353.

09/25/2023

ROAD CLOSURE: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced that a portion of Seneca Dam Road (OH-574) will be closed from 6:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 27th through 6:00 p.m. Friday, September 29th approximately one-half mile south of the Lashley Road (OH-313) intersection.

Motorists are advised to use the following alternate route to access Seneca Lake Park:
Use Alternate Route 313 East/West to Route 285 South to Route 566 East to Route 574 North.

The closure is happening to allow maintenance to be completed on Senecaville Lake Dam equipment.

For more information, contact the USACE Public Affairs Office at 304-399-5353.

09/25/2023

2023 ORBA/ORBCRE Summit “From Planning to Action: Protecting and Restoring the Ohio River Basin” October 5th-6th, 2023 The 2023 ORBA/ORBCRE Summit is scheduled for October 5th-6th, 2023 at Embassy Suites […]

09/22/2023

Sponsorship opportunities are available for the annual ORBA-ORCRE Summit!

Suggested sponsorships range from the $500 to the $5,000 level and are available to cover the program sponsor breaks, receptions, meal, and poster session. For details about sponsor benefits and how to become a summit sponsor, click the link below!
orsanco.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Draft-ORBA-ORBCRE-Summit-Sponsorship-Opportunities-003v3.pdf

09/22/2023

As part of our 90th Anniversary Celebration, MWCD will have Fun Fact Friday posts sharing unique and fun facts about the District. Today's Fun Fact:

MWCD led the effort to construct 14 dams and reservoirs. Tappan Dam, in Harrison County, was the first project of the flood reduction system.

Construction of Tappan Dam began in January 1935, at a ceremony attended by Governor George White (1931-1935) and around 3,000 people. The project proceeded with very little interruptions. However, a summer storm halted the project temporarily. Construction resumed and the Tappan Dam and intake structure was completed in October 1935 and the dam started impounding water in October 1936. The entirety of the project was completed by 1938.

09/21/2023

Looking for a career working around lakes, campgrounds, and marinas? We are hiring a Park Technician to work on maintenance tasks at Clendening and Piedmont marinas! This position is full-time, year-round, and benefits eligible, including paying into the Ohio Public Employee Retirement System, health, dental, vision, life insurance, and time off! For more information and to apply today go to mwcd.org/employment

09/20/2023

On Sept. 19 ODNR released over 1000 juvenile muskellunge fish into Leesville Lake. These fish were taken from the same lake in April as eggs, transferred to the London Ohio Fish Hatchery, raised in the hatchery for 6 months, and then returned to Leesville Lake. Featured is a video of the muskie being launched from the ONDR truck.

09/18/2023

Please join us in congratulating Boris Slogar, MWCD Chief Engineer on his retirement!

The MWCD announces the retirement of Boris Slogar, P.E., Chief Engineer. Dave Lautenschleger to serve as Interim Chief Engineer while a search is conducted.

09/15/2023

As part of our 90th Anniversary Celebration, MWCD will have Fun Fact Friday posts sharing unique and fun facts about the District. Today's Fun Fact:

Early designs for the MWCD flood reduction system did not call for impoundments (lakes) of water. Rather, impoundments were to occur only during times of flooding. However, as construction of the system began in 1935, the infamous "Dust Bowl" was ravaging the midwestern United States. MWCD officials took into consideration the idea of another Dust Bowl happening in other parts of the United States. MWCD Chief Engineer C.C. Chambers (1934-1943) modified plans and altered the design of the system to enable dams to impound water for agricultural and conservation purposes.

09/13/2023

LakeViews is a newsletter that has been published and distributed for over 41 years to keep property owners and residents in the District informed on Conservancy news, projects, and events. In this edition:

90th Anniversary: Fascinating Historical Events 🎂
How Conservation Became as Important as Flood Control 🌳💧
Fall Fun at MWCD Parks 🎃
MWCD Law Enforcement Scholarship Program 👮
New Member to Board of Directors 👩
Speaker Series 👨‍🏫

Click here to view the Fall 2023 edition:https://www.mwcd.org/upload/mwcd_newsletter_fall2023_final.pdf

09/12/2023

MWCD is proud to announce that it has been honored with the prestigious Horizon Award by the Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District.

The MWCD is proud to announce that it has been honored with the prestigious Horizon Award by the Ashland SWCD

09/11/2023

On this day, we honor the resilience of our nation, those who stood strong in the face of adversity and those whom we lost. At MWCD, we find solace & inspiration in the healing power of nature. Let us remember the heroes who emerged from the darkness, just as new life emerges from the soil.

09/08/2023

As part of our 90th Anniversary Celebration, MWCD will have Fun Fact Friday posts sharing unique and fun facts about the District. Today's Fun Fact:

MWCD has 14 dams, but did you know that the Dover Dam is the only concrete dam in the system? The other 13 dams are earthen dams.

The Dover Dam, located in Tuscarawas County, is a dry dam, meaning it only holds an impoundment of water during times of flooding. Dover Dam is 824 feet in length and stands 83 feet above the streambed of the Tuscarawas River. The dam was built between 1935 - 1937 and is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

09/07/2023

https://www.orsanco.org/orba-orbcre-summit/

09/05/2023

ROAD CLOSURE: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced that a portion of Seneca Dam Road (OH-574) will be closed from 6:00 a.m. September 6th through 7:00 p.m. September 7th and possible closure Friday, September 8th approximately one-half mile south of the Lashley Road (OH-313) intersection.

Motorists are advised to use the following alternate route to access Seneca Lake Park:
Use Alternate Route 313 East/West to Route 285 South to Route 566 East to Route 574 North.

The closure is happening to allow maintenance to be completed on Senecaville Lake Dam equipment.

For more information, contact the USACE Public Affairs Office at 304-399-5353.

09/01/2023

As part of our 90th Anniversary Celebration, MWCD will have Fun Fact Friday posts sharing unique and fun facts about the District. Today's Fun Fact:

Did you know, MWCD's 14 dams are separated into two different categories: wet dams and dry dams?

MWCD has 10 permanent lakes that impound (hold) water year-round. Because they hold permanent impoundments of water, the dams are called, "wet dams." They are: Atwood, Beach City, Charles Mill, Clendening, Leesville, Piedmont, Pleasant Hill, Seneca, Tappan, and Wills Creek dams.

MWCD's 4 other dams, despite having water flow through the dams, impound water only during times of flooding. Because they do not hold permanent impoundments of water, the dams are called, "dry dams." They are: Bolivar, Dover, Mohawk, and Mohicanville dams.

08/30/2023

We had a great turn out for our first ever "Country Waves" concert at Atwood Lake Park. Craig Morgan headlined with Track 45 & The Shootouts opening up the e...

08/30/2023

**UPDATE: Congratulations Brian on winning the Guardians tickets! Thanks for all who participated.

Do you want a chance to win tickets to the Cleveland Guardians -vs- Texas Rangers game on Fri. Sept. 15?

All you need to do is:
1. like the MWCD page
2. like this post
3. tag who you would take

The winner will be announced Fri. Sept. 8

08/29/2023

We have a new article available on our website pertaining to duck hunting. If you are a duck hunter that uses the MWCD parks, please read this important update.

New Philadelphia, OH (August 28, 2023) – For immediate release — In a move towards sustainable and equitable use of natural resources, the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) has announced a policy shift regarding duck blin

08/29/2023

We recently had the privilege of hosting State Representative Melanie Miller at Pleasant Hill Lake Park. Representative Miller presented staff with a state commendation jointly sponsored by Representatives Miller and Marilyn John recognizing MWCD’s commitment to providing visitors with safe and enjoyable recreational opportunities.

Staff also provided Representative Miller with a tour of Pleasant Hill Lake Park, highlighting our new amenities, our deluxe log cabins, and other features of the Park.

Thank you, Representative Miller, for spending time with us! And thank you to both Representatives for your recognition and support!

08/25/2023

As part of our 90th Anniversary Celebration, MWCD will have Fun Fact Friday posts sharing unique and fun facts about the District.

Today's Fun Fact:

MWCD is the largest conservancy district in Ohio and led the effort to construct 14 dams and reservoirs. Two others were built later and the system of dams and reservoirs has been credited by the federal government with saving an estimated $10 billion worth of potential damage from flooding since its original construction in the 1930s.

MWCD is a partner with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in the operation of the system of dams and reservoirs in the watershed - the USACE operates the dams for flood reduction and the MWCD manages most of the reservoir areas behind the dams.

08/23/2023

Thank you, Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District for the special recognition and congratulations to the other award winners!

08/18/2023

08/18/2023

As part of our 90th Anniversary Celebration, MWCD will have Fun Fact Friday posts sharing unique and fun facts about the District.

Today's Fun Fact:

In the 1940s, MWCD had an air patrol program for fire protection. This program harmonized with state and federal fire suppression efforts, slowly phasing out fire towers which previously served as the best preventive for forest fires. MWCD had two pilots, James Quackenbush and Ira Holden, that made two passes each day over the District covering 200 miles.

08/17/2023

MWCD was featured today on WKYC to talk about our parks and recreation opportunities leading into the fall season.

Joe talks with Adria Bergeron about the great fun you can have outside during the fall! Sponsored by: Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District

08/16/2023

We're in the dog days of summer!! You can still enjoy swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, and relaxing at your favorite MWCD campground! Soak in the rest of the summer sun and save $10 off per night on a Sunday - Thursday reservation! make your reservations now at mwcd.org

Use promo code DOGDAYS23 and save on the WEEKDAY rate now - August 31!*

08/12/2023

Did you know that you could see up to up to 100 meteors or more in the sky tonight?! It is the peak of the Perseid Meteor Shower through August 13. The meteor shower continues through the end of August but now is the perfect time to see them when the moon is at its smallest. Take some time to watch the skies because you never know what you will see!
Last night, our meteor shower kayak tour participants at Seneca Lake were able to see almost 20 meteors, satellites, the Milky Way, and Starlink! Meteor Shower Kayak Tours are scheduled for Pleasant Hill on Sunday, 8/13 and Clendening on Monday, 8/14. Register today at MWCD.ticketleap.com

08/11/2023

As part of our 90th Anniversary Celebration, MWCD will have Fun Fact Friday posts sharing unique and fun facts about the District.

Today's Fun Fact:

Did you know that MWCD owns and operates a flood control system in Medina and Wayne counties that is separate from the Muskingum Flood Control System? The system is operated by the Chippewa Subdistrict of MWCD.

Chippewa Subdistrict was formed in the 1960s through a grassroots effort led by local business owners and farmers to lessen the devastating impacts of flooding along Chippewa Creek. The Chippewa Creek watershed encompasses 188 square miles and is home to eight dams and associated channel improvements. The Chippewa Subdistrict is its own entity and was created in a similar fashion as the larger MWCD, which serves as the required local sponsor of the Subdistrict.

As the local sponsor, MWCD was instrumental in acquiring property and easements for construction of the dams and channel improvements. When the last dam was built in 1980, the entire system was handed over to the Chippewa Subdistrict to own, maintain, and operate. Chippewa has a project coordinator on staff that keeps the system operating smoothly and the chief engineer for MWCD also serves as chief engineer for the Chippewa Subdistrict.

If you ever find yourself driving west on Interstate 76 about two miles before the Interstate 71 intersection, look northward and you will see Hubbard Valley Dam, one of Chippewa’s dams.

To read more about the Chippewa Subdistrict, visit the MWCD website: https://tinyurl.com/ChippewaSD

08/04/2023

Find your own Hidden Gem at the Dennison Depot and share it with us!

Meet Kameryn, one of our Summer Interns! She shares, “I picked this artifact because it showed that with everything going on in the world during this time, they still got together and enjoyed themselves. Even though people were far away, the post cards allowed everyone to stay connected around the world.“

The Depot is known as Americas Homefront because of the example set by the WWII Salvation Army Canteen headed by Lucille Nussdorfer which served 1.3 million soldiers. However, we also had a Red Cross Canteen during WWI that also served a large number of soldiers. We are happy to share their story as well and highlight the hometown hospitality Dennison is known for.

As the MWCD commemorates its 90th anniversary, a new featured exhibit at the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum – a National Historic Landmark — is an opportunity for us to do just that. As of June 3, the public is able to move through an immersive story of the District’s beginnings, its progress through the years, its highlights, a description of its future, and an interactive hands-on children’s component families will enjoy. Everyone is encouraged to take this opportunity to learn more about the history of the MWCD and how it works every day to make our lives safer and secure our homes, businesses, and communities

We hope you will visit the Museum and find your own Hidden Gem! Comment below with your favorite part of our Museum!

08/04/2023

As part of our 90th Anniversary Celebration, MWCD will have Fun Fact Friday posts sharing unique and fun facts about the District.

Today's Fun Fact:

In 1941, MWCD created a permanent Forestry Program, firming the District's commitment to conservation - previous forestry work was completed by external agencies. MWCD began planting trees and by 1970, planted more than 11 million trees on 12,000 acres.

Initially, trees were hand planted but MWCD foresters found a more efficient way to plant using a custom built tree planter (dozer) that could self-level on steep hills. MWCD forestry efforts and devotion to conservation was recognized and highlighted by National Geographic Magazine in April 1955.

Today, MWCD foresters remain dedicated stewards of MWCD lands and manage over 34,000 acres. Plantings continue to take place, surpassing 12 million trees planted. To learn more about MWCD forestry efforts, visit https://tinyurl.com/yhxkavhp

08/01/2023

Do you want to give camping a try but don't have a tent? Pleasant Hill Lake Park has you covered with a rental that includes all the necessities to sleep 4. With this rental you will also get a campsite in a quiet area of the park dedicated to primitive camping. Learn more at mwcd.org/enjoy-our-lakes/rent-an-rv-or-tent

07/28/2023

As part of our 90th Anniversary Celebration, MWCD will have Fun Fact Friday posts sharing unique and fun facts about the District.

Today's Fun Fact:

Did you know that MWCD has had ONLY four Executive Directors since it was established on June 3, 1933?! The will and foresight of these strong leaders have been instrumental in our founding and success. They are:

💧 Bryce C. Browning, MWCD Founder (1933 - 1965)
💧 Raymond E. Eichel (1965 - 1989)
💧 John M. Hoopingarner (1989 - 2020)
💧 Craig W. Butler (2020 - Current)

07/27/2023

Congratulations, Steve on being named NESA Honorary Scoutmaster of the Class of 2022 Eagle Scouts! Steve Channell is currently a full-time Ranger at Seneca Lake Park, and has worked as a MWCD Ranger for many years. If you see him in the park, or around the lake, be sure to say hello, and congratulations!

Every once in a while, someone comes along who embodies the true spirit of scouting, demonstrating unwavering dedication, leadership, and mentorship that impacts generations of young individuals. Today, we have the privilege of celebrating one such exceptional individual – Steve Channell. The Muskingum Valley Council NESA Committee is delighted to announce Steve Channell as the NESA Honorary Scoutmaster of the Class of 2022 Eagle Scouts. From his early days as a Cub Scout to his inspiring tenure as Scoutmaster, Steve’s contributions have left an indelible mark on the scouting community.

Find out more about Steve: https://muskingumvalleycouncil.com/2023/07/19/celebrating-excellence-steve-channell-nesa-honorary-scoutmaster-of-the-year

07/27/2023

Parks and recreation agencies across the country are among the biggest employers of youth. This summer, MWCD has employed young adults in important positions not only for the community, but as a jumping off point for their careers. We're so grateful for young people who spend their summers working with us!

07/25/2023

The more than 10,000 local park and recreation agencies across the United States employ more than 160,000 full-time and hundreds of thousands of part time and seasonal park and recreation professionals. To all those who build better parks, thank you!

07/21/2023

As part of our 90th Anniversary Celebration, MWCD will have Fun Fact Friday posts sharing unique and fun facts about the District.

Today's Fun Fact:

The 14 dams of the MWCD have prevented over $10 billion in flood damages since they were constructed in the 1930s. The basin has experienced many floods over nine decades, and the dams, as designed, have retained and released flood waters at a rate that prevented widespread devastation and loss of life.

Three of the most significant floods that impacted the district occurred in:

💧 1935 - the largest general summer flood known in the basin
💧 1969 - summer thunderstorms resulted in 4-10 inches of rain over two days
💧 2005 - the greatest flooding event recorded since construction of the dams

07/20/2023

Trees & vegetation in parks help reduce air pollution directly by removing pollutants and reducing air temperature. Come take a breath of fresh air at one/all of our lakes as we celebrate during with

07/18/2023

UPDATE: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced that the partial closure of Seneca Dam Road has been delayed. A portion of Seneca Dam Road (OH-574) will now be closed from 6:00 a.m. July 25th through 7:00 p.m. July 28th approximately one-half mile south of the Lashley Road (OH-313) intersection.

Motorists are advised to use the following alternate route to access Seneca Lake Park:
Use Alternate Route 313 East/West to Route 285 South to Route 566 East to Route 574 North.

The closure is happening to allow maintenance to be completed on Senecaville Lake equipment. A second round of closures is expected to begin in August.

For more information, contact the USACE Public Affairs Office at 304-399-5353.

12/24/2022

Wishing you Season's Greetings - MWCD Engineering, GIS, Surveying and Utilities!

12/24/2022

Happy Holidays from the MWCD Surveying & GIS Department!