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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