The Blanchard River Water Partnership continued its water quality monitoring this summer, according to Phil Martin, coordinator.

He told The Icon, "We monitored 21 sites on the Blanchard River, Lye Creek, Riley Creek and Little Riley Creek. The spring monitoring was completed on July 5. The fall monitoring will done in late September and early October.

"Results can be found on our web site by August. Special thanks to Sarah Betts from the Hancock Park District and her intern, Ashton Stevens,for their help."

Other BRWP news, from the summer newsletter, an attachment to this story follows:

•  The chemical testing program with the Sierra Club started in March. Nearly 80 sites are being tested on a monthly basis from March until October. The testing will be done by trained volunteers.

Over 13 stakeholders have been trained. The results will be used to help find areas that are impaired. There are still some sites available for volunteers to do the testing. Please conduct Martin at 419.422.6487 if you are interested in helping.

•  The BRWP is on the advisory committee for the demonstration farms in the watershed. The demo farms are being funded by the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation and the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

The agencies will be holding a field day on Aug. 26 in Hardin County.