Community Watersheds
Regional Councils

Community-based watershed groups work to protect and restore Ohio's water resources at the local level. A strong and vibrant watershed community is critical to protecting and restoring Ohio's rivers and streams. The OEC Watershed Program works around the state to strengthen individual watershed groups and unite them into regional watershed councils.

The Central Ohio Watershed (COW) Council is a forum that meets quarterly to bring together citizen-based watershed groups in Central Ohio.

The COW Council provides regional watershed organizations with an opportunity to network, share experiences and work on a collaborative regional approach to watershed protection and restoration. Formed by the OEC in the late 1990’s, the COW Council has focused on riparian corridor protection, wetland and stream mitigation, and stormwater impacts. The COW Council member organizations are currently evaluating opportunities for restoration funding opportunities to implement watershed action plans.

Contact the COW Council.

The Northeast Ohio Watershed (NEO) Council is a forum that meets bi-monthly to bring together citizen-based watershed groups in Northeast Ohio.

The NEO Council's mission is to provide networking and mentoring opportunities for watershed groups in Northeast Ohio, and to provide a collaborative forum for education, discussion, assessment, and adoption of advocacy positions regarding water quality, quantity, restoration, preservation, and distribution issues

Formed by the OEC in 2001, the NEO Council member organizations focus on such issues as local watershed restoration, local land use, state legislation, and state rulemakings.

Contact the NEO Council.

Next Meeting:

June 29, 4 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Cleveland Metroparks Canal Way Center
4524 E. 49th Street
Cuyahoga Heights, OH 44125

Presentation by Bill Zawiski, on Ohio EPA's proposed Urban Nutrient trading program in Tinkers Creek

RSVP by June 22 to Joe Logan at Joe@theOEC.org or (614) 487-7506

$7 for OEC members; $10 for non-members

The Northwest Ohio Watershed (NOW) Council is a forum that meets quarterly to bring together citizen-based watershed groups in Northwest Ohio.

The NOW Council provides regional watershed organizations with an opportunity to network, share experiences and work on a collaborative regional approach to watershed protection and restoration.

Interested? Contact the NOW Council.

Next Meeting:

July 27, 12 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Winous Point Shooting Club
2500 S. Lattimore Road
Port Clinton, OH 43452

RSVP by July 20 to Joe Logan at Joe@theOEC.org or (614) 487-7506

$7 for OEC members; $10 for non-members

The OEC helped to create and organize the Southeast Ohio Watershed (SEOW) Council as a cooperative venture with Rural Action to address the needs of watershed groups in southeast Ohio’s coal mining region. Mining practices in some cases have rendered streams devoid of life because of acid mine drainage and runoff. The SEOW Council member organizations actively educate watershed residents, local officials and key state and federal legislative representatives on the specific issues that address watershed impairments.

Contact the SEOW Council.