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Protecting Our Watershed
This unique partnership between the Department of Public
Utilities, its customers and local watershed groups
encourages residential backyard conservation, water and
energy conservation and promotes public education to improve
watershed health. The program will emphasize rainbarrel
distribution and rain garden workshops, lawn care, stream
stewards and water quality monitoring, and stream clean ups.
Where to Begin
Watershed groups can be particularly helpful for watersheds
experiencing significant land use transition. Central Ohio
has several successful groups committed to proactive
watershed protection. Become involved with a local watershed
group. Many groups offer speakers and workshops
periodically. Contact a group active in your area or link on
to one of the following web sites:
Native Plants and Trees
The following list provides guidance on what to plant and
what to avoid.
Why Use Native Plants?
Landscaping with native plants reduces time and money
invested in gardening. Plants native to Ohio thrive in the
weather and soil conditions found here so there is no need
for watering or fertilizing. This means a savings on water,
chemicals and energy.
Daily activities impact the quality of our water. Choosing
to landscape with native plants and trees can make a
difference by lessening the contamination of our waterways,
beautifying neighborhoods and cooling communities as plants
release moisture into the air.
Native landscaping offers opportunities for people and
nature to coexist by providing food and shelter for birds,
butterflies and beneficial insects, such as dragonflies that
eat mosquitoes.
Landscaping with Native Plants
Every time it rains, pesticides, fertilizers, lose dirt and
other pollutants are washed from impermeable surfaces like
roads and parking lots and into our waterways. By choosing
to landscape with plants native to our area, we can play a
role in reducing the amount of contaminants found in our
rivers and streams.
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