Help Stop Uncontrolled Development

Central Ohio developers are making an all-out push to open up the Big Darby watershed to new development, threatening to destroy the unique and fragile Big Darby Creek ecosystem. Up until now, the watershed has been protected by the Big Darby Accord, a multi-jurisdictional agreement to limit development in Western Franklin County, the area closest to metropolitan Columbus. Recently, developers have started avoiding the Accord area and proposing massive development projects in Madison and Union County to the west. To date, more than 11,000 residential units have been proposed and an industrial park is slated to expand almost to the banks of the creek, with more projects likely in the future.

Big Darby has long been recognized as one of the most significant aquatic hotspots in the Midwest, home to approximately 100 fish species and 44 freshwater mussels, including 31 species on state rare and endangered lists, and four federally endangered species. Uncontrolled development could easily collapse the ecological balance of the Darby system if extraordinary protections aren't instituted. So far state and local authorities have not agreed to take the necessary measures to limit development to the scientifically-determined tolerance limit of the creek.

Please join us in asking the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and Columbus Mayor Ginther to protect Big Darby Creek from uncontrolled development.

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Director

Laurie

Stevenson

Ohio Environmental Protection Agency

Mayor

Andrew

Ginther

City of Columbus

Dear {contact_data~salutation}
As a citizen who cares deeply about preserving the last of our natural areas, I am very concerned about proposed development projects in the sensitive Big Darby Creek watershed. In 2006, the historic Darby Accord was agreed to by ten jurisdictions in Franklin County, limiting development to the scientifically determined tolerance limit of the watershed. This agreement has held, but now developers are avoiding Franklin County and proposing huge projects elsewhere in the watershed. In one case, Plain City, with the support of Columbus, is proposing to add 10,000 new sewer taps along the Big Darby mainstem.

Due to the threat of uncontrolled development, American Rivers has included Big Darby Creek among America’s Most Endangered Rivers® of 2019.

I urge you to prohibit new development connected to centralized sewer until comprehensive, science-based planning has been conducted and a new agreement is put in place that can guarantee that new development projects will not harm the creek and its fragile aquatic ecosystem. Such a moratorium was instituted by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the City of Columbus prior to the signing of the Big Darby Accord, and we must take this step once again.

Preserving Big Darby Creek and its tributary Little Darby Creek have long been a top priority for local communities. The two creeks were named Ohio Scenic Rivers and National Scenic Rivers, and The Nature Conservancy named them to their original list of twelve Last Great Places of the Western Hemisphere. After decades of effort and millions of dollars, we cannot let them be ruined now. I request your immediate attention to this critical situation.

Sincerely,

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