ECOFA Newsletter Officers Trustees President: Kathy Myers 330-418-4875 Chuck Frink 330-364-0009 Vice Pres: John Quimby 740-269-3038 Mike Schmuki 330-767-4232 Secretary: Patsy Schmuki 330-767-4232 Rob Davis 330-571-5210 Treasurer: Alan Walter 330-323-3763 Editor: Dave Myers 330-904-7140 The board meets at 6:00PM and the general meeting is at 7:00Pm.on Sept. 6th. ECOFA was founded to provide information to the members and the general public about multiple use management of forestland August 2, 2017 Business Meeting of the Levi Arnold of Guernsey SWCD gave notice ECOFA came to order with President Kathy of their up and coming Pond Clinic with OSU Myers presiding. Other officers present were Extension. It will be held August 15th from 6 to John Quimby, Alan Walters, Rob Davis, Chuck 8 PM at the Mike Abbott property. “Weed Frink, Mike and Patsy Schmuki, and Service Control and Nuisance Critters” and “Design and Forester Jeremy Scherf. Advertising the OFA Construction” will be the main topics. The pond Camp in the Country Living Magazine was site is over 50 years old. Guernsey SWCD just discussed. We will be financing it solo. We will wrapped up their 32nd Annual Conservation decide at a later date which months to advertise Camp. See their facebook page for photos. next spring. Billy Wilson of the Harrison SWCD told the The General Meeting of the ECOFA opened group of several workshops coming up in with President Kathy Myers leading the Pledge Harrison County: August 26th, Sustainable Ag of Allegiance to the Flag. Guests were from Workshop; September 21st , Harrison SWCD Carrollton, and the Talbotts from Navarre. Alan Annual Meeting; and September 27th, Emerald gave the Treasurer’s Report. We now have 140 Ash Borer Workshop, which will advise members. Members are encouraged to send landowners what to do now that EAB has photos of you, your family, working and/or infected your trees. enjoying your tree farm. (Photos of you by your Dave and Kathy Myers attended the Tree ID Tree Farm Sign would be great. Please bring class at Hocking College (the 2nd Friday series). photos to a monthly meeting or contact the OSU Extension developed a tree ID key that they Schmuki’s at (330)767-4232 or email found is easy and helpful, and recommended it to [email protected]) The Tree Farm the group. “Leaf ID Key to the 88 Ohio Trees” Tour has been rescheduled to Thursday, can be purchased from OSU-Extension for $7. August 17th, at 6 PM at Rob Davis’ Tree Jeremy was at the summer meeting of the Farm. He is located at 4480 Cadiz-Dennison American Society of Foresters today( Aug Road (SR 250), Cadiz OH 43907. This is just 2nd.)…his “favorite” part of the day was past Tappan Lake. Look for the tree tubes. His observing a Timber Rattlesnake. He stated that phone number is (330)571-5210. He has the hay the Ailanthus Wilt is moving rapidly and studies wagon ready to go. If it happens to be cancelled, are being made of its impact in the woodland. notification will be on WTUZ-99.9FM, New Jeremy reminded the group of several Philadelphia radio, and facebook and emails or informational meetings around the state. Jeremy call officers or Jeremy. stated that the Randy and Koral Clum are lining We received notice that longtime tree farmer people up as tour guides for their October 21st Rob Joecken, of Guernsey County, recently State Tree Farm Tour. passed away. Jeremy said the family has been Kathy and the group congratulated the Evans’ on actively working on their 200 acre tree farm, their upcoming 50th Wedding Anniversary! near Piedmont Lake. Our sincere condolences go out to his family. Our speaker for the evening was Matthew Smith who is with the Division of Parks and Belmont, Guernsey, Harrison, and Watercraft with the ODNR. His district covers Jefferson, Counties the beautiful scenic rivers and recreational areas Jeremy Scherf of Northeast Ohio. Matt explained how the 2050 East Wheeling Ave. Cambridge, OH 43725-2159 Scenic River Act was established in 1968 and Phone 740-439-9079 was the first of its kind in the nation. The Act Toll free 1-866-274-0102 established 3 classifications of rivers: Wild, Fax 740-432-7711 Scenic, and Recreational. In Northeast Ohio, Office day is Wednesday designated rivers include Conneaut Creek, the Erie, Lorain, Huron, Medina, Ashland, Grand River near Ashtabula, the Upper Richland, Wayne, and Holmes counties Cuyahoga, the Chagrin, and Little Beaver Creek John Jolliff 950 ODNR Mohican Rd. 60 (which Matt says is the best in the state!) The Perrysville, OH 44864 main concern with these wonderful rivers/creeks Phone 419-938-6222 is to maintain their water quality. One Carroll, Columbiana, Mahoning, Stark management practice is to create or maintain and Tuscarawas Counties wooded riparians, in which the trees shade the To be determined rivers, therefore lowering the temperatures, and 3601 New Garden Road keeping the oxygen levels at a point to sustain Salem, OH 44460-9571 330-222-1486 fish habitat. Office day is Wednesday Matthew had photos of these rivers and creeks, Coshocton, Muskingum, Noble and which were breathtaking. Someone asked what Monroe Counties the difference is between a river and a creek. Adam Komar He said it depended on who named them! 6665 Cutler Lake Rd. Wetlands are essential in filtering and purifying Blue Rock, OH 43720-9740 740-961-0194 the water that flows into these water systems. 7 office day Wednesday to 10 percent of the original Ohio wetlands Knox, Morrow, Licking, & Perry Counties remain, which is why it’s so important to protect Andy Sabula the riparian buffers and stream habitat. The 8995 E. Main St reintroduction of the Hellbender Salamander is - Plant Industry Building an ongoing project. They are hatching them and Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 614-425-7767 helping them to reach maturity to ensure their Guernsey County Soil and Water survival rate. They are also doing stream Levy Arnold Monday-Friday 8:00 to 4:30 monitoring, to determine water quality. Fish and 740-489-5276 or [email protected] bugs are water quality indicators. Matthew Harrison County Soil and Water informed the group of “Paddle Ohio”, which Billy Wilson 740-942-8837 or promotes paddling on Ohio’s wild, scenic and [email protected] recreational rivers, as well as promoting awareness of helping to protect them. Pins can be earned, as you paddle these rivers. Go to Upcoming Events paddle.ohiodnr.gov for more information. The Tree Farm Field Day at Rob Davis’s tree License plate purchases help to fund these th programs. Thank you, Matthew! How exciting farm is now scheduled on August 17 at 6 PM. to know of Ohio’s wonderful rivers! OHIO WOODLAND STEWARDS 2017 Next month’s speaker is Matt Shumar FASCINATING WOODLAND FUNGI coordinator for the Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative, a collaboration of non-profit groups, Friday, September 15, 2017 – 9:00am – businesses, state and federal government 3:00pm cost is$35 Ohio State University - agencies, and citizens that are participating in or Mansfield Campus100 Ovalwood Hall are interested in bird conservation for the state of 1760 University DriveMansfield, OH Ohio. For more info check deer either sex. I am guessing the higher bag https://woodlandstewards.osu.edu/events/fascinating- limits in the heavier populated areas might be a woodland-fungi combination of the nuisance of deer and traffic plus the fact that hunting pressure is less in more th Friday Sept 8 . Second Friday series at Vinton populated urban areas. Furnace State Experimental Forest Squirrels come in season on Sept. 1st.and runs to Tips, Tools, and Techniques to Improve Your Jan 1st, 2018. Rabbit season begins on Nov. 3rd Woods become familiar with methods to and runs till Feb. 28th 2018. Ruffed Grouse evaluate conditions in your woodland. Decide season begins Oct.14th and goes till Jan 31st. which trees to remove (cull trees) and which Turkey season starts Oct.14th and runs till should be managed (crop trees). Explore Nov.26th. There are seasons listed for Ring neck practices that can enhance woodland under- pheasants, Chukar, Bobwhite Quail, Fox, Skunk, story. Understand how a timber harvest may help Possum, and weasels. I think we have a section you designated for skunk hunters attending the meeting in the back corner. If you are a hunter, th The Paul Bunyan Show Friday Oct.6 thru enjoy the next 3 to 4 months have good luck and th Sunday Oct. 8 be careful. Looking for a day trip destination? Poaching in Ohio and in the news Here are a few suggestions.. The following article is copied in part from the Brandywine Falls in the Boston Mills area is a Plain Dealers online paper Cleveland.com 65 foot waterfalls that is easily accessible…it is only a 15 minute drive from Akron. It is CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Cuyahoga County operated by the US Parks dept. grand jury has indicted eight people on racketeering charges, accusing them of running Hemlock Bridge Trail and Whispering Cave an illegal deer poaching operation where dozens Trail. In the Hocking Hills State Park. The of animals were killed and more than a ton of Hemlock Bridge Trail passes Whispering Cave meat was sold for profit. and connects with the gorge trail to Old Man's Cave and Cedar Falls. Whispering Cave Trail is The group faces a combined 66 charges, a spur off of the Hemlock Bridge Trail including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, money laundering, grand theft, Beaver Creek State Park, in the foothills of the tampering with records, telecommunications Appalachian Mountains, is one of Ohio's most fraud and receiving stolen property.