• Statewide, the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources Division of Soil and Water Conservation issued the draft of a revised Rainwater and Land Development Manual. While not binding by itself, the Manual is often incorporated into erosion and stormwater regulations. Sierra Club review of the Manual praised its clear format and conservation approaches such as stream buffers and low impact development.* A need was noted to balance heavy engineering detail in the Manual with guidance on plants and vegetation that would be going into engineered structures. We asked for more reliance on native plants and avoidance of invasive species.

Every month brings a steady stream of “401” applications to Ohio EPA to fill, culvertize, channelize, move, or dredge streams and wetlands. Sierra Club can only review and comment on just a few. For June and July, 2006:

• Proposed wastewater (sewage) treatment plant on O’Shaughnessy Reservoir of the Scioto River. The plant, to be owned and operated by Delaware County, would discharge treated effluent into Columbus’ drinking water reservoir. The Sierra Club submitted comments on this application, urging extreme caution and strict controls.*
• Proposal by the New Albany Company to fill 1.5 acres of wetland and move a degraded tributary of Blacklick Creek. This was to construct a 210 acre distribution and service center at State Route 161 and Beech Road in New Albany. Sierra Club comments urged protection of the highest quality wetlands with adequate buffers, and protection of the rehabilitated stream from road runoff from the highway.*
• Proposed development by the Zaremba Group and Ohio Builders for a 218 acre parcel south of US 36 and west of Glenn Road in Delaware, Ohio. Developers wish to fill 10 acres of wetlands and impact over a mile of Mill Run and tributaries to the Olentangy River. Although the site appears degraded already, the Sierra Club urged OEPA to deny proposed development plans that would level the site and destroy so many water resources.*
• Finally, the Sierra Club testified at Worthington city council requesting that the sewer line from a new development not be run through Tucker Creek ravine.* On this issue, Sierra Club testimony buttressed great citizen activists and the sewer line was routed to the street.

Other water quality issues in which the Central Ohio Sierra Club has been involved in the past 2 months are:

• The regional drinking water provider, the Columbus Division of Water, plans to build “upground reservoirs” in northwestern Delaware County. This massive ($250 million) construction project would cover 1,600 acres with three rubber-lined reservoirs to store Scioto River water. Sierra Club comments focused on design and management of areas around the reservoirs, calling for naturalized streams and reliance on native vegetation.* A great amount of information on the reservoirs is available at www.columbusupgroundreservoirs.com.
• Sierra Club spoke at Columbus City Council opposing the rezoning of a parcel of land on the Olentangy River at Bethel Rd. Rezoning would have permitted building 12 residential units on an area where present zoning would allow 1-2 units*. The area is above a ravine slope and high quality wetland. Despite a unanimous recommendation by the Columbus Dept. of Development to approve the zoning change, Council turned down the proposal. This issue will require further citizen action, as the developer is revising the proposal.
• The Sierra Club submitted written comments supporting the Big Darby Accord* and testified at a Columbus City Council public hearing on July 26. The Accord, a proposed agreement between 10 Central Ohio jurisdictions, outlines responsible development in the pristine and environmentally sensitive Big Darby watershed.

The Sierra Club also made comments at a Columbus City Council public hearing on July 27, supporting the city’s initiative to provide sidewalks in critical areas throughout the city. Council member Maryellen O’Shaughnessy has worked hard to promote making neighborhoods more walkable.

Visit the Sewers Campaign Page to read these comments.

For information on any of described activities or initiatives, contact . The best way to get involved is to attend the Conservation Committee meetings which are held the third Wednesday of every month, click for details.