History of the Little Miami River Partnership

In 1996, John Kellis, from the Miami Valley RC&D, Bob Gabel, from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources South West Scenic Rivers Office and Bruce Smith, from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, worked together to form a group of interested people who would like to address environmental issues for the Little Miami Watershed. Through a number of formative meetings, held with people from the communities and the governments within the Little Miami River Watershed, it was found that a lot of environmental work was being accomplished, but efforts were often times isolated and uncoordinated. This led to the formation of an organization that could provide assistance on environmental programs and unify programs for a more comprehensive approach. After numerous brain-storming sessions, the group decided to form a formal organization, and developed by-laws, priorities and strategies, and sub-committees representing each of the five sub-watersheds of the Little Miami River: The Upper Little Miami River, Caesar's Creek, Todd's Fork, East Fork, and the Lower Little Miami River. The new organization, at that time unnamed, would have 9 board members: one representing each of the sub-watershed areas and 4 at-large members.

In 1997, the organization elected its first interim Board of Directors, continued the process of inviting businesses, governments and citizens to be part of the group, and developed the name: "The Little Miami River Partnership." Continuing its development, the Partnership submitted articles of incorporation and applied for non-profit status. Lastly, they applied for an Ohio EPA Pilot Planning Grant through the Miami Valley RC&D.

In 1998, the new Little Miami River Partnership (LMRP) elected its first Board of Directors and officers. LMRP, through the Miami Valley RC&D, received the Ohio EPA Pilot Planning Grant. The Miami Valley RC&D was then able to hire a Planning Administrator to assist LMRP in its development as a watershed organization.

In 1999, LMRP received status as an incorporated, non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization.

From 1998 to 2000 the Planning Administrator was able to provide LMRP with help to develop as a broad-based, service-oriented environmental organization. This process required even more input and cooperation from local communities, elected-officials and governments into the organization. It was also during this period that the organization determined that a unified, planned approach to identifying and addressing watershed issues could benefit everyone within the watershed.

In 2000, LMRP applied for and received a six-year Watershed Coordinator grant, funded by the State of Ohio and the US EPA. The grant is primarily to assist each sub-watershed of the Little Miami River develop and write a comprehensive watershed plan. LMRP's main partners are the Soil and Water Conservation Districts within the watershed.

In 2001, LMRP hired its first full-time employee: Sarah Hippensteel, LMRP Watershed Coordinator. Since that time, LMRP has aggressively worked on Total Daily Maximum Load's (TMDL), watershed plans, educational programming, symposiums, and developing and gathering community input for the watershed planning process. The first TMDL completed in the Little Miami Watershed was for the Upper Little Miami River and Caesar's Creek sub-watersheds in 2003. Additional discussions during this time led to the development of a Watershed Coordinator position for the East Fork of the Little Miami River. The first watershed plan for the Little Miami River Watershed was completed in 2003 in the East Fork sub-watershed. By the end of 2004, three more watershed plans, two in the East Fork and one for the Todd's Fork watershed will be completed.

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