Office Hours
Monday - Thursday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Monday - Thursday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
2018 All Athens County Photo Contest Entries
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MISSION STATEMENT
Provide leadership by promoting the wise use and enhancement of Athens County’s natural resources for current and future generations. The Athens SWCD is a political subdivision of the State of Ohio, associated with the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) - Division of Soil and Water Conservation, and funded by county and state taxpayer monies.
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ATHENS SWCD BOARD REORGANIZES
The Athens Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors re-organized its officers during their January board meeting. Pictured above are: Kelly Abfall, Member; Brenda Dahse, Chair; Glenn Lackey, Vice-Chair; Harold Dodd, Treasurer and Scott Sanders, Secretary.
Camp Canopy Scholarships Available
The Athens Soil and Water Conservation District is once again offering two scholarships to the ever popular Camp Canopy at Ohio’s FFA Camp Muskingum, Carroll County, Ohio, June 9 - 14, 2019. The first scholarship is open to all Athens County high school students and is sponsored by the Athens SWCD. The second scholarship is available to Nelsonville-York students only and is sponsored by Meadowview Tree Farm in memory of Autumn and Othmar Stone.
The Camp is open to freshman through graduating seniors and offers a comprehensive conservation camp experience in an excellent outdoor setting with highly qualified Camp Staff. Check out their website for details and a video of past Camps. To apply, complete the scholarship form and return it to the Athens Soil and Water Conservation District office by May 9th.
The Camp is open to freshman through graduating seniors and offers a comprehensive conservation camp experience in an excellent outdoor setting with highly qualified Camp Staff. Check out their website for details and a video of past Camps. To apply, complete the scholarship form and return it to the Athens Soil and Water Conservation District office by May 9th.
Athens SWCD Annual Fish Sale
Athens SWCD is accepting orders for the 2019 annual fish sale. This sale is to stock new ponds or to replenish fish in existing ponds. To order, complete the order form below, and return to the Athens SWCD office with payment, no later than April 26th. The fish will be delivered to the Athens SWCD office, located at 69 South Plains Road, The Plains, Ohio at 3 pm on Thursday, May 2nd. You must pick up your orders at this time! You will also need to bring containers with some of your own pond water in them when picking up your fish. If you have any questions, please contact our office at 740-797-9686 ext. 5 or 1-800-582-8890.
How Many and What Sizes of Fish to Stock
(Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, “Ohio Pond Management Handbook”)
Stocking the recommended sizes and numbers of fish is very important for good fishing. Fingerling fish 1 to 3 inches long are recommended for stocking new or renovated ponds. Starting a pond off by stocking larger fish is tempting, but can lead to an unbalanced pond with too many fish of one kind and too few of another. Stocking larger fish can also be very expensive.
Table 2.1 shows how many fish of each kind to stock depending on the desired combination.
Whereas stocking fingerlings is recommended for new or renovated ponds, occasional stockings of larger fishes, or periodic restocking of channel catfish may be necessary in ponds with established fish populations. Stocking intermediate size fishes is recommended at reduced rates compared to fingerlings. For example, if largemouth bass or bluegills need to be supplemented, stocking 4- to 6-inch largemouth bass at the reduced rate of 50 per acre, or 2- to 4-inch bluegills at the reduced rate of 250 per acre may be appropriate. Channel catfish should be at least 8 inches long for periodic restocking so they are not eaten by adult largemouth bass. Stocking these larger channel catfish is recommended at the reduced rates of 25 to 50 per acre.
Another fish being stocked in ponds for vegetative control is the grass carp, sometimes called the white amur. Certified triploid grass carp were legalized for stocking in 1988 specifically for this purpose. These fish are incapable of reproducing in your pond. Grass carp stocking rates vary depending on the amount and kind of vegetation in the pond. For ponds with a surface covered by more than 60 percent vegetation, stock them at 20 fish per acre, but reduce the rate to 10 fish per acre for ponds with 40 to 60 percent vegetative cover, and to five fish per acre for ponds with 20 to 40 percent vegetative cover. Grass carp are not recommended for less severe problems. More fish can be added if these stocking rates do not provide adequate control. Wait at least three years after your initial stocking before deciding if you need more fish. Grass carp may not be effective for controlling milfoil, water meal, filamentous algae, or pond lilies.
Fathead minnows are stocked many times as a food source. These should be stocked at a rate of 10lbs per surface acre. There are approximately 300-350 minnows per pound. If you need assistance measuring the surface of your pond, call us - we can help!
To order fish, simply fill out the 2019_fish_sale_order_form and return it, along with payment, to Athens SWCD, 69 South Plains Road, The Plains, Ohio 45780 by April 26th. The fish must be picked up at the office on Thursday, May 2, at 3:00 pm. You will need to bring a container(s) with water from your pond. A trash can with a plastic liner or a 5 gallon bucket with lid is suitable. Two 5 gallon buckets will handle 50 fish. Since the white amur are larger, 2 per 5 gallon bucket is recommended.
Table 2.1 shows how many fish of each kind to stock depending on the desired combination.
Whereas stocking fingerlings is recommended for new or renovated ponds, occasional stockings of larger fishes, or periodic restocking of channel catfish may be necessary in ponds with established fish populations. Stocking intermediate size fishes is recommended at reduced rates compared to fingerlings. For example, if largemouth bass or bluegills need to be supplemented, stocking 4- to 6-inch largemouth bass at the reduced rate of 50 per acre, or 2- to 4-inch bluegills at the reduced rate of 250 per acre may be appropriate. Channel catfish should be at least 8 inches long for periodic restocking so they are not eaten by adult largemouth bass. Stocking these larger channel catfish is recommended at the reduced rates of 25 to 50 per acre.
Another fish being stocked in ponds for vegetative control is the grass carp, sometimes called the white amur. Certified triploid grass carp were legalized for stocking in 1988 specifically for this purpose. These fish are incapable of reproducing in your pond. Grass carp stocking rates vary depending on the amount and kind of vegetation in the pond. For ponds with a surface covered by more than 60 percent vegetation, stock them at 20 fish per acre, but reduce the rate to 10 fish per acre for ponds with 40 to 60 percent vegetative cover, and to five fish per acre for ponds with 20 to 40 percent vegetative cover. Grass carp are not recommended for less severe problems. More fish can be added if these stocking rates do not provide adequate control. Wait at least three years after your initial stocking before deciding if you need more fish. Grass carp may not be effective for controlling milfoil, water meal, filamentous algae, or pond lilies.
Fathead minnows are stocked many times as a food source. These should be stocked at a rate of 10lbs per surface acre. There are approximately 300-350 minnows per pound. If you need assistance measuring the surface of your pond, call us - we can help!
To order fish, simply fill out the 2019_fish_sale_order_form and return it, along with payment, to Athens SWCD, 69 South Plains Road, The Plains, Ohio 45780 by April 26th. The fish must be picked up at the office on Thursday, May 2, at 3:00 pm. You will need to bring a container(s) with water from your pond. A trash can with a plastic liner or a 5 gallon bucket with lid is suitable. Two 5 gallon buckets will handle 50 fish. Since the white amur are larger, 2 per 5 gallon bucket is recommended.