· The HRWRP partnered with the Sandy Township Trustees to hold a “Clean Sweep” in the Huff Run Watershed and Sandy Township to pick up trash along township maintained roadways. Fifteen members of the HRWRP met on April 21 and picked up 35 bags of trash and recyclables.
· The 2006 Huff Run Awareness Days were held on May 4 and 10. Partners from the ODNR/MRM, EPA/Surface Water, Carroll SWCD, Tusc. SWCD, other watershed groups and Huff Run members held demonstrations for over 350 students from many different schools and home school groups.
· The Huff Run Fun Day was held on August 19 in conjunction with the Mineral City Village Council’s Party in the Park. Despite heavy rains, a good crowd visited the Huff Run tent.
· The fourth annual Huff Run 5K was held during the Party in the Park. About 30 runners participated.
· The fourth annual Huff Run Photo Contest was also held during the summer. Over twenty photos were entered.
· The Huff Run Fall Watershed Tour was held on October 18. Participants visited the Mineral Zoar Road, Lyons and Belden Projects.
Other Accomplishments:
· The HRWRP entered the Adopt a Highway program with ODOT and now tends two miles of State Route 800 south of Mineral City.
· The Huff Run VISTA position was rehired.
· The sign on State Route 800 south of Mineral City stating when and where HRWRP meetings are held was restored and updated.
· The HRWRP logo sign on Magnolia Road was also recovered.
· A sign on the office building with the HRWRP name and logo was erected.
· A central water quality database of all data taken in Huff Run (and three other watersheds) was created by ODNR and ILGARD. This database is online for central usage and public view.
Actions Taken to Restore Issues in the Watershed:
Acid mine drainage
· The eight completed reclamation projects (Harsha North, Lyons, Lindentree, Linden, Farr, HRWRP Acid Pit, Huff Run AML Project and Jobes) are all working to increase pH, reduce iron and manganese loadings and add alkalinity.
· The Mineral-Zoar Project has been designed. Rights of Entry were obtained this year. The project is scheduled for a summer 2008 construction.
· Design plans for the Thomas Project are complete. Thomas is scheduled for a 2009 construction.
· Design work for Phase I of HR-42/Fern Hill continued this year. The project is scheduled to be under construction during the summer of 2008.
· Design work for the Belden Project was completed in 2007. The project will be under construction in Spring of 2008.
· ODNR, Division of Abandoned Mine Land worked on plans for two projects within the Huff Run Watershed: HR-25 area and HR-22 area. Both projects are also planned to be constructed over the summer of 2008.
Unconnected riparian buffers
· Thirty-three trees were distributed to five streamside landowners to renew their section of Huff Run’s riparian corridor.
Agricultural issues
· A mailing list of the 31 farms within the watershed was established.
· Three informational mailings related to agricultural issues were sent to this list of farmers in the watershed.
Oil and Gas Impacts
· A meeting was held with ODNR’s Division of Oil and Gas to discuss impacts to Huff Run.
· ODNR’s personnel inspected all oil and gas wells in the Tuscarawas County portion of the watershed and found them to all be in perfect condition.
Additional Programming:
· Watch Dog Program booklets were sent out to all homes in the watershed in early 2007.
· A Church Stewardship program was started in 2007 to reach out to different sectors of the watershed community. A special bulletin encouraging environmental stewardship of the earth and its resources were provided at no cost to local churches. Over 500 bulletins were distributed.
· The Huff Run VISTA created a 7th grade environmental education unit using Ohio Science Standards, which was used at Belle Herron Middle School. Copies of the unit will be distributed to additional teachers in 2008.
Page Two of 2007 Annual Report