Residents Celebrate Scioto Brush Creek

Since the passing of the Clean Water Act 35 years ago, Ohio’s streams and rivers have seen an improvement, but in years prior to the enactment of this important legislation, the water quality of many Ohio streams had suffered. As a result of habitat alteration, storm water pollution, and other sources of contamination, many streams had lost some of the aquatic plant and animal species that once inhabited the water. As many streams in Ohio have suffered from pollution and are still in need of restoration, Scioto Brush Creek has maintained an outstanding status that local residents are trying to preserve.

Located in Adams and Scioto County, Scioto Brush Creek is receiving statewide acknowledgement for being among the best quality streams in Ohio. Recognized by the Ohio EPA as an outstanding warm water habitat, Scioto Brush Creek provides habitat for many different fish species and aquatic organisms that require excellent water quality for their survival. Scioto Brush Creek provides habitat to over 60 fish species, several of which are threatened in Ohio. The watershed also hosts a wide a variety of plant life including Virginia Spiraea and Southern Monkshood, both endangered in Ohio.

Members of the community joined over 120 Northwest Elementary School Students on April 27 at the Otway Covered Bridge to participate in the Ninth Annual Scioto Brush Creek Day. Sponsored by the Friends of Scioto Brush Creek, Scioto Brush Creek Day was established to stimulate interest and educate the community about this superb natural habitat. Professionals from the Ohio Division of Wildlife, Division of Natural Areas and Preserves, Adams and Scioto Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and the Friends of Scioto Brush Creek spent the day teaching participants about Scioto Brush Creek’s water quality and diverse stream habitat.

Despite high water, participants in the Scioto Brush Creek field day were able to experience the stream’s biodiversity through activities and demonstrations. Mike Greenlee, a wildlife biologist with the Ohio Division of Wildlife exhibited some of the many fish that can be found in Scioto Brush Creek through a fish shocking demonstration. Studies of the stream have found sixty-nine different species of fish inhabiting the waters of Scioto Brush Creek. Native Ohio Muskellunge, the Popeye Shiner, American Eel, and Rosyside Dace are among the rare and interesting species found in Scioto Brush Creek. Whereas many streams in Ohio have lost much of there original fish fauna over the past 100 years, Scioto Brush Creek has managed to maintain conditions that are necessary for many of the species to survive.

Scioto Brush Creek Day participants also learned about many of the small critters that make their homes in the rock and sediment at the bottom of the stream. With the help of Jerry Iles, an Ohio State University Extension Watershed Educator and volunteers Bill Wickerham of the Adams Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and Aquatic Biologist Jeff Ginger, students sampled macroinvertebrates – tiny organisms with no backbones, from Scioto Brush Creek. Macroinvertebrate sampling is a great way to determine water quality as some species are sensitive to pollution and will disappear from the stream with the presence of any contamination. Samples of Scioto Brush Creek’s macroinvertebrate species show an abundance of pollution sensitive organisms living in the stream – a sign of Scioto Brush Creek’s excellent water quality.

Students who were present at Scioto Brush Creek Day learned about food chains and competition through an activity called “Muskies and Minnows.” By simulating a stream habitat similar to that of Scioto Brush Creek, Jeff Montavon and Marcheta Ferguson of the Scioto SWCD displayed to students why food and shelter are important to stream biodiversity and how human activities on land can affect aquatic habitat. Through the activity, students experienced the effects of siltation from soil erosion and better comprehended how pollutants can destroy food sources, cause habitat loss, and significantly harm stream ecosystems.

At the conclusion of both the morning and afternoon portions of Scioto Brush Creek Day, awards were presented to students who participated in the Scioto Brush Creek Bulletin Board contest. Prior to the event, students were invited to use resources to answer questions about Scioto Brush Creek. Alex Campbell, Hannah Gilley, and Reuben Miller were recognized for achieving the highest scores. Martin McAllister, President of the Friends of Scioto Brush Creek, challenged students to share the information they had learned with their parents and to take measures to help preserve the stream. Volunteer Norvel Davis donated trees for each student to take home to plant.