Summit SWCD is a subdivision of the State of Ohio Department of Agriculture and has operating agreements with the following agencies: Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Department of Agriculture/Natural Resource Conservation Service, and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. With the changing land use in Summit County, much of the district workload has shifted from agriculture to soil conservation in developing areas. Erosion and the subsequent degradation to adjacent land and surface waters is being accelerated by intensive land use changes for housing, businesses, industry, and recreation. These changes create severe stress on the soil and water resources within the county.

To address these stressors, input from Summit SWCD supervisors, staff, and cooperating agencies is used to develop the District's Strategic Plan and Annual Plan of Work. These plans guide the work program of the District to ensure employees and stakeholders are working towards common goals. Below is a brief summary of the service areas provided by the District.

Education

The goal of the Summit SWCD’s Education and Outreach Program is to reach the residents of Summit County with a conservation and natural resource management message. We believe that education is the key to an informed and involved citizenry and therefore we provide both information and activities for the varied audiences in Summit County. These audiences include teachers, students and youth groups, business owners, landowners, developers, engineers, contractors, and community and civic leaders. A variety of information and education materials are available from the Summit SWCD office and the SWCD Staff is available to provide education presentations on a wide variety of natural resource issues. If you're interested in our educational services, please contact the Summit SWCD office, or visit our education section for additional information.

Technical Assistance

Local county and city regulations require the review of development plans by the Summit Soil and Water Conservation District. Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP) describing the erosion and sediment control needs of a site during construction and the storm water quality treatment after construction, must be reviewed and approved by the Summit SWCD. District staff members perform inspections during construction to insure proper installation and maintenance of practices. Additional information on SWPPP compliance can be found at our SWPPP Stormwater Management page.

Watershed Management

Our Watershed program initiates and manages watershed planning to restore and protect the water resources of Summit County. This includes collaboration with stakeholders to identify goals and implement projects. These projects include habitat restoration and preservation, watershed tours and field days, homeowner workshops, and the development of Nonpoint Source Implementation Strategic Plans. Additional information on watershed initiatives can be found at our Watershed Management page.

Partnerships

The district collaborates with numerous local stakeholders and conservation agencies within the County.