LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor
Since 2004

Tag: watersheds

  • Natural resources grants available for farmers, forest owners

    Natural resources grants available for farmers, forest owners

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced the deadline to submit applications for Ohio’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).  Additionally, NRCS is offering an opportunity for agricultural producers in three watersheds in the East Fork Little Miami River Basin to apply for assistance installing conservation practices that protect water quality through the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI). The deadline for both applications is Jan. 15.

    The three East Fork watersheds for which the additional NWQI funding is available include:

    • Glady Creek-East Fork Little Miami River
    • Solomon Run-East Fork Little Miami River
    • Five Mile Creek-East Fork Little Miami River

    Together, Ohio NRCS along with the Clermont, Brown, Clinton, and Highland Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) will utilize funds to implement core water quality practices in these watersheds. Applicants for the EQIP and NWQI programs should be farmers, or farm or forest landowners and meet eligibility criteria.

    “The additional NWQI funding available is a great opportunity for landowners to implement conservation practices in their operation to help and improve water quality on cropland, forest, pasture, and farmsteads,” said Christina Gates, NRCS district conservationist for Brown and Clermont Counties. “If your property is located within the outlined funding area please contact me prior to Jan. 15 at christina.gates@usda.gov to schedule a field visit and submit an application for funding for 2021.”

    Property owners in Clinton and Highland Counties with land in the funding area should contact their local NRCS office.

    Applications signed and submitted to NRCS by the Jan. 15 deadline will be evaluated for fiscal year 2021 funding. Visit Ohio NRCS website under “EQIP Funding Categories” for more details. To learn more about EQIP or other technical and financial assistance available through NRCS conservation programs, visit Get Started with NRCS or contact your local USDA Service Center.

  • Loveland Students Ruthie Timman and Lilly Rohling chosen as Artists for Cincinnati Zoo’s Rain Barrel Art Benefit Auction

    Loveland Students Ruthie Timman and Lilly Rohling chosen as Artists for Cincinnati Zoo’s Rain Barrel Art Benefit Auction

    Lilly Rohling (on the left) and Rachel Noe, both members of the Loveland High School Art Club, worked together to paint Lilly’s winning design on a plan rain barrel.

    Loveland, Ohio – Ruthie Timman, eighth grader at Loveland Middle School, and Lilly Rohling, sophomore at Loveland High School, have earned the honor of contributing their designed rain barrels for the 7thAnnual Rain Barrel Art Benefit Auction, held as part of “Party for the Planet” at the Cincinnati Zoo.

    Ruthie Timman (on the right) involved family, friends, her science teacher Catherine Rudisell, and classmates as she worked on her rain barrel project. Here she is with her friend A.J. Dahlquist.

    “I entered the contest because I love art and wanted to see if mine was good enough to make it through, and it did,” said Ruthie, who liked the idea that it would also benefit the zoo and help save local water. “My design idea came from going to Anna Maria Island with my family, where we kayaked and saw manatees. They came right up to us and were super gentle. They are also unique animals and not as popular as the common zoo animals, like tigers, giraffes, and elephants.”

    Forty local artists – about half of them students and the other half professional or hobby artists – have revamped typical green, dull and drab rain barrels into creative and colorful accent pieces for the garden. All barrels will be on display at the zoo throughout the month of April, leading up to the last day of the silent auction which was held on April 25.

    The Rain Barrel Art Project began as an initiative to promote the use of rain barrels, which help conserve water and save money. The project continues to educate citizens on environmental issues, including storm water runoff, watersheds and water conservation. Art teachers around town have taken it on as an annual project for their students, who are often passionate about the environment.

    “Environmental protection and preservation are very important to me and I liked the idea of combining art with environmental work.”

    “Loveland High School’s Art Club has done this project in the past and I was encouraged to bring in a design,” said Lilly. “Environmental protection and preservation are very important to me and I liked the idea of combining art with environmental work. I love the Earth and always try to do my part in protecting it. Even something seemingly as small as one barrel can do so much good in the long run for our environment.”

    Proceeds from the rain barrel auction will be used to further environmental education and awareness.