Reflections on Rally

September 19, 2025

BY TOM BUCKLEY

Recently, four members of the Three Valley team were able to attend the annual Land Trust Alliance conference called Rally. Hosted in Cleveland, Ohio, on September 3-6, Rally was a fantastic mix of networking, learning, field experiences and fun.

Our Executive Director, Randy Evans, our Associate Director, Caitlin Brown, and our Stewardship Team, Erik Hermann and yours truly, Tom Buckley, were able to immerse themselves in a variety of field experiences and workshops. It was a great opportunity to see what other land trusts in the region are doing and learn about creative solutions throughout the country in land preservation and stewardship.

With four of us in attendance we could really explore a lot of the field trip options and workshops and collectively bring back a lot of great information. Some highlights from the team include:

• Exploring managed woodlands at Holden Arboretum;
• Learning about beech leaf disease and possible implications for southwest Ohio;
• Exploring the science of wetlands and why they might not be working;
• An overview of green burial practices;
• Land restoration for improving surface water quality;
• A demonstration of beaglingbeagling by the Chagrin Valley Beagles;
• How land trusts are partnering with The Nature Conservancy to complete restoration projects with mitigation credits;
• Kayaking and birding in the western basin of Lake Erie;
• How land trusts can partner with sporting/recreation groups to generate revenue on their properties;
• Learning best practices in current conditions reporting;
• Exploring case studies in waste and dumping violations;
• Best practices in educational programming.

We have a lot of information to digest, much of which will help us operate more efficiently and effectively. And as the monitoring season winds down, I know we will be working on some new ideas this winter.

To close out the conference, the team was able to attend a final session at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The absolute highlight (ok, I’m just speaking for myself) was drooling over a couple of Jimi Hendrix’s Stratocasters. They almost had to drag me out of there!

All in all, Rally was a great experience, leaving us recharged and ready to wrap up this year and prepare for the next. It was encouraging to make connections with our fellow land trust folks and explore all the creative ideas out there. I’m excited to see how we apply what we learned to further Three Valley’s mission.

Howard Creek Watershed Project Begins!

February 12, 2022

BY REVA EVANS

Three Valley Conservation Trust (TVCT) is excited to announce the beginning of yet another watershed protection planning project in the Lower Great Miami River Basin.

The purpose of the project is to develop a 9 Element Nonpoint Source Implementation Strategy Plan (NPS-IS) for Howard Creek Dry Fork Whitewater River watershed, located in SW Ohio (Butler and Hamilton counties) and SE Indiana (Franklin County). – Please see below the project area map.

A 9-Element Plan approved by the Ohio Environmental Agency (OEPA) is required to apply for a federal and state funding, including; section 319 and H2Ohio grants to fund eligible streambank restoration, wetland restoration and many other conservation projects, which can help to improve water quality in the watershed.

The local stakeholders and communities are strongly encouraged to actively participate in the planning process, provide input in identifying sources and causes of impairments in the watershed, and help to set goals and management strategies for the watershed conservation efforts.

Development of the 9 Element Plan for the Howard Creek Dry Fork Whitewater River watershed is the first of two TVCT watershed protection planning projects scheduled for 2022. The second project will focus on the Paddy’s Run watershed and will start in July. The funding for both projects is administrated by the OEPA.

To learn more about the development of a 9 Element Plan, please check the attached poster.

If you live in the project area and have water quality concerns, or you are interested in more information, we would like to hear from you. Please contact TVCT atoffice@3vct.orgor give us a call at 513-524-2150.

We also encourage you to participate in the Open House meeting for the Upper Dry Fork Watershed on February 17^that 5:00p.m. The meeting will be held at Morgan Township, Community Building, 6463 Okeana Drewersburg Rd, Okeana, Ohio 45053. Learn about collaborative planning process for the Howard Creek Dry Fork Whitewater River watershed and hear about available funding opportunities and programs. Let us know what are your conservation concerns for this watershed.

Final Easement for 2021

December 28, 2021

BY REVA EVANS

On Tuesday, we closed our final easement of 2021, a 110 acre farm in Preble County owned by the Rodeffer Family. The Rodeffers have been part of the TVCT family since 2007 and have multiple farms protected by the Trust. The Rodeffer Family recently opened their own butcher shop in Eaton, Ohio called Rodeffer Meats, which offers a variety of beef, pork, and chicken. Stop by their shop to show your support and to congratulate them on protecting their farm.

H2Ohio Wetland Grant Program

December 15, 2021

BY REVA EVANS

Three Valley Conservation Trust is pleased to share with you some exciting news. The Ohio River Basin H2Ohio Wetland Grant Program has awarded the full funding for restoring one of the largest permanently protected with a conservation easements wetlands in Beals Run – Indian Creek (BR-IC) watershed. The project will also include the restoration of a severely eroding reach of Indian Creek, which is upstream and adjacent to the wetland.

The Indian Creek - Hoffmann Wetland and Stream Restoration project was identified as one of the top priorities to help meet the watershed restoration goals set in the recently approved management plan (Nine-Element NPS-IS Plan) developed for this watershed. The wetland and stream restoration project will significantly reduce nutrients and sediment pollution at the project site and improve water quality in the BR-IC watershed.

The successful execution of this project will not only address some of the impairments identified in the BR-IC watershed, but also it will bring new restoration and conservation partnerships and opportunities into our region.

The project implementation will start in January of 2022 and will be completed by the end of 2024. Please follow us of Facebook and check our website for updates on this important project.

Hovering For Habitat

December 28, 2021

BY AUDRA SHIELDS

Our Stewardship Manager, Maria, and Land Protection Specialist, Caitlin, have been busy on a project called Hovering for Habitat. About a year ago, they were awarded a grant to purchase a new drone, become licensed drone pilots and explore its capabilities to make our monitoring responsibilities safer and more efficient.

For our landowners, it is allowing us to better assess erosion sites and determine damage mitigation strategies, as well as monitor major property changes over time.

It's been a fascinating project so far and they will continue to explore capabilities such as gathering data on crop health, projected yields, water stress analysis, and fertilizer management. View the presentation here.

Stay tuned as we go boldly into the future.

Paddys Run Conservation Project - Final Herp Survey Report

December 28, 2020

BY REVA EVANS

Jeff Davis reports higher than expected biodiversity on PRCP Properties

In 2018, the Ohio EPA contracted with state certified herpetologist, Jeff Davis, to complete a herp survey on over 4,700 acres of private and public properties currently protected through the Paddys Run Conservation Project (PRCP). The survey results show the Ohio EPA and 3VCT, through the PRCP, have protected land that is inhabited by 34 species of amphibians and reptiles, one of which (the Cave Salamander) is state endangered. See the full report here...

Easement #210 Caps Off 2020

December 16, 2020

BY AUDRA SHIELDS

Our final easement of 2020, the Blue Hills Farm, closed on Monday. Our sincere appreciation to Mark and Cindy Rentschler for protecting their 163-acre property in Hamilton. The Rentschler family has a long history of regional conservation and we are delighted they are joining the Three Valley family. During our first visits to the property, Steve Gordon provided the following summary of their unique barn. The Garver-Rentschler Barn, built ca. 1835-1840, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As an example of a German Sweitzer type, the barn is distinguished by a cantilevered forebay, heavy hewn timber framing and central threshing bay. The barn has been preserved by the Rentschler family and is a visual focal point of the homestead. While the Three Valley mission is focused on protecting our natural resources, we are additionally interested in protecting the cultural history of SW Ohio. For those keeping count, the Rentschler Farm is our 210th easement and the celebration with Mark and Cindy was a wonderful way to finish our 26th year of conservation. Happy Holidays, Everyone!

Our 209th Easement

November 18, 2020

BY TVCT REPORTER

We would like to congratulate Dean and Marilyn Ketring on the closing of their agricultural easement last Wednesday, becoming TVCT's 209th easement. The Ketring Farm, located in Preble County, is yet another farm that will be protected in perpetuity thanks to the Ohio Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Easement Program. Dean and Marilyn's 185.1 acre property located in Camden, which is adjacent to the Woodland Trails Scout Reservation, is a combination of prime farmland, woodlands, and grassed waterways established through USDA's Conservation Reserve Program. Dean and Marilyn also own an 81 acre property in Eaton that is protected in perpetuity by a TVCT conservation easement. If you or someone you know is interested in protecting farmland in Butler or Preble County and are interested in applying for ODA's Agricultural Easement Program's 2021 funding round, please contact TVCT and we would be happy to discuss the application process. Up next, Three Valley's 210th easement will be closing soon in Butler County.

Beals Run-Indian Creek Watershed Project Begins!

November 10, 2020

BY REVA EVANS

Three Valley Conservation Trust (3VCT) is excited to share with you some great news! Our land trust has been selected as a recipient of a competitive grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) to develop a 9 Element Nonpoint Source Implementation Strategy Plan (NPS—IS Plan) for one of the high-priority watersheds within the Ohio River Basin. This 9-Element Plan is specifically for the Beals Run-Indian Creek watershed in Butler County (See Project Area Map below).

The purpose of the 9-Element NPS-IS Plan is to identify sources of pollution and outline a strategy to improve water quality within the watershed. Based on input from local communities and stakeholders, the plan outlines water quality goals, restoration methods, and best management practices needed to achieve pollutant reduction. EPA approved 9-Element Plans are required by some state and federal grant programs to fund the eligible projects.

The 9-Element Plan for the Beals Run-Indian Creek watershed will provide a roadmap for needed investments that will benefit our communities by protecting water resources, restoring environmental conditions, protecting public health, supporting outdoor recreation, and improving our quality of life. The land trust will collaborate with Environmental Solutions AQ (ensoaq.com), a local environmental consulting company in drafting the plan. The project’s timeframe is from November 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021. To ensure the success of the plan, TVCT will also collaborate with local stakeholders and community members who can help to develop watershed restoration and protection strategies and later start implementing these strategies.

If you live in the project area and have water quality concerns or you are interested in more information, we would like to hear from you. Please contact Agnes Marchlewska at landpro@3vct.org.

We also encourage you to visit the Ohio Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program here for additional information about the program and details of a 9-Element plan.

Trail Cam Footage

November 4, 2020

BY REVA EVANS

Our landowners have generously shared some of their trail cam footage with us. Enjoy!

Chip’s Run, A Dream Fulfilled

July 24, 2019

BY ARCHER HILL

Welcoming a new property and landowner to the Three Valley family

Last month, Three Valley Conservation Trust attended a picnic to celebrate the closing of an easement in Morgan Township. The 160 acre property, which was part of the Paddy’s Run Restoration Project, is rich in biodiversity—with over 100 plant species, as well as being one of the richest sites for amphibians and reptiles in Butler County.

In our previous newsletter Stephen Gordon, a Paddy’s Run Conservation Project Subcontractor, wrote about the property and its owner’s lifelong dream to create a wildlife sanctuary. That article has been republished below.

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Charles ‘Chip’ Hafele is the quintessential work-driven man. By day he oversees two businesses, and when time allows he pursues his childhood dream. Growing up in Cincinnati, Chip envisioned a wildlife sanctuary that he and his family could enjoy and share with others. Twenty-two years ago, Chip’s dream moved closer to reality when he purchased 160 secluded acres in western Butler County. Challenges remained, however, as he had his businesses in Cincinnati to manage and a family to help support. There was precious little time for his 160 acre paradise, yet Chip managed to plant grasses and legumes for wildlife habitat.

Fast forward to 2017, TVCT Trustee Ed Teets needed tree work done on his easement property, and Chip was called to do the work. The two men hit it off, and Ed mentioned the benefits of a conservation easement. A new chapter in CHip’s dream was being written. TVCT, Ohio EPA and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) staff began a series of property visits. Chip now laughs that during the first site visit staff hiked less than 300 yards during the first two hours. The reason: Chip’s property had such a rich diversity of plants. Over 100 plant species have since been recorded, that include spring ephemerals and 41 species of trees and shrubs. Field surveys by ODNR recorded 66 macroinvertebrates along Dry FOrk and 23 fish species on Dry Fork and Sours Run. Results from Jeff Davis’s initial field survey indicates that Chip’s Run ranks among the richest sites for herpetological species in Butler County.

With such rich habitat and species diversity, the Paddy’s Run Conservation Project (PRCP) is funding several restoration projects. A five-year plan plan to retire three bottomland crop fields to grasslands, prairies and savanna began in March 2019 through the expert guidance of Al Gerhart. This conversion will facilitate Chip’s dream of increasing the property’s wildlife population and species diversity. Conservation and Woodland Stewardship Plans underwritten by the PRCP will provide a blueprint for best land management practices.

This will be Chip and his daughter’s first spring living on ‘Chip’s Run’. A Chorus of spring peepers will fill the night with sound while turkey, deer, beaver and countless small mammals will increasingly populate the bottom fields. Native forbs and grasses will emerge from former corn and soybean stubble, and their seeds and nectar will foster insect and bird diversity. Removing invasive plants like honeysuckle will facilitate emergence of ephemerals and understory trees. Gradually, Chip’s Run will be transformed into a diverse, carefully managed sanctuary. Chip’s dream will have entered its final phase. Amidst the demands of work, Chip will set aside time to sit back and take in the sights, sounds and smells of a truly special place.