NEW PHILADELPHIA – A quorum of judges attending a Conservancy Court session of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) has appointed Jennifer Ponchak from Morgan County to fill a vacancy on the five-member MWCD Board of Directors. Ponchak was appointed to a five-year term on the board of directors during the court’s session held June 2 in the Tuscarawas County Courthouse at New Philadelphia. She fills the seat held by Joanne Limbach, who served on the MWCD board for 20 years.
“I congratulate Jennifer on her appointment to the board of directors,” said Craig Butler, MWCD executive director. “Jennifer’s background will be helpful as we continue to enhance our conservation and flood mitigation efforts, so I look forward to working with her in the future.”
Ponchak founded Follow the River Environmental, a specialty company that performs clearing and grubbing, erosion control, seeding landscaping and environmental consulting services on private commercial, heavy highway and municipal projects. Follow the River is a certified DBE, SBE, EDGE and WBE company. She holds a bachelor’s degree in natural resources from The Ohio State University, CPESC and CPSWQ certifications and is a licensed underground storage tank installer.
“Joanne is the longest-serving board member – serving 20 years,” Butler said. “She has dedicated her professional life to public service with MWCD, the State of Ohio and many other national and local causes. On behalf of all MWCD staff, past and present, we thank her for her service.”
Limbach said she has had the pleasure of seeing the district through its ups and downs.
“Thank you to the Conservancy Court, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, MWCD Board and colleagues for the opportunity to participate in public service at its best,” Limbach said. “Through it all, the MWCD has been true to the values created at its inception, which is to provide flood mitigation, conservation and outdoor recreation to the citizens in the region, and I am honored to be a part of this history.”
Col. Jayson Putnam, USACE Huntington District commander, provided an update that included projects on the Dam Safety Classification within the MWCD.
Butler presented the annual report of operations, which was approved by the court and encompasses the overview of the success of the MWCD from 2022. To view the annual report, visit mwcd.org/get-to-know-us/annual-report.
Other members of the MWCD Board of Directors include President and Retired Honorable Judge Robert S. Moorehead of Guernsey County, Gordon T. Maupin of Wayne County, Jim Gresh of Stark County and Retired Major General Ronald E. Dziedzicki of Medina County.
Members of the board of directors are appointed by the Conservancy Court to oversee the operations and business affairs of the MWCD, which manages more than 57,000 acres of land and water dedicated to public use. Board members meet once a month in open public sessions.
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