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Friends of Alum Creek and Tributaries |
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Friends of Alum Creek and Tributaries |
| Action Planning Resources: | Work Groups | Inventory | Resource Sheet | Web Links |
While the Alum Creek is 51 miles long and spans three counties, this plan will focus on the southern half of the Alum Creek watershed. This includes the area just below Alum Creek Lake Reservoir in southern Delware County, south to the point where Alum Creek joins the Big Walnut Creek in southeastern Franklin County in Three Creeks Metro Park near Obetz.
The plan will not only affect the immediate corridor of the creek, but the creek’s entire watershed. A watershed is an area of land that drains to a specific water body (otherwise known as a drainage basin). Watershed boundaries occur with variations in topography as water runs downhill from ridgetops. The Alum Creek watershed area includes parts of Genoa and Orange Townships in Delaware County, Westerville, Minerva Park, Bexley, and parts of Columbus.
The plan will address the entire watershed because activities occurring throughout the area can affect Alum Creek. If you live or work in the watershed, rain that falls there will eventually run-off the land and into Alum Creek. On it’s way it can pick up a number of pollutants, such as excessive fertilizer from yards or car fluids from roads. Even if you don’t live right next to the creek, your activities can affect the creek’s health.
You are! While the Friends of Alum Creek & Tributaries (FACT) are the primary facilitators of this plan, we need all segments of Alum Creek communities to contribute to the creation and implementation of the plan to make it a success.
As an area resident, tell us what kinds of things you would like to see more of in your community, such as park land or shade, that would benefit you and Alum Creek both. As a municipal official, what stratgies do you feel will help limit pollution and build Alum Creek as an ammenity to your community? If you are a part of an area business, church, school, civic association, or simply an area resident, you are invited to help.
Alum Creek Action Plan Steering Committee:
| Frances Beasley, Chair | MORPC – Franklin County Greenways Program |
| Mike Hoggarth | Otterbein College |
| Stephen McClary | Columbus Planning Division |
| Heather Doherty | Friends of Alum Creek & Tributaries |
| Vince Mazeika | Ohio EPA, Division of Surface Water |
| Dan Lorek | Bexley Development Department |
| Carol Elder | Friends of Alum Creek & Tributaries |
| Jeff Cox | Columbus Public Utilities Department |
| Joe Bonnell | OSU Extension |
| Jerry Wager | Ohio DNR, Soil & Water Conservation |
| Keith Dimoff | Ohio Environmental Council |
| Dick Lorenz | Westerville Division of Water |
The process has been designed in two parts to accommodate all stakeholders:
In January of 2003, a group will convene to discuss the technical side of issues facing the creek that are preventing it from meeting the Ohio EPA’s clean water standards. Participants will include scientists, municipal officials, business owners, etc, although anyone may attend.
In March of 2003, another group will convene to discuss creek issues relating more directly to the community. Local residents will help identify these topics prior to the meeting.
At both meetings, attendees will gather for an introductory session and then have the opportunity to work in groups on specific issues of their choosing. These groups may continue to meet during the weeks following the initial sessions to work on aciton items. The final outcome will be the basis for the action plan, which will be completed by the end of 2003.
This page will be updated with more information about the meetings as the dates approach.
