RELATED WEB SITES & LINKS 

LOCAL, REGIONAL, STATE, NATIONAL 

Protection & Recreation - Governments & Organizations

Watershed Protection - Government Resources:

• Columbus Stormwater Drainage Manual (revised March 2006).
  316 page regulatory document by Columbus Dept. of Public Utilities, contains important info regarding watershed buffer set-back protection requirements - section I.  (FACT was one of the many stakeholder organizations involved and  acknowledged.)
• Franklin County Watershed Groups (Greenways Watershed Protection Group) of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC).
• Greenways Publications & Educational Tools      MORPC  website contains downloadable & misc. educational materials.
• Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District (FSWCD) promotes responsible land use decisions for the conservation, protection, and improvement of soil and water resources through partnering, technical guidance, and education. Backyard assistance and free manuals, stream mapping,  native plantings, conservation easements- along local streams, Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), and more.
• Delaware Soil and Water Conservation District (Delaware County, OH)
• Central Ohio Rain Garden Initiative CORGI  locally-based website by FSWCD explains why rain gardens are desirable, how to design and install them, which plants to choose, where to go for more information, and where to find demonstration sites in central Ohio.
• Ohio Watershed Network - a statewide information and education network in support of local watershed protection efforts.
• Index and Links to all Ohio Watershed Groups by County 
• Ohio NEMO - A Nonpoint Pollution Education Program of Ohio State University Extension.
• Non- Point Source Pollution- Ohio Division of Natural Resources.
• Ohio Environmental Council - The Ohio Environmental Council works across the state to unite Ohio's conservation and environmental community to monitor Ohio's air and water quality, take action to better environmental policies via lobbying, and make change for a greener tomorrow.
• Ohio EPA, Division of Surface Water
• Ohio Dept. of Natural Resource - Ohio Community Assistance Programs includes many on-line grant application opportunities, links, contacts, past awards from: Clean Ohio Funds, NatureWorks Parks & Recreation,  LWCF, Recreational Trails, Boating Safety, Wetland Restoration, Urban Streams, Recycling & Litter Prevention, NPDS, Soil & Water Conservation, and other State & Federal programs.
• Ohio Wetlands Foundation  - A non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, was formed in 1992 in response to the regulated community's need to have a high quality offsite wetlands mitigation alternative.  The mission of the Ohio Wetlands Foundation is to provide the highest quality offsite wetlands mitigation alternatives in Ohio by means of restoring, enhancing and protecting wetlands. 
• USGS water data - real time & historical data on Alum Creek river water height, discharge, temperature, etc. from Africa Road monitoring guage.
• Water Quality Conditions - for Alum Creek Lake by US Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District Water Management Section.
• Center for Watershed Protection - A non-profit 501(c)3 corporation that provides local governments, activists, and watershed organizations around the country with the technical tools for protecting some of the nation's most precious natural resources: our streams, lakes and rivers.
• Surf Your Watershed - a US EPA master resource directory tool to locate your watershed and related contacts.

Recreation along Alum Creek: 

• Alum Creek State Park - Ohio Department of Natural Resources state park that provides a variety of recreational opportunities including swimming, boating, hunting, fishing.
• Central Ohio Metro Parks - The Columbus-area Metro Park system is comprised of 20,000 acres within 14 parks in 7 counties, and has many fantastic FREE nature programs. Contains trail maps & calendar of events.
• Columbus Parks & Recreation - Many Columbus parks and recreation programs are located within the Alum Creek watershed. This site contains information on Multi-Use Paths (bicycling & recreational trails) including:
  • Alum Creek Greenway Trail
• Delaware County Preservation Parks - public parks
• Columbus Outdoor Pursuits -a club to hike, bike, canoe, kayak, camp, climb...
• Central Ohio Greenways 
• MORPC Columbus Metro Bike Users Map 
• The Ohio to Erie Trail - features hi-tech aerial map Ohio's longest paved trail.
• Westerville Parks and Recreation - features maps of a great bikeway system.
• The City of Bexley

 Ohio Flora and Fauna:

• Wildlife Area Maps Ohio DNR Div.of Wildlife 
• Ohio Streams - background information.
• Ohio's Wetland Plants - a photo tour.
• Riparian Birds of Ohio's Scenic Rivers.
• Fish - of Ohio's Scenic Rivers.

 Environmental & Related Advocacy Organizations and Resources: