PUBLIC HEARING … Craig Nelson, Hydrogeologist and Group Supervisor for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), reports his findings during the public hearing.
By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
On August 5, 2025 at 6:00 p.m., a public meeting was held to address a groundwater conflict in South-Central Williams County. Williams County Commissioners requested a meeting with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Water Resources on April 1, 2025.
In attendance were Brad Lodge (Water Inventory and Planning Program Manager), Craig Nelson (hydrogeologist and Groundwater Group Supervisor), and JD Stucker (Assistant Chief).
The purpose of the meeting was to present technical information related to the conflict and the groundwater resource. The ODNR provides this as a free service to citizens, investigating whether an agricultural groundwater withdrawal facility is negatively affecting nearby occupants.
Following the public hearing, ODNR collected written comments from locals and officials to include in their future statement.
If any relevant or conflicting information arises, they will investigate the claims further to provide a comprehensive report. Acting as a neutral party, they were contracted to provide an impartial report on the matter.
The conflict arose from allegations by local residents that their wells were being dewatered. The facility in question was reported to be “Zeedyk Farms – Boucher’s,” an irrigation facility south of Bryan, located near US 6 and CR 15.
The Williams County Commissioners approved a citizen’s application for the conflict to be sent to the ODNR for investigation.
There were two original complainants, but a total of four participated in the research of the conflict. Nelson noted that the facility in question was generally very cooperative during the procedure.
As part of their investigation, the ODNR conducted a 24-hour pumping test at the Zeedyk Farms – Boucher’s facility on February 28, 2023.
The test involved pumping their well at 300 gallons per minute (GPM) for 24 hours to purposefully stress the aquifer. During this time, several nearby residential wells were also monitored.
“The facility was fairly slow to recover from the test,” Craig Nelson comments, “taking two to three days to return to normal.”
The study concluded that 10 surrounding wells outside the facility’s property were affected by the groundwater withdrawal.
The “cone of depression,” a localized drop in the groundwater level caused by pumping a well faster than it can naturally replenish, extended beyond the property line.
The three wells closest to the facility experienced the highest drawdown, with levels of 43%, 34%, and 29%.
Levels declining at this rate indicate that water is being removed faster than it’s being replenished, leading to aquifer depletion. This depletion has the potential to make wells dry up, requiring costly deeper drilling to access water.
The remaining wells showed drawdown effects ranging from 7% to 19%, which is not considered immediately dangerous but could be a cause for future concern.
The ODNR’s summary of findings reported that the drawdown effects observed in the complainants’ wells were likely caused by pumping at the facility, and that continued pumping poses a risk of ongoing impacts.
The report suggested several possible resolutions, including reducing the pumping rate or duration, waiting a few days between pumping events to allow for recovery, or exploring alternative water supplies.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ role is now complete – with an official report to be released by the chief. The agency does not have the legal authority to require the facility to change its practices.
Any future changes would be the responsibility of the original filer to pursue in civil court, as groundwater is considered a property right.