Drainage Maintenance Program - The Hancock SWCD through a written agreement with the County Engineers and County Commissioners, took over all duties for the existing ditch maintenance program.  All drainage/ditch concerns will now be addressed through the SWCD.  Please contact Gary Tuttle, SWCD District Technician  with your questions and concerns at  419-422-6569 .
 

GENERAL CONSERVATION INFORMATION:

Financial Incentives for Conservation
The Hancock SWCD is working with the Ohio EPA and local area banks on a linked deposit low interest loan program.  This program helps agricultural producers in the Blanchard River Watershed reduce nonpoint source pollution and improve water quality.  Currently, this program can reduce a borrower's interest rate on a loan by as much as 5%.  Examples of agricultural projects that can be funded throughout the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) include construction of livestock waste management facilities, purchase of conservation tillage equipment, installation of grass waterways and other erosion control measures to reduce sediment runoff, conversion to improve farm chemical applicators, and other methods of reducing chemical runoff, use of fencing to exclude livestock from streams and establishment of riparian buffer/filter strips along streams.  For more information, contact Meghan Clement at the SWCD office at 419-422-6569.
 
 
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION INFORMATION:

Environmental Education Programs
The Hancock Soil & Water Conservation District has ended all Education Programs due to budget cuts.

   
WATERSHED PROJECTS:
All watershed project questions and concerns:  contact Gary Tuttle, Hancock SWCD, 419-422-6569
 
1. Blanchard River Annual Maintenance On-going
Landowners along the Blanchard River should be aware that the annual maintenance work has begun along the Blanchard River, depending on weather conditions.  As part of the program, any trees that have fallen into the river, and any logjams that have developed during the past year will be removed.  A log skidder will be used to remove the logjams and downed trees.

If landowners are aware of specific logjams on their properties, they should contact Gary Tuttle at the Hancock Soil & Water Conservation District to make sure that the debris get removed.  Contact the SWCD office for a more detailed schedule of the work locations and anticipated time frame.

2. Eagle Creek Logjam Removal Project Maintenance
Landowners adjacent to the stream should contact Gary Tuttle if they have any questions or concerns about the stream enhancement project.  The creek will be inspected again this winter for any new logjams.

3. Ottawa Creek Logjam Removal Project Maintenance
Landowners that wish to obtain more information on this particular project or have concerns on this project can contact the Hancock SWCD office.  As new log jams develop, they will be removed as part of the maintenance program during the fall and winter months.
 

Drainage Maintenance Program
For information on ditches or if you have a ditch that needs to be cleared, dipped out, sprayed or needs work, contact Gary Tuttle at the Hancock SWCD office  at  419-422-6569

 Ditches that are currently scheduled to be dipped in fall 2007 / spring 2008:                                 
 Voorhees, KcKean Jt., E.E. Urban, Jerry Stahl Jt., Kring, Foreman, Bright, Lye      
                          
Ditches scheduled to be sprayed in 2008:
Krautter/Reiter Jt, Jacob Burket, Hartman/Shull, R.B. Worden, Charles Good