• OH NEMO has helped convene the ten jurisdictions within the Big Darby Creek Watershed to work together on a joint natural resource based comprehensive land use plan. The OH NEMO Program is coordinating the scientific oversight and review of the plan, which will be presented to all of the jurisdictions for their review and approval in 2005.

• The OH NEMO Program is closely involved with the efforts to protect the Big Darby Creek watershed, a state and national scenic river. Based in part on input from Ohio State University and the OH NEMO Program, the City of Columbus adopted special zoning overlay ordinances for lands along a major tributary of the Big Darby Creek, the Hellbranch. The ordinances create buffer zones, reduction in impervious surface and increased infiltration requirements. Much of the information from the Darby overlay has been used in the development of a draft citywide ordinance, with further input from OH NEMO.

Spotlight On...

Ohio NEMO Program
Article from the National Network Newsletter Fall 2004 issue.

-Article by Tim Lawrence, Ohio NEMO Program Director

As Ohio NEMO celebrates its fifth anniversary, the program’s success and longevity has been attributed to its emphasis on finding areas of need for nonpoint source (NPS) pollution education that augment other programs within the state. Collaboration with partners, (see left column) and the assistance of four district-level watershed Extension agents, have helped Ohio NEMO assess the needs of communities attempting to address NPS pollution, and develop and deliver programs to meet these needs.

One of Ohio NEMO’s primary contributions is to establish examples for mitigation of stormwater, and establish the scientific bases for regulatory approaches. An early example of this effort includes working on the use of bioretention landscape areas with the Clark County SWCD and the Village of New Albany. Another is work with the City of Columbus on establishment of a stormwater overlay in the Hellbranch watershed, a tributary of Big Darby Creek.

Ohio NEMO has also played an integral part in the Ohio State University (OSU) CampUShed project, the recipient of a Campus Ecology Award in 2003 from the National Wildlife Foundation. CampUShed applies NEMO principles to the OSU campus, integrating them into the teaching and research mission of the University. The project provides opportunities for students, faculty and staff to learn about environmentally friendly concepts in construction, land use and daily activities on campus. Because the OSU campus faces many of the same challenges related to the NPDES Phase II program and low head dam removal that are confronting many communities, the project is also applicable in the “real world.”

The work with CampUShed has opened many avenues into other University programs. Examples include the Ohio Stream Restoration, Ecology and Aquatic Management Solutions (STREAMS) project, the internationally recognized Olentangy Wetland Research Park and the Waterman Farm Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center. These resources have in turn allowed Ohio NEMO to provide new and diverse water quality programs to communities throughout the state.

An example of this interaction is the NEMO for Streams program being developed with Ohio State University's STREAMS program (streams.osu.edu). This collaboration has already led to the City of Columbus enacting a “river rules” concept into their new city stormwater overlay to protect the “streamway,” in addition to riparian areas. NEMO programs can help to reduce the energy flow and pollutant loads into streams but often stop at the banks. NEMO for Streams plunges NEMO into the creeks (eeeek - it's cold in there!) providing educational programs that address issues of stream form and function. Local developers are now integrating the river rules concept into their site plans.

This positive collaboration has opened even more opportunities between NEMO and OSU Extension in water quality education. Ohio NEMO is now working with one of the major developers in Central Ohio and introducing them to the OSU Urban Landscape Ecology Program, which works to develop environmentally sound technologies and approaches to landscape planning, establishment, and maintenance. Next year, the 30 faculty members of the Urban Landscape program, the Franklin County Extension office (who will work with the homeowners association to continue the program) and Ohio NEMO will work with the developer to develop an Eco-Friendly (or NEMOesque) neighborhood. Without the trust developed through the Ohio NEMO and NEMO for Streams program, it is unlikely that the eco-friendly neighborhood program would have even made it to first base. And, while the project is still a long way from home plate, the bases are loaded and Barry Bonds is at bat. If the developer implements the river rules and the eco-friendly neighborhood concept, it will set an example for communities and developers throughout the state to follow.

After five years, the NEMO approach (or whatever you call it) is clearly alive and well in many communities throughout Ohio. Ohio NEMO has demonstrated the benefits of working with others, collaborating to get the job done and finding solutions that make both economic and environmental sense. As a result, the impressive accomplishments of the program and its partners in addressing water quality in Ohio are only matched by the bright future that surely lies ahead.

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