The Great Flood of 1913 and Beyond 2013 Annual Report of Operations MWCD Mission Statement Responsible stewards dedicated to providing the benefits of flood reduction, conservation and recreation in the Muskingum River Watershed. Table of Contents History .........................................................................................................................................6-7 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 9 Section 1 – Organizational Review ............................................................................................... 11 Conservancy Court ................................................................................................................... 13 Board of Directors ............................................................................................................... 14-15 Board of Appraisers .................................................................................................................. 16 Development Advisory Committee ............................................................................................. 17 Personnel ................................................................................................................................. 17 Administrators Lead General Course of MWCD .................................................................... 18-19 MWCD Adopts Master Plan for Recreational Facilities ............................................................ 20-21 MWCD Helping Prevent Invasion of Asian Carp in Watershed ..................................................... 22 Farmers Take to the Skies to Improve Water Quality .................................................................... 23 MWCD Develops Short-Term Water Supply Policy ........................................................................ 24 MWCD Notification System Available Anytime, Anywhere ........................................................... 25 MWCD Receives ‘Auditor of State Award’ for Performance Standards ........................................... 25 Lease for Utica Shale Development at Seneca Reservoir Includes Additional Protections ................ 26 Section 2 – Chief Engineer’s Report .........................................................................................29-31 Section 3 – Financial Report ......................................................................................................... 33 Financial Highlights and Overview of the Financial Statements .................................................... 34 Financial Analysis of the Conservancy District as a Whole ...................................................... 35-36 Capital Assets and Debt Administration ..................................................................................... 37 Current Issues .......................................................................................................................... 37 Statement of Net Position: Proprietary Fund ................................................................................ 38 Statement of Revenues, Expenses and Changes in Net Position: Proprietary Fund ......................... 39 Statement of Cash Flow: Proprietary Fund .................................................................................. 42 Notes to the Basic Financial Statements ................................................................................ 44-51 Combining Statement of Net Position: Proprietary Fund .............................................................. 52 Combining Statement of Revenues, Expenses and Changes in Net Position: Proprietary Fund .............53 Combining Statement of Cash Flows: Proprietary Fund ............................................................... 54 Table of Contents Section 4 – Financial Supplement ................................................................................................. 57 Year End Cash Balance/Receipts and Disbursements .................................................................. 58 Land and Forestry Operations: Total Cash Receipts by Reservoir .................................................. 59 Recreation Operations: Receipts by Reservoir ............................................................................. 59 Major Revenue Sources ....................................................................................................... 60-61 Section 5 – Subdistricts ................................................................................................................. 63 Subdistricts .............................................................................................................................. 65 Muskingum River Watershed Map ............................................................................................... 66 Section 6 - Appendix .................................................................................................................... 67 Summary of MWCD Land by County ......................................................................................... 68 Summary of MWCD Land by Reservoir ...................................................................................... 69 Governing Bodies .................................................................................................................... 70 Cooperating Agencies .............................................................................................................. 71 MWCD Staff ....................................................................................................................... 72-73 MWCD Recreational Facilities .............................................................................................. 74-75 MWCD Facilities at a Glance .................................................................................................... 75 Marina Contact Information...................................................................................................... 76 Park Contact Information .......................................................................................................... 77 Fish Species of the MWCD Lakes ............................................................................................... 78 History The Great Flood of 1913 claimed nearly 500 lives in Ohio and caused more than $300 million in property damage – in today’s dollars, infrastructure damage is estimated at a staggering $3 billion. It is the greatest natural disaster on record in Ohio’s history. It also left behind a trail of death, despair and property damage in the Muskingum River Watershed, which is the state’s largest wholly contained watershed covering an area of all or portions of 27 counties and more than 8,000 square miles. In the Muskingum River Watershed drainage area alone, 11 people died and millions of dollars of property damage The City of Marietta in Washington County endured extreme occurred. hardships during The Great Flood of 1913 with its location That event, obviously, created at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio rivers. great concern among the residents and leaders of the region and eventually led widespread property damage and loss of reduction and water conservation. to the organization and operation of the life. The district itself encompasses 20 Muskingum Watershed Conservancy The Great Flood of 1913 followed, percent of the state and all or portions of District (MWCD). raising the awareness of state residents to 18 counties: Ashland, Belmont, Carroll, But the story dates back to many the need for reliable flood protection and Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Holmes, years before the Great Flood of 1913. reduction. A conservation amendment Knox, Licking, Morgan, Muskingum, In the 1800s early settlers came to the to the Ohio Constitution was enacted in Noble, Richland, Stark, Summit, Muskingum River Valley in eastern Ohio 1913 and a year later, in 1914, the Ohio Tuscarawas, Washington and Wayne. for the abundance of natural resources, Conservancy Act became effective. In its Official Plan, the MWCD dense forests and excellent crop soil. As The MWCD was created according to was responsible for raising funds and trees were cleared, the land’s natural the Ohio Conservancy Act and continues planning, constructing and administering protection was destroyed, creating soil today as a result of those identified needs. flood reduction and water conservation erosion and uncontrolled water runoff. The MWCD was organized in 1933 projects. The federal government These factors contributed to a number of as a separate political subdivision to announced availability of funds to major floods during the 1800s, causing develop and implement a plan for flood construct the necessary reservoirs and the MWCD joined forces with federal and state governments to accomplish the work. By 1938, the construction of 13 earthen dams and one concrete dam was complete. In 1939, the Federal Flood Control Act transferred flood control operations – namely, operation of the dams – to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The MWCD partners with the USACE in the operation of the system of dams and reservoirs and the MWCD is responsible for conservation and recreation on its land and lakes located behind the dams. Each of the 14 MWCD reservoirs connects with the Muskingum River, which was the foundation for the name Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District. The 10