Water, Water Everywhere! Find Out Why You Should Care...

If there’s one thing 2022 has taught us so far, it’s that no matter what the season, flooding can happen right here in Ashland County in mere hours. That leaves many Ashland County residents wondering “water” they supposed to do to prepare for these high-precipitation events?

That’s why Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is hosting a Conservation Chat on April 1 to answer that question: Water You Gonna Do? The event will take place at 1 p.m. at the Mohican Country Market in Loudonville and will provide the answers to just that question.

Jane Houin, program director with Ashland SWCD and floodplain manager for Ashland County, says the first step to being prepared is making sure good monitoring data is in place.

“We know our weather pattern here is Ashland County is changing; we’re seeing a lot more frequent, high-intensity precipitation events, and that means we’re seeing more local flooding more frequently,” Houin said. “One way we as a community prepare for those situations is by making sure accurate data is in place to help our officials make the right calls when it comes to issuing warnings, watches and community alerts.”

One source those weather professionals use to make those calls are actually local precipitation monitors, Houin says. Anyone in Ashland County can sign up to become a CoCoRahs (Community Collaborative Rain Hail and Snow) precipitation monitor or ice river spotter. In these roles, local community members collect daily data and submit it through an online reporting system that is used to help assess and monitor local conditions.

“Several years ago our staff and board attended an area soil and water meeting with a speaker from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) talking about changing weather patterns here in Ohio, and the speaker asked if there was anyone in the room from Ashland County because they had no local precipitation monitors in our county to report data,” Houin said. “Our district decided that was important information for our county to collect, so we helped recruit and train some precipitation monitors. Now we have some reporters in Ashland County, but we’re looking for more to provide even better data for our community.”

The Conservation Chat will provide an opportunity for community members to learn what is involved is becoming a precipitation monitor and/or an ice river spotter. Then, they will participate in a hands-on, interactive discussion about stormwater management and priorities in our community.

Although Houin admits talking about policy development can sometimes be a real drag, her office utilizes a very interactive, hands-on board game to help participants think about different options and priorities when it comes to managing stormwater in their community.

The chat will take place at the Mohican Country Market on the south side of Loudonville. Registration is $5 and includes a rain gauge, and cookies fresh from the market’s baked goods section. Space is limited, so it’s important to get reservations in early. Registration fees can be dropped off in person at the Ashland or Holmes SWCD offices or online.