ODNR Division of
Soil & Water Resources
2045 Morse Road, B3
Columbus, Ohio
43229-6693

(614) 265-6610
Contact Us
Location Map
 
SWCD Links
Affiliate Groups

Ohio Soil and Water
Conservation Commission

     

The history of Ohio's Soil and Water Conservation Commission dates back to 1941 when the 94th General Assembly enacted House Bill 646.  H.B. 646 established the Ohio Soil Conservation Committee with five members, three farmers and two ex-officio representatives.

The principal responsibility of Ohio's Soil and Water Conservation Commission (OSWCC) is to ensure that Ohio counties are served by effectively administered, adequately supported soil and water conservation districts.  The past and current members of the OSWCC have contributed thousands of volunteer hours of their time and dedication for over 65 years to guarantee the success of local conservation programs in ohio. 

OSWCC Members

Name
Position/
Representing
Tom Price Chairperson
Fred Cash Vice Chairperson
Etta Reed Member
Bill Knapke Member
Kris Swartz OFSWCD
David Daniels
(Represented by
Kevin Elder)
Ohio Department of Agriculture
Bruce A. McPherson
(Represented by
Dr. Ron Hendrick)
The Ohio State University
Jim Zehringer Ex-Officio, Director ODNR
Karl Gebhardt Executive Secretary, Chief ODNR Division of Soil and Water Resources

 
OSWCC Meeting Dates for 2013

Date and Time Location
 January 23, 2013
10:00 am
ODNR – Building G-1
April 17, 2013
10:00 am
ODNR – Building E-1, Assembly Center
July 9-10, 2013
Area 4
 November 13, 2013
10:00 am
ODNR – Building E-1, Assembly Center






OSWCC Responsibilities

  • Determine the allocation of state funds to soil and water conservation districts and recommend the level of state and federal funds needed by districts
  • Inform SWCD supervisors of their powers and duties and inform them of the activities and experience of other SWCDs
  • Seek cooperation of state and federal agencies for SWCDs
  • Issue appropriate rules governing election of SWCD supervisors
  • Recommend to the Directors of ODNR priorities for planning and construction of small watershed projects as well as coordination of agreements with local SWCDs
  • Recommend to state officials programs and legislation relative to SWCDs and their encouragement of proper soil, water, and other natural resource management

OSWCC Membership

The membership and terms of service on the OSWCC are specified in Ohio Administrative Code Section 1515.02.  The OSWCC consists of seven members, four of whom are appointed by the Governor to four-year terms; of the appointed members, two shall be farmers.  The OFSWCD designates a member by resolution.  The other two members are the Director of Ohio's Department of Agriculture and the Dean of the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Science of The Ohio State University.  The Director of ODNR may participate in commission meetings, but without the power to vote.  The Deputy Chief of ODNR's Division of Soil and Water Conservation serves as the commission's executive secretary.
 

2012 OSWCC Minutes

2013 OSWCC Minutes


OSWCC Task Force Information


 
Page Last Updated: 04/30/2013