The Muskingum Soil and Water Conservation District (MSWCD) strives to work with all producers of agricultural products to provide technical assistance to apply conservation on their land.
We are looking for an AmeriCorps VISTA Member. | LEARN MORE • We will be on Live At Noon on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 with LaTrell.
Supervisor Candidate Announcement
A Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor represents county residents in soil and water conservation and natural resources management. Supervisors set the District’s policy, provide guidance to staff, and assist on projects. The Board consists of five supervisors who serve for three-year terms on a voluntary basis. Supervisors participate in monthly and special board meetings and attend area and state meetings. This year, candidates will be nominated to fill one open position. Potential candidates are expected to have experience relevant to the District’s goals. The qualities of a potential supervisor include:
- Widespread knowledge of natural resources in the county
- Complement the existing make-up of the district board so that all geographic, educational, and land-use interests within the district are represented
- Leadership ability and willingness to share time and talent.
The Nominating Committee will present a slate of candidates. Qualified residents, 18 years of age or older, may also petition to be on the ballot. For more information, call our office at (740) 454-2027 or contact Mark Sterling, Nominating Committee Chair, at 740-328-5892 or by email at masterling912@gmail.com.
How Can We Help?
Soil and Water Conservation Districts protect valuable natural resources in a changing landscape.
We provide a variety of a natural resource assistance and services to landowners, homeowners, educators, agricultural producers, developers and communities.
Our education trailer is an 18 foot, walk-through exhibit full of hands-on exhibits where visitors can discover some of the many wonders of aquatic ecosystems.
Find additional information and links to topics involving Invasive Species, Woodlands, Forestry and more.
They say one out of every three bites of food are made possible because of pollinators. Pollinators include birds, bees, butterflies, bats, insects, and small mammals.
Muskingum SWCD was awarded a $50,000 grant through the NACD’s Urban Agriculture Conservation Grant Initiative in 2016.
Muskingum SWCD is concerned with the water quality in the county and beyond.
Everything from the ground up starts with soil. We eat food grown in it. We build things on it and build things out of what grows in it. We also eat animals that eat plants that grow in it. Without soil we could not survive.
Farm Ponds
Doreen Maurer ZANESVILLE, Ohio - Farm ponds are not only a water source for livestock and used for irrigation, but they also provide a habitat for wildlife. A well-managed farm pond can be an asset to the environment as well as a suitable habitat for wildlife. A healthy farm pond can also increase the value of property.
Migration: A Bird’s Journey
Doreen Maurer ZANESVILLE, Ohio - When I plan to take a trip, it seems like there are a million things to do to get ready. Packing is one thing that I dread. So many decisions to be made - is it going to be cold, will it be hot, will it rain, should I pack this or should I leave that. The decisions go on and on and this is just to pack! Sometimes I wish I could travel like a bird.
DUNG BIRD’S NEST FUNGUS - What is it?
Doreen Maurer ZANESVILLE, Ohio - I want to tell you about something creepy that I found hanging out with the cabbage in my raised garden bed. It looks like a cup full of eggs. My first thought was, “what type of creepy, crawly creature left this in my garden”? My newfound curiosity led me to Google Lens. Low and behold, it’s a type of mushroom known as the dung bird’s nest fungus. This fungus is the size of a tiny bead and grows in clusters. As I look closer, I can see why it’s called dung bird’s nest fungus.