Woolmans get Mahoning SWCD conservation award

CANFIELD, Ohio – Three individuals were recognized with special awards when the Mahoning Soil and Water Conservation District held its annual meeting Nov. 9 in Canfield.
Service awards were presented to Jim Elze and Gary Gray, and the district’s cooperator of the year award went to Elwood Woolman.
Service. Ohio Department of Natural Resources service forester Jim Elze retired in 2006 after 27 years of assistance to the soil and water conservation district. Gary Gray retired from the NRCS in 2004 after 26 years in the county.
Both took home Ohio-shaped wood mosaic plaques for the help they’ve given residents of Mahoning County over their long careers.
“It’s amazing how fast time flies,” Gray said. His thoughts were reflected by Elze, who reminisced of memories over the years of SWCD board meetings and activities.
Elze added he plans to stay active with forestry consultation and activities with the Northeastern Ohio Forestry Association.
Cooperators. The Woolman family of Berlin Center, represented by Elwood Woolman, received the district’s cooperator of the year award.
The award is given annually to a landowner who has implemented conservation practices on his property to protect soil and water quality.
The Woolmans used EQIP and cost-share dollars to help install high-tensile fencing, a waste storage facility, heavy use pad, access road and complete pasture renovation practices on their horse farm.
Looking ahead to 2007, the family is exploring tile improvements, spring development and intensive grazing, according to board of supervisors member Terry Abrams.
Elections. Elected to the district’s board of supervisors were Harold Campbell and Donald Cutrer. Both will serve a three-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2007.
Rounding out the board are Abrams, Joseph Toporcer Sr. and Gary Ruggles Jr.
Highlights. In 2006, the district completed 31 conservation plans on 1,443 acres.
Included are 11,325 feet of waterways installed, 25 acres of timber stand improvements, a runoff structure and 12.5 acres of tree plantings.
The district was also active in the Yellow Creek stream cleanup and has more than 450 acres enrolled in the riparian conservation easement program.
In relation to urban development across the county, the conservation district’s personnel helped reduce erosion on 435 acres of land and reviewed two dozen stormwater pollution prevention plans.
(Reporter Andrea Myers welcomes reader feedback by phone at 800-837-3419 or by e-mail at amyers@farmanddairy.com.)