Giving the Stillwater River Some Love

By Sarah Hippensteel Hall, Ph.D., manager of watershed partnerships If you haven’t visited the Stillwater River firsthand, it is time you did. The Stillwater River is a special place to fish, paddle, or just enjoy some beautiful scenery. Ohio’s only National Water Trail and State Scenic River Designated as both a National Water Trail and a State Scenic River, the Stillwater River and Greenville Creek system are the only river segments in Ohio that have been awarded both of these special distinctions. Ohio’s scenic river program recognizes high quality natural streams and helps protect them for future generations. The National Park Service’s National Water Trail program recognizes rivers and streams with plentiful public access for river recreation. Together, that makes the Stillwater River one of the best Ohio has to offer. Greenville Falls Premier outdoor recreation The Stillwater River and its tributaries offer diverse recreation fun.

• World-class fishing, including some of Ohio’s premier smallmouth bass habitat
• 60+ miles of flatwater for beginning and intermediate paddlers
• Beautiful riverside parks managed by Darke County ParkDistrict, Miami County Park District, and Five Rivers MetroParks
• Fun nature education at Brukner Nature Center in Troy, and Aullwood Audubon in Dayton
• Scenic waterfalls on Greenville Creek

Stay Safe And anytime we talk about river adventures, we need to talk about river safety. A few small steps can ensure your next experience on the Stillwater River—or any river for that matter—is a fun and safe one.

• Do not enter the water when river levels are high or water is moving fast. Most people underestimate the power of water.
• Always wear a life jacket while paddling.

Use ourStillwater River water trail mapto learn more about staying safe on the river. She is putting on the most important piece of river gear. Always wear a life jacket when paddling the Stillwater River. The health of the Stillwater River So the Stillwater River offers exceptional river recreation. But what about the condition of the river? When Ohio designated the Stillwater River as a Scenic River in 1975, it was considered to be in "excellent" or "good" condition. As with virtually every water body in the country, land uses in recent years threaten the water quality and condition of the habitat. Despite the challenges, the Ohio EPA reports that 52 percent of the Stillwater River and its major tributaries meet Ohio water quality standards. One of the most common threats to the Stillwater River is nutrients. Nitrogen and phosphorus enter waterways when it rains, impacting water quality. Both are found in fertilizers, animal waste, sewage, and wastewater. These problems can be reduced by fencing livestock out of streams and rivers, better fertilizer management, properly maintaining septic systems, and improvements to wastewater treatment. The Stillwater River and its tributaries have also beenheavily impacted by physical, man-made changes. Removal ofstream side forests can increase erosion of the stream banks.When the shape of the stream is changed from a natural, meandering shape to a straight channel, habitat is destroyed. More than half of the Stillwater River and its tributaries meet Ohio water quality standards. MCD and the Stillwater River Keeping rivers healthy is a big part ofMCD’s water stewardshipefforts. We collaborate with schools, communities and local groups to protect the river. We:

• Track nutrient and other pollutant levels in the Stillwater River.
• Sponsortrash cleanups on the river.
• Educate homeowners on proper maintenance ofhome sewage treatment systems.
• Partner with communities that manage wastewater treatment to explore new approaches to wastewater management.

We’re working to keep the Stillwater River healthy for you, your family and generations to come. You can help with these simplewater wise actions. Let’s give the Stillwater River some big love in return for all it gives us.

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