Urban Conservation

According to the most recent Comprehensive Plan, 84.5% of the land in Union County is devoted to agriculture. However steady population growth is bringing more people to the County, increasing the amount of land used for urban and residential purposes.  The Union Soil and Water Conservation District (Union SWCD) is committed to assisting those with agricultural, urban, and residential needs. Below, are some common ways Union SWCD is involved in those areas.

Home Site Drainage Recommendation

If you own land in certain townships and wish to build a home or structure on it, you may be required to obtain a home site drainage recommendation. Union SWCD has signed memorandums of understanding (MOU) with several townships in Union County. This MOU states that a drainage outlet must discharge into no less than an intermittent stream, or reach of a stream, which flows for prolonged periods. This is called an "adequate outlet". If you are fortunate enough to have this stream within the boundaries of your property, no easements are needed. Unless you must cross neighboring properties to achieve proper drainage, in that case, recorded easements must be obtained from adjacent landowners along this drainage path to the correct outlet from your property, or properties being drained. This drainage includes but is not limited to, a septic system, water softener, geothermal, sump pump, and downspouts. 

If you are building a home in Union County, contact your township zoning inspector to see if a recommendation is required. If so, please give us a call to set up an appointment!

Criteria of an Adequate Outlet

Pond Site Suitability and Design

As time allows, the Union SWCD provides pond site evaluations and designs for property owners interested in constructing a pond. Certain townships require that landowners consult with Union SWCD or that a pond plan be developed before construction. Check with the zoning official in your township before beginning work on a pond. Union SWCD does offer a service to create pond designs for landowners, requiring a $500 deposit. Property owners may also, hire a private contractor, consultant, or engineer to design their pond.

Pond site evaluations and pond designs created by Union SWCD follow the Natural Resources Conservation Service guidelines.

Although Union SWCD designs ponds, we cannot suggest businesses to construct them or keep a contractor list. It is up to the landowners to contact a business they wish to construct the pond.

Union SWCD Pond Deposit Policy & Deposit Form

Recommendations to PONDer

NRCS Conservation Practice Standard - Pond (code 378)

Ditches

Ditches are constructed to give water someplace to go, especially during or immediately after heavy rain or melting snow. Depending on the weather, it is normal for ditches to alternatively be saturated with water and dry. High levels of rain within a short time frame will cause high water levels in ditches. Over a short period of time, ranging from hours to several days, high water levels will recede naturally. There are two main types of ditches seen in Union County:

Roadside Ditches

These ditches are placed alongside paved roads used by vehicles. They are there for the purpose of conveying water off of the road to keep them safe to drive on. Jurisdiction over construction, maintenance, improvements, and other activity in roadside ditches lies with the Ohio Department of Transportation, the Union County Engineer, and the Township depending on whether the road it borders is a state, county, or township route, respectively. Please contact those agencies for inquiries regarding roadside ditches.

Agricultural Ditches

"Ag ditches" for short, these come in two flavors: 

       1. Private Ditches are owned and maintained by private landowners.

       2. County Maintained Ditches are maintained by the Drainage Maintenance Department.