SUMMIT COUNTY, OHIO—Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro and County Engineer Alan Brubaker are recognizing the 6th Annual Stormwater Awareness Week from October 1-7, stressing the importance of storm and surface water management in Summit County. Stormwater Awareness Week is a statewide campaign led by communities, soil and water management districts, park districts, and public health departments across Ohio. Though stormwater management is an often lesser known responsibility of local governments and agencies, it is essential for maintaining our infrastructure and environment.
“We have come a long way in Summit County in preserving and restoring our environment,” said Executive Shapiro, “Investing in stormwater management is yet another step in ensuring that we live in a community with a pristine environment and the infrastructure needed for future growth.”
Executive Shapiro and Engineer Brubaker were recently bestowed the Urban Conservation Award by the Summit Soil and Water Conservation District for their work in the creation and expansion of the Surface Water Management District (SWMD). The District includes Copley, Coventry, Springfield, Bath, Richfield, Northfield Center, Sagamore Hills, Twinsburg, and Boston Townships, as well as the Village of Lakemore and City of Reminderville. As these communities see residential, commercial, and industrial development, impermeable structures and surfaces alter how the landscape absorbs and moves water. Surface water management helps avoid costly and damaging erosion and flooding.
“Effective stormwater management is a crucial component in maintaining a high quality of life and protecting infrastructure in Summit County,” said Engineer Brubaker, “We now have the ability to address water quality and quantity issues in Summit County. With the Surface Water Management District and ARPA dollars, we have already started fourteen projects across Summit County to help homes and businesses routinely affected by poor water quality or flooding. Our communities are better off when the county, cities, villages, and townships are able to come together and work with us on issues like stormwater.”
The County Executive and Engineer have leveraged financial resources from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to deliver a total of $18.8 million in investments to the SWMD, with recent projects in the District including designs and construction around Brandywine Creek, Pigeon Creek, Yellow Creek, Brewster Creek, and Springfield Lake. These projects will help maintain clean and safe water in the Cuyahoga, Little Cuyahoga, and Tuscarawas Rivers.
Residents can support efforts to keep streams, rivers, and lakes clean by:
- Planting native plants and trees in your yard
- Keeping storm drains clear of debris on your street
- Avoiding fertilizing your lawn before rain
- Organizing or volunteering at stream and river cleanups in your community
More information about Stormwater Awareness Week can be found at ohiostormwaterawareness.org or on Summit Soil and Water’s website at sswcd.summitoh.net.
