Portage County Watersheds Plan is Launched
“Protecting the Health of Our Water for Future Generations”

The Portage County Regional Planning Commission, with a variety of partners including the Portage Park District, is embarking on a project to develop a Watersheds Plan for Portage County. A Watersheds Plan is needed now because Portage County has important water resources (providing water for over 625,000 people!), and high quality natural areas that are threatened by a variety of human land uses. Rapid development and changing land uses are fragmenting landscapes, decreasing groundwater infiltration and increasing polluted runoff and flooding. A Watersheds Plan will help to identify ways that development can be balanced with sustainable use our natural resources, which saves money while adding to our quality of life.
The project is being funded by a $75,000 grant from USDA Forest Service with $75,000 in local match being provided by the project partners.

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Partners include:
• Portage Park District
• Portage County Commissioners
• Portage County Water
   Resources Department
• Portage County Soil &
   Water Conservation District
• American Heritage Rivers/Cuyahoga RAP
• Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
• Ohio Department of Natural Resources
   Division of Forestry
• The Nature Conservancy
• The Countryside Program
• Portage Land Association for
   Conservation and Education
• Headwaters Land Trust
The Watershed Plan project has the following components:
1. Develop a plan for watershed health that inventories watershed resources, identifies important conservation areas and recommends strategies for water resource protection
2. Develop an educational program for the general public, landowners and local officials that focuses on options and strategies for conservation
3. Encourage public involvement by appointing an Advisory Committee, and requesting input through interviews, surveys and public meetings

So far, a natural resource inventory identifying significant forest and wetland areas has been completed, and digital maps and an electronic database has been developed. The Steering Committee is forming an Advisory Committee from a variety of interest groups including developers, the mining industry, environmental groups, hunting and fishing clubs, local government officials and other interested citizens. The entire project is expected to be completed by the end of 2005, including a conservation options public workshop. The Plan will take into consideration existing studies and plans, including local township land use plans. Local officials can use it as a guide for land use and zoning decisions; landowners and developers can use it to identify the best places to develop and learn about conservation options; volunteer citizen groups can get involved with water quality monitoring and ecosystem management. The Portage Park District will use it as a foundation for their land conservation program in planning for the expansion of the county park system, and having a Plan is critical to getting conservation grants.

Implementing the Plan will yield many benefits including:
• Protecting water quality and quantity for our citizens
• Conserving wildlife habitat
• Saving money through flood and pollution prevention
• Creating opportunities for recreation and environmental education
• Improving quality of life

For some great information about watersheds visit http://www.cuyahogariverrap.org

For more information about the Watershed Plan, contact Portage County Regional Planning Commission at (330) 297-3613 or the Portage Park District at (330) 297-7728.
 
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email - phone 330.297.7728 - 128 N. Prospect St. Ravenna, Ohio 44266