Beckett Ridge Water Quality Basin Project
In February of 2004 our office began a long process of applying for the National Association of Counties (NACo) Five Star Restoration Challenge Grant. Five Star Restoration projects involve a high degree of cooperation, with local government agencies, elected officials, community groups, businesses, schools, and environmental organizations all working together to improve local water quality and restore important fish and wildlife habitats. Butler County Soil and Water Conservation District was awarded $12,000 to restore 420 linear feet of stream riparian corridor as part of the Upper Mill Creek Riparian Restoration and Stormwater Wetland Enhancement Project. An existing stormwater basin within this suburban watershed will be transformed, restored, and monitored to evaluate efficiency. First, the existing barren and concrete-lined stormwater detention facility will be replaced with a fully functioning 1.1 acre wetland that will treat stormwater pollutants and provide wildlife habitat. Second, a monitoring program will be enacted by the partners to evaluate the efficiency of the wetland in its ability to remove pollutants from the stream following storm events. The results of the water quality monitoring program will be an invaluable data source used to educate local developers and engineers on this type of alternative best management practice (BMP) to mange stormwater from their sites. Three public forums and one educational field day will be conducted to educate the general public and development community about the model project. Project partners include the Butler SWCD, Butler County Stormwater District, Beckett Ridge HOA, Mill Creek Watershed Council, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and Miami (OH) University’s Institute of Environmental Sciences (IES).
Here is some more information about the project:
- Timeline
- Site design. There are two pdf's available for you to download.
- Pictures of how the basin looked before work was started and how it looks now
| Before: This is how the basin looked before work began. Concrete gutters carried storm water through the site | New Educational Sign installed at the basin |
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| Basin In February 2008 | Plant plugs are really filling out in the wetland basins |
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| Basin on June 22, 2008 | Greening up: July 2008 |
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| Basin on June 22, 2007 | Another View on June 22, 2007. Last years plant plugs are growing well. |
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| Basin on July 25, 2006 after heavy rain | Basin on July 26, 2006. Water level has significantly lowered |
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| Mosquito Eater: Damselfly | Mosquito Eater: Dragonfly |
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| Volunteers Planting Plugs | Volunteers Planting Plugs |
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| Pilleated Woodpecker | Monarch Butterfly |
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Please call the Butler SWCD at (513) 887-3720 if you have any questions about this project.