CELEBRATING OUR 2025 COMMUNITY SPARK AWARD RECEIPIENT

Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District

Since its establishment in 1949, Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) has been working diligently to support residents and landowners in protecting and restoring our county’s precious soil and water resources.

In the early 1950s, there were more than 70,000 acres of farmland in the county and Cuyahoga SWCD worked closely with farmers on soil erosion control and other conservation practices. By 1959, the county’s farm acreage had been reduced to just 20,000 acres, signaling the beginning of urbanization in Cuyahoga County.

As development and urban sprawl began to transform Cuyahoga County’s landscape, Cuyahoga SWCD’s priorities shifted to reflect the challenges of rapid urbanization. In 1962, the major objective was to “obtain the adoption of conservation on individual lands,” helping establish Cuyahoga SWCD’s first educational programs for schools, homeowners, and farmers.

As Cuyahoga SWCD continued to evolve between the 1970’s and early 2000’s, they played a key role in advocating for local, state, and national legislation supporting soil health and water quality in the Great Lakes Region.

Meeting Conservation Needs

In more recent decades, Cuyahoga SWCD has continued to evolve to meet the growing conservation needs across Cuyahoga County. In 2024, Cuyahoga SWCD celebrated their 75th anniversary by hosting five large events for the residents of Cuyahoga County including a special event to thank their municipal partners. Their good work continues throughout the year as well. Below are just some of their conservation numbers from 2024.

  • 2,120 Trees Planted & Distributed
  • 101 Education Events & Workshops
  • 200 Rain Barrels Distributed (over 7,000 since 2008)
  • 8,856 Native Plants and Seeds Sold
  • 12 Master Rain Gardeners Certified
  • 2,014 Active Construction Site Inspections
  • 876 Long Term Operation and Maintenance Site Inspections
  • 341 Stormwater Plan Reviews Complete
  • $208,159 Grant Funding Secured

Looking Ahead

Moving forward, Cuyahoga SWCD continues to help communities and individuals rethink how to protect, restore, and enhance our region’s valuable natural resources.

Cuyahoga SWCD’s mission is to foster a healthy and resilient urban environment through soil and water conservation practices, community engagement, and environmental stewardship. With four service areas – Education & Outreach, Watershed Management,

Stormwater Management, and Healthy Soils & Natural Resources – Cuyahoga SWCD has seventeen employees, and hosts seasonal interns and NOWCorps members. Check out their newly updated website at www.cuyahogaswcd.org and follow Cuyahoga SWCD on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn to stay connected with this dynamic and impactful agency. From educational workshops and school programs to plan reviews, stormwater inspections, and stream restoration projects, Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District is your local leader in urban conservation.

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