Community Watersheds - Training & Support

Sustainable locally-led watershed organizations are critical to protecting rivers and streams and improving water quality. Therefore the Ohio Environmental Council assists emerging and existing watershed groups across the state through one-on-one consultation and group workshops on capacity-building issues such as grant writing and building membership as well as technical issues including stormwater regulations, water quality monitoring, and other aspects of the Clean Water Act.

Fundraising Tips for Watershed Groups

Citizens typically are drawn to watershed groups because they care about protecting a river, not necessarily because they want to fundraise. Yet raising funds is critical to protecting local rivers and streams. Learn more (PDF) about how to diversify your group’s fundraising base and raise funds.

Fundraising Cookbook

Grassroots groups share a common challenge of securing the funding necessary to carry out important local conservation projects. In an effort to assist groups in raising these needed funds, the Ohio Environmental Council compiled a “Fundraising Cookbook” (PDF) which features fundraising success stories from local groups. The “recipes” include all the “ingredients” you need for a profitable fundraiser.

OEC’s Stormwater Guide Released

The Clean Water Act’s “stormwater phase II” regulations establish requirements on construction sites to reduce erosion and control runoff. Our Guide to Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control (PDF) is an easy-to-use reference to educate concerned citizens and local officials.

OEC’s Citizen’s Guide to 401’s Available

Sections 404 and 401 of the Clean Water Act govern the filling of wetlands. For tips on how to participate in the permitting process and information on what the regulations require the Ohio EPA to consider, take a look at our Citizen’s Guide to 401’s (PDF)

OEC Guide on Formal Complaints to Ohio EPA

Ohio law provides for a formal complaint process to the Ohio EPA. We wanted to make sure that citizens had a handy guide, so we created the How to File a Verified Complaint fact sheet. (PDF)

OEC De-mystifies Clean Water Act Citizen Suits

We know that many concerned citizens have shied away from enforcing the Clean Water Act because it can be imposing. So we wrote the Citizen’s Guide to Clean Water Act Citizen Suits (PDF) to explain the law and the avenues available to those concerned with our valuable water resources.

Building good relationships with local media

Dealing with the media can sometimes be a daunting task, but they are one of your best ways to get your message out and influence lawmakers, leaders, decision-makers, and your fellow citizens.

Visit our Advocacy Tool page for guides to working with the media, writing letters to your newspaper editor, and writing an Op-Ed piece.

Effective lobbying

Building a good relationship with your elected officials is one of the best ways to make change. This includes meeting, writing and calling your elected officials and, when appropriate, providing public testimony on your issue.

Visit our Advocacy Tool page for guides to discussing your issue with elected officials and providing testimony.

Building a sustainable watershed group

Do you question how to become a 501c3 organization, how to build up your groups membership, or how to write effective by-laws? The Ohio Environmental Council has some useful tips located in the following fact sheets: