To clarify confusion regarding current and future manure application guidelines in the Grand Lake St. Marys watershed, please read the following:
Watershed In Distress Fact Sheet
Manure application in the Grand Lake St. Marys Watershed is still allowable as long as the producer is following the guidelines in the USDA NRCS Field Office Technical Guide Standard 633 through January 18th, 2013. The Grand Lake Distressed Watershed Rules have 2 years to go into effect from January 18th 2011. Currently, we are in a unique timeframe which producers can still apply manure now through January 18th 2013. From January 19th 2013 – March 1st 2013 no winter manure application will be allowed unless prior approval is given. The first full winter manure application ban will begin December 15th 2013 – March 1st, 2014.
If anyone would like to report an improper manure application in Auglaize County please contact the Auglaize County Soil and Water Conservation Office at 419-738-4016 or in Mercer County please contact the Mercer County Soil and Water Conservation Office at 419-586-3289. If the manure application is actively discharging or polluting into waters of the state and you cannot reach a staff member at the local office please call Mercer County Central Dispatch at 419-586-3289 or the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Spill Hotline at 1-800-282-9378 and they will contact the appropriate agency to respond. Both Soil and Water Districts will respond to verbal or written complaints. When reporting an improper manure application please help us to find the location by giving the closest 2 intersecting road names and/or house address to the application area. This will help us get landowners names, aerial drainage photographs and watershed maps prior to arriving on site.