Organizations Managing the Tusc
The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District oversees and manages many programs - including the dams and reservoirs - within the Tuscarawas River Watershed. Here is a brief overview of the organization.
Common Trees of the Tusc River Watershed
Today we're trying to see the trees of the forests; while there are many more than these, you are likely to find them if you visit the watershed. Along the Ohio and Erie Canal you will even find the more wild, thorned versions of the Honeylocust listed below - a strange, and, this close to Halloween, somewhat scary sight. The American Sycamore, too, is abundant throughout the watershed, lending its ghostly upper reaches to many a morning fog, standing in stark contrast to the dark, wet woods around it - sometimes a lonely sentinel over-watching a glass-like pond in morning stillness.
Thanks for sharing the video on slide 9, very interesting!
ReplyDeleteHi Danny - I hadn't previously heard of a Conservancy Court - I wonder if that concept is unique to the area.
ReplyDeleteI share Bert's appreciation for the video. I am curious -- in your opinion -- how well the Watershed Conservancy District does in balancing anthropogenic interests like flood control, agricultural and municipal water supply, and economic development with managing for ecosystem health? The video seemed fairly well balanced public relations product, but I am always skeptical of the Army Corps of Engineers and their motivations related to water infrastructure projects.
ReplyDeleteHi Evan,
DeleteI can't probably give you a definitive answer, but there are a few factors to consider: the Conservancy District was formed early in the 19th century primarily for flood control, so that's going to hinder a 100% commitment to the environment, probably forever. Now that most of the reservoirs are managed largely for recreational use, that too is going to influence decisions in a way that will affect those activities the least.
However, the good news is, the Conservancy manages the reservoirs, and the USACE is only responsible for operation and maintenance of the dams - so the Army Corps likely doesn't influence much of what happens in the rest of the watershed. I don't think either organization would ever vote in favor of removing the dams and trying to restore natural flood control - and maybe that's not a bad thing. Probably a discussion far beyond the scope of this comments section :)
Like Leigh, I had not hear of a Conservancy Court. Do you know anything else about their involvement in the watershed?
ReplyDeleteI found the video very informative and was surprised by the balanced information it was passing on.