Muskingum Watershed Conservancy Court Appoints New Member to the Board of Directors

Photograph 1: Colonel Jayson Putnam, USACE Huntington District Commander, Joanne Limbach, Craig Butler, MWCD Executive Director 

Photograph 2: Jennifer Ponchak

New Philadelphia, OH (June 8, 2023) — A quorum of judges attending a Conservancy Court session of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) have appointed Jennifer Ponchak from Morgan County to fill a vacancy on the five member MWCD Board of Directors. Ponchak was appointed to a five-year term on the Board of Directors during the Court’s session held Friday, June 2, in the Tuscarawas County Courthouse at New Philadelphia. She fills the seat held by Joanne Limbach who served on the MWCD board for a total of 20 years.

“I congratulate Jennifer on her appointment to the Board of Directors,” said Craig Butler, MWCD Executive Director.  “Jennifer’s background will prove to be helpful as we continue to enhance our conservation and flood mitigation efforts, so I look forward to working with her in the future.”

Ponchak is the founder of Follow the River Environmental, a specialty company that performs clearing and grubbing, erosion control, seeding landscaping and environmental consulting services on private commercial, heavy highway and municipal projects.  Follow the River is a certified DBE, SBE, EDGE and WBE Company.  She holds a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources from The Ohio State University, CPESC and CPSWQ certifications and is a Licensed Underground Storage Tank Installer. 

Butler said, “Joanne is the longest serving board member – serving 20 years. She has dedicated her professional life to public service with MWCD, the State of Ohio, and many other national and local causes. On behalf of all MWCD staff past and present, we thank her for her service.”

“Thank you to the Conservancy Court, US Army Corps of Engineers, MWCD Board, and colleagues for the opportunity to participate in public service at its best,” said Limbach. “I’ve had the pleasure of seeing the district through many years of change, many ups and downs. Through it all, the MWCD has been true to the values created at the inception, which is to provide flood mitigation, conservation, and outdoor recreation to the citizens in the region, and I am honored to be a part of this history.”

Colonel Jayson Putnam, USACE Huntington District Commander, USACE Huntington District Commander provided an update which included projects on the Dam Safety Classification within the MWCD.

Craig Butler presented the annual report of operations which was approved by the court and encompasses the overview of the success of the MWCD from 2022. To view the annual report, visit www.mwcd.org/get-to-know-us/annual-repor

Other members of the MWCD Board of Directors include President, Retired Honorable Judge Robert S. Moorehead of Guernsey County, Gordon T. Maupin of Wayne County, Jim Gresh of Stark County, and Retired Major General Ronald E. Dziedzicki of Medina County.

Members of Board of Directors are appointed by the Conservancy Court to oversee the operations and business affairs of the MWCD, which manages more than 57,000 acres of land and water dedicated to public use. Board members meet once a month in open, public session.