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.
A Closer Look at Threats to the Tusc Watershed
This week we're diving a little deeper - this time focusing on the threats to the Tuscarawas River Watershed through the lens of projects funded and conducted by the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District that we looked at a few weeks ago. The slideshow below is the barest fragment of what the MWCD is involved in - from huge dam restoration projects to stream channel repair to education funding. Follow the links at the end of the presentation to see a more complete list of projects in the Tusc and Muskingum watersheds.
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.