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“There are about 20 conservancy districts in Ohio and all of them have an assessment,” said Sommer, retired director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources who also once served as chief of staff for Gov. Richard Celeste. “Now, the MWCD needs an assessment. That's the way to go and the timing is right.” Flooding, he says, is a greater concern than most people understand. “Not just the lakes and rivers, but also the streams can cause major problems,” he said. “Hurricane Katrina taught us about the widespread effects from flooding. The whole country was hurt by the effects of Katrina - not just the Gulf Coast.” “We have been blessed by this system of dams they put into place in the 1940s,” he added. “Now they are mature and need repair. If one should fail, there would be lives lost and millions and millions in lost property and commerce. The assessment will provide for the local share to make sure those repairs happen.” The need for good water quality, Sommer believes, is just as important. “Fresh water is our most precious and valuable resource,” he said. “We have an obligation to protect it. The assessment will provide funds to provide good clean water. Erosion, sedimentation and pollution can be very damaging … All arteries need to be cleaned up and all of the areas will benefit.” Sommer discounts the notion by some that the MWCD should be taken over by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in Columbus, an agency headquartered outside the district and one with which he obviously is very familiar. “They are not interested in the least,” he said. The MWCD system of dams and reservoirs, Sommer added, is a huge asset to the whole area. “The recreational benefits have been tremendous,” he said. “People come from all over. It has a huge positive impact, partnering with communities to provide jobs and help the economy. My great-grandchildren, and their children, will benefit from what we do today.”
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Joe Sommer, retired Director, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, believes that clean water and flood protection must be top priorities in the 18-county MWCD region, and that an assessment by the MWCD to help secure those assets is absolutely necessary.