Chillicothe Office Helps with Emergency Streambank Erosion

One of the speakers to the recent workshop of the Association of Ohio Pedologists addressed damage caused by stream erosion. With the big rains that came that week, plus more possibly from another hurricane now, the timing is appropriate.

Greg Wells of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service has an office in Chillicothe that covers 18 counties in Southesatern Ohio. He spoke about his program to the Ohio Pedologists on September 27th, as they were spending two days learning and practicing soil science.

Wells said the Emergency Watershed Protection program helps to recover from storm damage, usually after floods. He works with county engineers, townships, or villages to install streambank stabilization to protect roads, bridges, and other public infrastructure.

May of 2011 was a major storm event that required his services, and February of 2019 was the most recent. A federal disaster declaration is usually needed for the program, and FEMA is usually involved. A 25% local share is usually paid towards the work, and private property is usually not involved.

Wells showed various designs to repair and stabilize stream banks: retaining walls, rip rap (large loose rocks), gabion baskets (wire cages of rip rap) – and other “hard repairs:” pilings and concrete walls of various engineering and complexity. (Some of them collect sediment that grows vegetation which eventually hides their sterile appearance.)

He said his work usually requires permits from the Army Corps of Engineers, who oversee waterways; sometimes the Ohio EPA; and sometimes county floodplain permitting.

Wells is in the local U.S. Conservation Service office in the back of the Ross County Service Center, next to the Soil & Water Conservation office. He says you can learn more in their program webpage, including Emergency Watershed Protection. Hear him in his own words in the video interview in the article on the Scioto Post.

Kevin Coleman covers local government and culture for the Scioto Post and iHeart Media Southern Ohio. For stories or questions, contact Kevin Coleman or the iHeart Southern Ohio Newsroom.