Muskingum Soil & Water Conservation District

Transcription

1 Muskingum Soil & Water Conservation District 225 Underwood Street, Suite 100, Zanesville OH Your Soil and Water Conservation Specialists Phone (740) FAX (740) NRCS (740) Newsletter Issue 1 muskingumswcd.org Spring 2017, Published Quarterly Muskingum County Reptile and Amphibian Survey 2017 What s New this Year? If you have been following our Citizen Science Project, The Muskingum County Reptile and Amphibian Survey, you re aware of the success of the 2016 survey. A total of 306 animals reported, 39 species, 9 county records and over 250 people that participated in the first year of the project. The good news is, we are conducting the survey again in We are already getting salamander and frog records a full month earlier than last year. If you are interested in learning more about these animals in Muskingum County, visit the District website, for more information about the survey, and to download a free field guide. We are also looking for volunteers to help with several monitoring projects, if you are interested, please e -mail me directly at nicole.hafer@muskingumswcd.org for information. So, how can you participate in our survey? Just take a couple of photos of the animal, note where exactly you found it (GPS coordinates if possible) and send to us via one of the following methods: 1. Our Facebook page, The Muskingum County Reptile and Amphibian Survey, and make sure to like our page for survey updates; 2. the information to me at nicole.hafer@muskingumswcd.org; 3. Check out our project on the inaturalist app, a free app for iphone and Android; or 4. Print them off the old-fashioned way and drop them off at the office. If you have any questions about the survey, or reptiles and amphibians in general, feel free to e- mail me at the above address, or call the office at (740) Spring Amphibian Program at McGraw-Edison Park Saturday, April 29 th 6:30 PM Bring your headlamp and wear your rain boots to prepare for a fun evening adventure in search of amphibians at McGraw-Edison Park! Spring is the only time of the year to see many of the amazing frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts found in Ohio. We will start with a short presentation on amphibians including live animals, then gear up and head to the wetland in search of animals that have entered the vernal pools to breed. Since these animals are largely nocturnal, we will be searching after dark, so please bring a flashlight or headlamp and prepare to get wet! Amphibians love rainy nights, so this is a rain or shine event! If you have questions, please contact Nicole Hafer, Education/Wildlife Specialist with the Muskingum Soil and Water Conservation District at , or nicole.hafer@muskingumswcd.org. Visit our website, for a downloadable reptile and amphibian field guide and for information the Muskingum County Reptile and Amphibian Survey.

2 We Would Like to Thank Our Sponsors We Need Your Junk! We are collecting items to be used in our summer programs. The items can be dropped off at the office Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m. by the first of May. Items needed: Coffee bags Old button with pin on the back Beads Bottle caps metal & plastic (no clear please) CDs/ DVDs Dowel rods Aluminum Pie pans Shampoo/conditioner bottles empty & rinsed Plastic jugs the scoopable cat litter comes in Any garden tools Garden pots of any size Metal or plastic small coffee cans Large vegetable cans

3 Redear Shellcracker 2017 Fish Sale April 14, 2017 Bluegill Pick-up Hours:1:00 3:00 p.m. in the MSWCD parking lot (Elberon Street Side) Please bring with you when you pick up your fish: 1. Container: (5-gallon bucket or gallon trash can) 2. Plastic liner in container 3. Liner half full of pond water. The container must be lined in order to keep the oxygen in the water. Muskingum Soil and Water Conservation District Fish Species Qty Fish Sale Order Form Order Deadline: April 7, 2017 Cost Black Crappie 85 $ Bluegill 85 $ Channel Catfish 80 $ Fathead Minnows $6/100 $ Hybrid Bluegill 85 $ Largemouth Bass 90 $ Japanese Koi $11.00 $ Redear Shellcracker 85 $ White Amur $13.00 $ Yellow Perch 85 $ Total Grand Total $ Name Address City Zip Phone # Cell # Make checks out to: Muskingum Soil and Water Conservation District 225 Underwood Street, Suite 100 Zanesville, Ohio Payment must be made at the time of ordering the fish. To order, clip the order form in this flyer and mail it along with payment to MSWCD office. Additional order forms available at

4 Black Crappie 2-4 Growth rate on crappies will average 2 to 3 inches in length per year on a life span of about 8 years. Crappie feed on small fish and insects much like the bluegill and are able to eat a little larger fish. Bluegill 2-4 They are found throughout the state in nearly every stream and body of water. Bluegill reach 7 to 10 inches, but if they become overcrowded, will remain less then 5 inches in length. Best fish for forage because of their high reproduction numbers. Channel Catfish 4-5 Found in most large streams, lakes and many farm ponds, this Ohio native can tolerate a wide range of conditions, but prefers areas of deep water, and a low to moderate current. The average size catfish is 12 to 14 inches in length. Fathead Minnows 1-2 Minnows are a feeder fish that tolerate a wide range of water conditions, making them suitable for farm ponds. Recommended in new ponds to help boost growth of game fish until bluegill begin to spawn. Hybrid Bluegill 2-4 A cross of a male bluegill and female green sunfish, giving it the length of bluegill and thickness and aggressiveness of sunfish. If the food is there, they reach the size of 10 to Japanese Koi Japanese Koi love to eat duckweed so if you reduce the amount of food you give them it will encourage them to eat the duckweed $6/ $11 Largemouth Bass 2-3 Native to Ohio, largemouth bass prefer ponds, lakes and slow, sluggish streams. Adult bass eat crayfish, frogs, large insects and other fish. Average size weighs from 1 to 2 pounds. Redear Shellcracker 2-4 Redear are not native to Ohio, but have been stocked in state waters for many years. They prefer a diet of snails and can reach 9 to 11 inches in length. White Amur 8-10 Also known as grass carp, they eat weeds and plants and grow very rapidly. White Amur often attain 4 feet in length and weigh pounds as adults. Amur used for weed control are sterile, triploid fish that eat up to three times their own body weight. Yellow Perch 2-3 Native to Ohio, Perch are found in lakes, ponds and slow moving rivers. Yellow perch normally range from 6 to 12 inches in length and weigh from 1/4 to 1 pound. These two make your balance: 100 Largemouth Bass 200 Bluegill These add variety to the menu: 100 Channel Catfish 100 Redear Shellcracker 100 Hybrid Bluegill 1000 Flathead Minnows Note: If the pond you are stocking is smaller than one acre, multiply the surface area of the pond by the rate in the chart above. For Example: 0.65 Acre Pond 0.65 X 1000 (Minnows) = 650 Minnows *10 White Amur $13 85 Stocking recommendations for a new one acre pond *Suggested rate for one acre pond with moderate pond weed problem. New ponds should not be stocked unless pond weeds exist (moderate = 50% infestation).

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6 Putnam Urban Greens Gardens 1. Restoration Park Located on Muskingum Avenue across from The Bridge Coffeehouse & Restaurant Looking for a space to grow your own vegetables? Look no further! This spring, 18 raised beds will be installed in Restoration Park. Beds are available for individuals, groups, and families as private plots. The food produced at the gardens will belong to the gardeners overseeing each bed. Please contact our Urban Agriculture Specialist, Jessica Stonecypher, to reserve a bed! 2. TheLifeWell Garden First United Methodist Church 857 Putnam Avenue Zanesville, Ohio This raised bed garden is designed to be handicap accessible and to include anyone interested in gardening! No experience necessary! The entire garden will be a shared space and food will be available to all gardeners on a first come, first serve basis. 3. The Warehouse Garden Weller Pottery Warehouse 239 Weller Avenue Zanesville, Ohio This historic warehouse has a gem hidden inside, a rustic courtyard! This space will be developed into a community garden for families to enjoy, complete with raised beds, live willow structures, and a whimsical space for children to play! The food grown in the garden will be available to guests on a first come, first serve basis. 4. Zanesville City Schools Farm to School Garden Zanesville Community High School 920 Moxahala Avenue Zanesville, OH Interested in the Farm to School movement sweeping our nation? Join us as we develop a farm to school operation. Produce grown in this garden will go right into the Zanesville City Schools' summer lunch program! 5. Bethel Community Garden Bethel Community Center 126 Ontario Street Zanesville, OH Bethel Community Center will be entering into its third year of production as a community garden. This year, the youth of Bethel will be marketing and selling their produce at the Zanesville Farmers' Market. Be on the lookout for their farm stand and their smiling faces! They are always ready to share their experiences in the garden with others. urbangreensputnam/ Follow us at greens_urban Like us on urbangreensputnam/

7 2017 Pollinator Plant Sale In an on-going effort to promote the establishment of pollinator habitat, the Muskingum Soil and Water Conservation District (MSWCD) is again offering various berry plants and a pollinator seed mix for sale. Proceeds from the sale benefit the college internship scholarship program. Worldwide, animals pollinate approximately 80% of the crop plants that are grown for food, forage, fibers, and medicines. Billions of dollars of our economy, not to mention most of what we eat, is based on pollinated crops. Recent years have seen a decline in the overall pollinator population due to diseases, loss of habitat, and improper use of insecticides/pesticides. Pollinators are not just butterflies and bees, but also include moths, hummingbirds, beetles, flies, and even bats. Any area of habitat we provide, no matter how small, will help provide nectar and pollen to support these vital members of our world. The plants for sale have been selected for their attraction to pollinators, so please be advised that bees will be attracted to these same plants. All of the plants are deer resistant, meaning that they are not the first plants the deer will clean off your property. The berries are all hardy, easy to grow canes that come from a nursery in Michigan, so they will be winter-hardy to our area. Orders are being taken for a limited number of plants on a first come-first serve basis. Orders will be taken until April 24 or until the plants are sold out. Order forms are available at the office, in this newsletter, or on-line at Payment must be submitted with the order. Orders may be placed at the MSWCD office or mailed to 225 Underwood Street, Suite 100, Zanesville, Ohio Orders cannot be taken over the phone. Projected delivery to our office is mid-may. We will notify you by postcard or when the plants and/or seeds can be picked up. You must pick up your plants on the specified date because we do not have a place to keep the plants. The plants are small (2-4 pots). There are no refunds or exchanges and we reserve the right to make substitutions. All sales are final. Berries are sold in bundles of three of one type of plant. Blackberries, Triple Crown ($12.00 for 3 plants) A trailing, thornless Blackberry. The fruit is medium in size and quality is firm. Do not plant near black raspberries. Black Raspberry, Ohio Treasure ($12.00 for 3 plants) Medium size fruit. The plants can produce two crops per year. This plant will yield up to three pounds of fruit per year. The black raspberry is well balanced between sweetness and freshness. Blueberries, Duke ($15.00 for 3 plants) It matures at 4-6 tall and has an upright growth pattern. Midseason. bush can produce pounds of medium, delicious berries in the beginning of July. Bears fruit in two to three years. Name: Address: City: State: Phones: Pollinator Plant Order Form Order deadline is April 24, Blackberries, Triple Crown (3 plants) x $12.00 = Black Raspberry, Ohio Treasure (3 plants) x $12.00 = Red Raspberry, Autumn Britten (3 plants) x $12.00 = Blueberries, Duke (3 plants) x $15.00 = Blueberries, Bonus (3 plants) x $15.00 = Make checks payable to: Muskingum SWCD 225 Underwood Street, Suite 100 Zanesville, Ohio Grand Total: $ Blueberries, Bonus ($15.00 for 3 plants) This plant will grow 5-6 feet tall. Fruit size is extra large. Bears fruit in two to three years. Red Raspberry, Autumn Britten ($12.00 for 3 plants) Deep red berries. Fruit ripens in early August. Zip:

8 Planting Basics, Learn Where to Start March 23, :00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Bethel Community Center 126 Ontario Street Zanesville, Ohio GROWING FOOD BUILDING COMMUNITY LIVING WELL Space is limited. Learn the basics of gardening and community building in a garden setting. Experience the benefits of gardening with your neighbors and get your hands dirty by creating your own mini garden to take home. Call (740) to RSVP by March 21, The SWCD and NRCS prohibit discrimination in any program activity or employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, retaliation, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital or family status, or genetic information. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication (Braille, large print, etc,) or who need special accommodations for meetings should contact the SWCD office at (740)

9 For a number of years now, the MSWCD has sponsored a Big Tree Contest in Muskingum County. The purpose of the contest, in addition to locating, measuring and documenting our county s big trees, is to provide an opportunity to remind us of the importance of trees and their role in our quality of life. Trees nominated for this contest may be on your own property, or on other privately owned or public land in Muskingum County. Trees are scored using a format utilized by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources-Division of Forestry in determining Ohio s big trees, many of which remain National Big Tree Champions. The tree s height, average crown spread, and Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) are factored in this measurement, earning specific points or values. When you nominate a tree, we ask that you approximate these dimensions. SWCD staff will measure each nominated tree for points. Also, it is very important to be specific as to the location of the nominated tree. It is equally important that the nominator or owner be available for the measurement by the staff during the field visit. An award will be presented to the owner of the largest tree in Muskingum County, regardless of species. A custom made plaque and recognition in the District Newsletter will be awarded to the owners of the Big Tree Last year, a Sycamore, owned by Russ Downing, scored points. This points total was calculated by adding the circumference in inches (210 inches or 5.57 feet in diameter), the height (90 feet) and the crown spread average times.25 (94 ft x.25). tree entered is in the contest for two years. Previous big tree winners can enter again, but a different tree must be submitted for consideration. If you would like to submit a tree for consideration, complete the form below and return by April 28, Owner's Name: Address: City, State, Zip: Draw a brief sketch of the property showing the approximate location of the tree in the space provided below, or stop into the office and show us on an aerial map. Daytime Phone: Nominator's Name: Daytime Phone: Species: Circumference at 4 1/2 (in inches): Approx. Vertical Height (in feet): Average Diameter/Spread of Crown (in feet): Exact Location of Tree: Advertisers Complete and return by April 28, 2017 to: Muskingum SWCD Big Tree Contest 225 Underwood Street, Suite 100 Zanesville, OH 43701

10 Save the Date Muskingum Soil and Water Conservation District 225 Underwood Street, Suite 100 Zanesville, OH Return Service Requested Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Zanesville, Ohio Permit No. 262 Board of Supervisors: Kenny Rupe, Chairperson Francis Steffee, Vice-Chairperson Keith Dilley, Treasurer/Fiscal Agent Mark Weiser, Secretary Lance Deal, Member District Personnel: Kristen Baughman Robert Boehle Lisa Crock Melissa Devore Nicole Hafer Van Slack Jessica Stonecypher NRCS Personnel: Lori Ryan-Griffin Dee Wiseman Printed on Recycled Paper Tree Seedling Deadline March 3 Ag Breakfast March 7 Live at Noon March 14 MSWCD Board Meeting March 14 Planting Basics Bethel Community Center March 23 Live at Noon March 28 Ag Breakfast April 4 Fish Order Deadline April 7 Live at Noon April 11 Follow us at twitter.com/ Muskingum_SWCD pinterest.com/ muskingumswcd/ Like us on facebook.com/ MuskingumSWCD MSWCD Board Meeting April 11 Fish Sale Pick-up April 14 Ready, Set, Grow! April 15 Pollinator Plant Sale Deadline April 24 Live at Noon April 25 Ag Breakfast May 2 Live at Noon May 9 MSWCD Board Meeting May 9 Plant & Seed Giveaway May 13 Live at Noon May 23 Save the Date July 15, th Annual ATV Conservation Tour