Central Ohio Watershed Council
Building a strong network of organizations to advance watershed protection in Central Ohio.
❝ Water is the driving force of all nature. ❞
Leonardo Da Vinci
Who we are
Central Ohio Watersheds
Darby CreekAlum CreekOlentangy RiverHellbranch RunScioto RiverRocky Fork CreekBig Walnut CreekWalnut Creek
Members
Franklin Soil and Water Conservation DistrictFriends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed (FLOW)Friends of the Alum Creek and Tributaries (FACT)Friends of the Ravines - Central Olentangy and Scioto River RavinesFriends of Big Walnut CreekGreen ColumbusThe Nature ConservancyThe Ohio Environmental CouncilThe Sierra Club Ohio ChapterThe City of Columbus Public UtilitiesThe City of Columbus Recreation and Parcs Department
Purpose
Build a strong network of organizations to advance watershed protection, share resources, and reduce duplication of effortsAssist with the formation and/or reestablishment of watershed groupsSupport and build the capacity of member organizationsWork toward sustainable citizen-based watershed groupsProvide a regional platform for education and communication about watershed issues.
Steering Committee
Our current officers
TBD
vice chair
Peter Bucher
chairperson
Laura Fay
secretary
Benefits
of Healthy Watersheds
Improved water quality
Natural landscapes and floodplains filter pollutants from point and nonpoint sources, promote nutrient cycling and help retain sediment
Carbon storage opportunities
Watersheds with intact natural land cover and soil resources are capable of sequestering carbon
Increased resilience
Intact floodplains and riparian areas enable healthy watersheds to be better adapted to climate change
Invasive species protection
Naturally functioning ecosystems are more resilient and can favor indigenous species, helping them out-compete invasive species.
Reduced water treatment costs
Natural landscapes filter pollutants and protect water quality
Reduced flood mitigation costs
Floodplains and natural landscapes minimize the area and impacts of floods
Lower rates of illness
Greenspace exposure leads to fewer incidences of illness at work and better recovery at hospitals
Reduced stress levels
Students have been shown to have lower stress levels and reduced levels of ADD when exposed to greenspaces
Active Watershed
Groups
Friends of Big Walnut Creek
The mission of the Friends of Big Walnut Creek is to protect and restore Big Walnut Creek and Rocky Fork and Blacklick Tributaries.
Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed
FLOW is dedicated to increasing public awareness of the extensive recreational, cultural, historic, and environmental resources of the Lower Olentangy Watershed, as well as promoting responsible policies and uses of the river.
Friends of Alum Creek and Tributaries
FACT wants to preserve and protect the quality and beauty of the Alum Creek watershed and promote environmentally responsible recreation, educational opportunities, and citizen participation at many levels. FACT is a local not-for-profit volunteer-based organization serving as the environmental steward for the southern Alum Creek watershed within Franklin and Delaware counties.
Friends of the Ravines
The mission of Friends of the Ravines (FOR) is to protect, preserve and restore ravine areas for the benefit of the urban community as well as the wildlife that utilize them. The stability of the ravines has been directly threatened by development, human activity, and utility placement. Uncontrolled invasive plant species are disturbing the natural ecosystem by displacing plantings native to ravine areas. Our goal is to educate and involve the public in conservation efforts to restore and preserve these natural areas.