Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District

Wet Weather Initiative

Meeting Minutes

October 23, 2003

Present: Tom Ryther, Chair; Brian Bohl, HCS&WD; Rob Caudill, HCGHD; Dave Gamstetter, Cincinnati Parks; Bret Henninger, HC Park District; John Hunter, LWVCA; Bob Jansen, MVCD; Jim Rozelle, FMSM; Marty Umberg, MSD; Holly Utrata-Halcomb, HCS&WD

Review of Meeting Summary, August 28, 2003
The August 28, 2003 WWIN meeting summary was amended to include the website of the Green Umbrella organization: www.greenumbrella.org.

City Green and Environmental Enhancements - Dave Gamstetter, Manager, Forestry Department, Cincinnati Park Board
Urban trees provide dramatic benefits through reduced stormwater flows, reduced energy usage, and improved air quality. Cincinnati is covered by tree canopy over 37 % of its area compared to a national average for cities of just 27%. In part, this reflects the large areas of steep, undeveloped hillsides and the large forested parks that characterize Cincinnati. However, 20 of the city's 52 neighborhoods have a canopy deficit when compared to American Forests, Inc.'s recommended 40% canopy closure for residential and 25% for mixed residential /commercial neighborhoods. Also, the Central Business District has only 3.5 % cover compared to a recommended 15%.

Cincinnati Park's Urban Forestry Advisory Board has created a Reforestation Task Force (RTF) to address these deficits. RTF has developed reforestation maps to guide tree planting over the next twenty years. Included are plans for the I-75 Gateway between Galbraith and Paddock, and community and Central Business District reforestation. The reforestation maps and benefit analysis were made using software developed by American Forests, Inc. In addition to Carbon sequestration and pollution removal benefits, The completed program will reduce stormwater runoff by 69%and peak flow reduction by nearly 85 % within the mapped areas. Applying the model to Hamilton County using CAGIS High resolution satellite imagery projects, over $27,000,000 in annual savings from pollution and stormwater control were provided by the County's tree canopy.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Stream Monitoring - Marty Umberg
MSD is monitoring water quality of Mill Creek, Duck Creek, and the Hamilton County part of the Ohio River for chemical pollutants. The data is being collected for both wet and dry weather periods and will be used to develop water quality models. ORSANCO will be monitoring the Ohio for TMDL compliance using funds from the MSD fine.

Storm Water Management
The Hamilton County Stormwater District is establishing a Technical Advisory Committee chaired by Todd Long of the HC Engineer's office. Legislation is being requested at the State level to codify the permit requirement from 5 acres to one acre required under NPDES Phase II. Cheviot is seeking exclusion from Phase II.

Education Committee - Holly Utrata-Halcomb
A $5000 grant to conduct a "Green Conservation Development" seminar is being pursued.

Watershed labeling signs at 15 stream crossings in the County will be installed by years end.

Nominating Committee
The Chair appointed Holly Utrata-Halcomb, Jim Rozelle, and John Hunter to serve on a committee to nominate a Chair for WWIN for 2004.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

West Mill Creek corridor reforestation workday: (circulated 10/24 to WWIN)
Volunteers are needed on Saturday, October 25, for planting trees and shrubs at a stream corridor restoration project on the West Fork Mill Creek in Colerain Township. Holes are pre-dug by auger and plants delivered in easy-to-handle containers, just bring your shovel and horticultural skills.

Planting begins at 9:00 AM but will continue into the afternoon so help is welcomed at any time in that period. The meeting place is south of Galbraith and east of Colerain Avenue (US 27) at a gravel lot off Royal Glen Drive, near Blanchetta Drive and the West Fork Mill Creek. For information call Frank Birkenhauer of Colerain Township at 513-385-7500 or Bruce Koehler at OKI (513-621-6300 ext. 112.

This is a Clean Ohio Fund Project partnered by Colerain township, OKI, Metropolitan Sewer District, U. of Cincinnati, and HC S&WCD.

WMAO (Ohio Stormwater Task Force)
The next meeting is November 15-16. A 319 grant of $35,000 has been received by the stormwater section of WMAO. A RFP will be sent out soon to look at legislation concerning stormwater.

Next Meeting:
The next meeting of the Wet Weather Initiative is January 22, 2004 at HCDOES at 9:30 AM.