Have you ever wondered what is going on in our water ways? What is living in them or what is destroying them?
Here at Ashland Soil and Water we are involved in multiple water quality testing programs.
We have two main locations with numerous sites, one being the Jerome Fork and the other being the Mohican River.
We test from the spring to the fall and test at 11 sites. The data we are collecting is the ammonia nitrogen/nitrate, coliform, dissolved oxygen, pH, phosphorus, potassium and surfactants. After collecting the data it is used to determine the water quality at each location.
The data also is used to show a multitude of items, like life of organisms living in the water, nutrients for plants and animals, water movement, and types of bacteria that are in the streams or rivers. We collect all of the water samples with a colorimeter.
How can you become involved in stream quality monitoring
Ashland SWCD is partnered with Ohio Scenic Rivers Program to complete stream quality monitoring (SQM) by going along the Mohican River in the same spot, three times a year, and collecting macro-invertebrates. They are organisms that live in the streams and include crayfish, snails and clams.
All animals are returned to the streams. The collection is just used to see what is living and thriving in the streams.
Ohio Scenic Rivers is always looking for volunteers to help along the Mohican. There are three trainings being held this summer to train volunteers. It is one of the most favorite things the office does.
If you are interested in helping, feel free to reach out and ask for more information.
Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) is another partner that provides producers with a cost share programs to protect waterways, which ends up protecting our water quality. It offers log jam removal, exclusion fencing and cover crop usage.
Cover crop applications just opened and are due by July 1. Please reach out to Brennan Hart in the office and he will get you covered.
If you have any questions about volunteer opportunities or are interest in our cost share programs, call the Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District at 419-281-7645.
Zoey Dudte is a water quality specialist with the Ashland County Soil and Water Conservation District. She leads programming for H2Ohio, nutrient management,and water quality testing. Contact her at 419-281-7645.
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Monitoring the Mohican: How Ashland SWCD is helping to protect waterways
Reporting by Zoey Dudte/Special to Ashland Times-Gazette / Ashland Times Gazette
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