News Releases

MWCD Chief Engineer Announces Retirement, Interim Chief Named
| September 18, 2023The MWCD announces the retirement of Boris Slogar, P.E., Chief Engineer. Dave Lautenschleger to serve as Interim Chief Engineer while a search is conducted.

MWCD Receives Horizon Award from Ashland Soil and Water Conservation District
| September 7, 2023The MWCD is proud to announce that it has been honored with the prestigious Horizon Award by the Ashland SWCD

Turkey Ridge Trailhead's Turtle Sculpture at Tappan Lake Park
| August 30, 2023To see the efforts of the youth making a positive impact on the community is truly inspiring. It is important that we too take a note from this girl's book to make an effort to be/make the changes we want to see.

MWCD Announces Transition to Daily-Use Duck Blinds
| August 28, 2023In a move towards sustainable and equitable use of natural resources, the MWCD has announced a policy shift regarding duck blinds
Keywords: duck blinds, duck hunting

Osprey Rescued from Tree Entangled in Fishing Line at Atwood Lake
| August 8, 2023Thanks to community cooperation and concern for wildlife, a distressed osprey was successfully rescued after becoming entangled in fishing line high up in a tree.

Abundance of Pine Trees on MWCD Lands is no Accident!
| August 3, 2023MWCD established a formal forestry program in 1941. Since then, MWCD has planted over 12 million trees. Today, MWCD foresters manage over 34,000 acres and are dedicated stewards of healthy forests.
Keywords: forestry

MWCD Announces Law Enforcement Scholarship Program to Support Future Leaders in Public Safety
| July 28, 2023The MWCD is partnering with the Buckeye Career Center Friends of Adult Education Foundation to financially assist adult students in Buckeye Career Center’s Ohio Peace Office Training Academy (OPOTA).

UPDATE: Route 574 Detour Near Seneca Lake Begins Tuesday, July 25, 2023
| July 18, 2023UPDATE: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced that the partial closure of Seneca Dam Road has been delayed. Project maintenance on the Seneca Dam gates has will begin Tuesday, July 25th. A portion of Seneca Dam Road (OH-574) will now be closed from 6:00 a.m. July 25th through 7:00 p.m. July 28th approximately one-half mile south of the Lashley Road (OH-313) intersection.

MWCD Celebrates Park and Recreation Month
| July 14, 2023This July, we will celebrate the vital role park and recreation professionals play in bringing people together, providing essential services and fostering the growth of our communities.
Keywords: national park and recreation month

Route 574 Detour Near Seneca Lake Begins Monday, July 17, 2023
| July 6, 2023Seneca Dam service gate cleaning will impact travel to Seneca Lake Park. Visitors are encouraged to use designated alternative route.

ODOT State Route 800 Bridge Removal Project
| July 6, 2023ODOT State Route 800 Bridge Removal Project May Impact Travel to Tappan, Clendening, and Piedmont Lakes.

MWCD's 90-Year History on Display
| July 5, 2023MWCD's 90-Year History is on display as the featured exhibition at the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum - A National Historic Landmark.

MWCD joins Operation Dry Water to increase awareness of the dangers associated with boating under the influence
| June 29, 2023MWCD joins Operation Dry Water to increase awareness of the dangers associated with boating under the influence
Keywords: boat safety, operation dry water

Maintenance Assessment Update for Guernsey Co. Taxpayers
| June 22, 2023Guernsey County residents may be eligible for assessment refund due to error by MWCD contractor.

Muskingum Watershed Conservancy Court Appoints New Member to the Board of Directors
| June 14, 2023Members 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.

MWCD Invites You to Capture the Canvas for a Chance to Win $1,000!
| May 22, 2023 The MWCD has partnered with five local schools in a promotion that encourages residents to get outdoors and explore the trails at MWCD parks.

May is American Wetlands Month
| May 16, 2023 Wetlands are defined by areas of land that are saturated with water for most of the year. They often occur at the mouths of rivers, around lakes and streams, as well as alongside coastlines. There are four types of wetlands that occur in Ohio: Mar

It’s a Dog’s Life at MWCD Lakes!
| May 9, 2023MWCD is pleased to announce that all campsites are now officially 100% pet friendly! In addition, select cabins at each lake will now allow pets.

MWCD Board Votes to Cut Property Assessment
| April 25, 2023Property owners within the MWCD will see their property assessments paid to MWCD reduced by 66 percent, from $6 dollars to $2
Keywords: maintenance assessment, reduction

Welcome Back Campers and Boaters!
| April 25, 2023MWCD Staff recently held a virtual public meeting to welcome back campers and boaters for the 2023 season!
Keywords: 2023 season, welcome back

Have You Heard of the Chippewa Subdistrict
| April 17, 2023Did you know that MWCD owns and operates a flood control system in Medina and Wayne counties that is separate from the Muskingum Flood Control System? The system is operated by the Chippewa Subdistrict of MWCD.

MWCD Actively Engaged in Restoring Legendary Status of the American Chestnut
| April 10, 2023American chestnuts were once the dominant tree species in eastern North America but are now facing extinction from a fungal blight. MWCD is committed to research dedicated to restoring the magnificent species.

110 Years Ago Today: The Great Flood of 1913
| March 23, 2023110 years ago today, the Great Flood of 1913 devastated Ohio and the Midwest and spurred the creation of the MWCD!
Keywords: 1913, great flood

Celebrating 90 Years of Flood Reduction, Conservation, and Recreation
| March 21, 2023Happy 90th birthday, MWCD! We look forward to sharing our history by having a featured exhibition at the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum. A public open house is scheduled for June 3! Follow MWCD social media for more details!

New Activity Zone is Coming to Pleasant Hill Lake Park!
| March 14, 2023Two pickleball courts, a basketball court, playground, cornhole, community firepit, and swings with a scenic view of the lake are now under construction at Pleasant Hill Lake Park in Perrysville.
Keywords: activity zone, basketball, master plan, pickleball, pleasant hill lake park, sports courts

MWCD Names Chief Ranger
| February 23, 2023Patrick Brockmeier has been named Chief Ranger for MWCD to lead the ranger department
Keywords: chief ranger, ranger

Geophysical Survey to be Conducted at Atwood Lake
| February 6, 2023The project is expected to be completed by the end of April 2023.
Maintenance Assessment Update for Guernsey Co. Taxpayers
| February 2, 2023Click 'more' to see announcement.
Keywords: assessment

MWCD Invests $5 Million in Environmental Stewardship
| January 27, 2023Members of the MWCD Board of Directors approved investing $5 million to create a fund managed by The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) at their meeting held on January 27.

MWCD Rangers Recognized for Excellence in Policy and Training
| January 25, 2023The MWCD announced today that it has been recognized for excellence in policy management and training in 2022 by Lexipol, the nation's leading provider of policy, training and wellness support for first responders and public servants.