Urban
The Scioto Soil and Water Conservation District is available to work with residents, landowners, churches, schools, businesses and those involved in local government in the development, improvement and protection of our urban natural resources.
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The urban landscape has many resources we can all work to improve in areas as small as an urban back yard to larger areas of business or government property.
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There are many practices that can be planned and implemented within the urban environment that can help to improve and conserve our natural resources. These can range from installing rain gardens and rain barrels on residential property to implementing stormwater runoff control and low impact development practices on new construction or even existing properties.
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The urban areas are also a much underutilized environment for the installation of wildlife and pollinator plantings to benefit our wildlife species and also the installation of urban agriculture practices such as community or local neighborhood gardens and even high tunnels and greenhouses.
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Traditionally we may not have thought of urban areas as places to focus on natural resources stewardship and conservation but it is just as important to make efforts in these areas as it is in our less developed environments.
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The Scioto SWCD received a NACD Urban and Community Conservation grant with funding running through autumn 2024. This grant is to provide technical assistance and education to county residents and landowners, with a focus on urban areas, on getting started in or expanding growing your own food. The hope is to expand the amount of fresh, local, nutritious food grown locally. If you are interested in learning more please contact our office.
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Link to informative USDA publication explaining elements involved in implementing a successful urban agriculture project.
NRCS site on developing backyard conservation practices with links to informative tip sheets and additional sites.
An OSU Environmental Professionals Network webpage with links to many urban conservation and stormwater management sites.