The Big Darby Accord, 20 Years Later: Incorporating Conservation in Regional Growth

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Program Overview

Twenty years ago, the Big Darby Accord marked a groundbreaking commitment to protect one of Ohio’s most ecologically significant waterways while guiding responsible regional growth. The Big Darby Creek, a Scenic River that is home to extraordinary fish and mussel diversity despite covering just one percent of the state’s land area, has long been a symbol of how cross-sector collaboration can conserve valuable natural resources. Today, two decades after the original Accord, development pressures are rising and there is a new cohort of professionals who are involving in planning and managing the Big Darby Creek watershed. Therefore, it's a critical time for a retrospective. At this program, we will revisit the original inspiration for the Big Darby Accord and the hard-earned lessons for management and planning that have been accumulated along the way.

This Environmental Professionals Network program is not about shaping policy. It is about reconnecting with the stories, values, and vision that shaped the original 2006 Accord. The panel will share firsthand experiences from those who helped craft the original agreement, revealing how scientists, planners, homebuilders, and conservationists worked together to balance myriad interests and values. We will revisit pivotal moments—from early biodiversity discoveries to the tensions surrounding a failed proposal to make the Big Darby a National Wildlife Refuge—and explore why collaboration remains essential today.

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Agenda

9:00 a.m. Doors open at Ohio State 4-H Center; Coffee served for in-person attendees.  

9:30 a.m. Livestreaming service begins for virtual attendees. Tim Haab, PhD, Director, OSU School of Environment and Natural Resources (SENR), provides welcome remarks.

9:35 a.m. Event moderator Kristy Meyer, CEO & Founder, Upriver Consulting, outlines program themes, including a note on the significant social and ecological complexities that underly management decisions in the Big Darby Creek watershed.

9:40 a.m. Anthony Sasson and John Tetzloff, Darby Creek Association, detail the ecological significance of the Big Darby Creek and a variety of management approaches over the years to protect the watershed.

10:05 a.m. Chris Hermann, Principal, MKSK Studios, outlines the main components of the 2006 Big Darby Accord, identifying future strategies for cross-sector collaboration based on lessons learned in the implementation of the original Accord.

10:20 a.m. Robert Gable, Assistant Chief and Scenic Rivers Program Manager and Heather Doherty, Central Ohio Scenic Rivers Manager, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Natural Areas and Preserves, showcase preliminary results of the Integrated Prioritization System project, which intends to establish thresholds for 100 potential stressors, including development in the Darby Watershed (Note: thresholds signify the amount of stress the river can accommodate before experiencing ecological damage).

10:45 a.m. City of Hilliard Council Member Cynthia Vermillion shares how Hilliard integrates provisions from the Big Darby Accord into city-led restoration and planning projects.

10:50 a.m. Moderated discussion with panelists. Moderated by Kristy Meyer.

11:15 a.m. Harrison Fried, EPN Program Director, concludes the panel component. Livestreaming service concludes for virtual attendees.

11:20 a.m. Structured networking session for in-person attendees, light snacks provided. Facilitated by Mike McNutt.

12:00 p.m. Boxed to-go lunches are available for in-person attendees; optional space for networking and lunch is available until 1:00 p.m.

 

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What We Heard: Community Perspectives from the Big Darby Networking Session

Question 1: What is your vision for Big Darby Creek (or your home watershed) in 2050?

Ecological Health and Biodiversity

• Biodiversity of today is maintained or improved.

• Mature, protected riparian corridors with clean water and healthy habitat.
• Land around the creek is preserved or restored to support wildlife and ecosystem function.
• Climate‑resilient landscapes (forested/shaded areas, groundwater recharge zones).

Community Engagement and Collaboration

• A community that deeply values the watershed and understands how natural resources are interconnected.

• Strong environmental ethic passed to the next generation; children and adults alike actively involved.
• Increased outdoor recreation (creeking, trails, nature experiences) that builds public appreciation.
• Broad public outreach to help people understand what has gone wrong and how they can help.

Smart Planning and Responsible Development

• Development follows a well‑defined plan emphasizing redevelopment/infill over expansion.

• A “plan with teeth” (i.e., that has clear rules, accountability, and enforceability).
• Incentives for landowners to preserve ecological values.
• Big Darby recognized nationally as a model for multi‑stakeholder watershed planning.
• Jurisdictions cooperate to determine a sustainable development footprint and commit to staying below it.

Economic Recognition of Natural Value

• Ecosystem services and economic benefits of the watershed clearly communicated to decision‑makers.
• Recreation, natural beauty, and preserved landscapes support a thriving local economy.

Question 2: What are barriers to Protecting Watershed Integrity While Meeting Human Progress Needs?

Governance, Enforcement and Coordination Challenges

• Insufficient administrative power to enforce regulations or share expertise across jurisdictions.

• Lack of “teeth” in current plans means there are few consequences for noncompliance.
• Difficulty breaking from traditional development norms and systems.

Knowledge Gaps & Ecological Understanding

• Incomplete understanding of biophysical thresholds and drivers of ecological decline.
• Missing early‑warning indicators (“no canary in the coal mine”).

Economic & Development Pressure

• Rising property values, population growth, and market demand for new housing.

• Strong political pressure to create affordable housing, even when new builds are not always affordable.
• Desire for personal space/homeownership driving expansion over infill.

Cultural and Social Barriers

• Lack of awareness or appreciation of the watershed’s value, especially without charismatic species to generate interest.

• Low adoption of pro‑environmental behaviors on private land due to limited personal connection or incentives.
• Short‑term thinking that prioritizes immediate economic gain over long‑term ecosystem health.

Infrastructure & Transportation Constraints

• Transportation patterns that reinforce sprawl.
• Need for updated infrastructure strategies and innovative development models.

Question 3: What are Indicators of Success/Failure of the Accord? And what are Strategies to Balance Conservation and Development?

Indicators of Success

• The existence and active use of a comprehensive watershed plan.

• Maintaining or improving biodiversity, species richness, and water quality.
• Expanded participation in the Accord by additional municipalities (highly important).
• Consistent adherence to pre‑planned limits (e.g., sanitary sewer boundaries).
• Guaranteed, stable funding and incentives supporting ongoing protection work.
• Collaborative relationships with developers who plan responsibly within the watershed.

Indicators of Failure

• Slippage from agreed‑upon development provisions.

• Piecemeal or inconsistent implementation of open‑space requirements.
• Continued loss of ecological health despite planning efforts.

Strategies for Balancing Development and Conservation

• Identify ecological thresholds and commit to staying within them (use Integrated Prioritization System data to guide management).
• Municipalities adopt aligned zoning, incentives, and development standards.
• Strengthen mitigation frameworks to include land use, forest cover, and impervious surface reduction.
• Improve cultural norms around water protection across the watershed.
• Create a large, coordinated master plan involving more stakeholders and financial mechanisms.
• Prioritize redevelopment and infill instead of expansion/annexation.
• Clearly define open space requirements and develop a prioritization plan for protection types.

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Speakers

Anthony Sasson, Darby Creek Association

Anthony Sasson has organized, maintained and participated in partnership efforts, and was responsible for stream biodiversity conservation strategies and various related government relations in Ohio for over 40 years. He has served on committees for the Ohio EPA, ODNR, Ohio Water Resources Council, USDA, Clean Ohio Fund, and the Big Darby Accord Advisory Panel. He has over 30 years of experience concerning the condition of Big Darby Creek, water quality and standards, antidegradation and biological communities. He is a longtime member of the Darby Creek Association, He has worked for the Midwest Biodiversity Institute, The Nature Conservancy in Ohio (including management of the Big Darby Creek Program) and Ohio EPA. He holds a degree in Biology from Wittenberg University, Environmental Science from Miami University and Geological Sciences from The Ohio State University.

John Tetzloff, President, Darby Creek Association

John Tetzloff is the longtime president of the Darby Creek Association and a knowledgeable resource on the natural history of Big Darby Creek. With nearly three decades of involvement, he also played a central role in the early public discussions and community feedback process surrounding the Big Darby Accord, offering input as Association president during the 2005 planning phase that led to the Accord’s 2006 adoption. His practical, hands‑on knowledge of local aquatic ecosystems continues to make him a valued contributor in conversations about the Big Darby watershed. John holds a Master's degree in Philosophy from Penn State University.

Chris Hermann, Principal, MKSK Studios

Chris Hermann, FAICP, is a Principal at MKSK with more than 27 years of experience leading transformative planning, urban design, and mobility projects across Ohio and the Midwest. He is known for guiding communities in creating actionable, visionary plans, contributing to award‑winning efforts such as the Downtown Columbus Strategic Plan, the Long Street Bridge & Cultural Wall, and the Big Darby Accord. His background includes roles in city, county, and regional government, shaping his strong implementation‑focused approach to complex planning challenges. Chris has also served as an adjunct faculty member at The Ohio State University’s Knowlton School of Architecture and participated on multiple planning and architecture review boards. He holds a Master of City and Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Miami University.

Robert Gable, Assistant Chief and Scenic Rivers Program Manager for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Natural Areas and Preserves (DNAP)

Robert Gable is the Assistant Chief and Scenic Rivers Program Manager for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Natural Areas and Preserves. He oversees Ohio’s Scenic Rivers Program, which works to identify, protect, and manage some of the highest‑quality rivers and streams in the state. He has spent more than 30 years with ODNR, serving his entire career within the Scenic Rivers Program in a variety of capacities, including regional coordinator roles in central and southwest Ohio and as the Big Darby Creek stormwater education coordinator. His work has included river corridor management, water quality protection, land-use planning coordination, and public engagement related to river conservation. Prior to coming to the ODNR, he worked at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and the Battelle Memorial Institute. He holds a degree in zoology from The Ohio State University.

Heather Doherty, Central Ohio Scenic Rivers Manager, ODNR, DNAP

Heather Doherty is the Central Ohio Scenic Rivers Manager for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Natural Areas and Preserves. She oversees management and protection efforts for several state and national scenic rivers, including Big and Little Darby Creeks, the Kokosing River, the Mohican River, and the Olentangy River, working at the intersection of river conservation, land use coordination, and public engagement. Heather has more than 20 years of professional experience in river conservation and environmental education and has served in her current role with the Scenic Rivers Program since 2016. Her work includes river corridor planning, water quality protection, conservation easements, and outreach with landowners, local governments, and community partners. Prior to joining ODNR, she directed the Brown Family Environmental Center at Kenyon College and worked as a watershed coordinator with Friends of Alum Creek & Tributaries. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Kenyon College.

Kristy Meyer, CEO & Founder, Upriver Consulting

Kristy Meyer is the founder of Upriver Consulting, an environmental policy and strategy consulting firm based in Central Ohio. She supports organizations as they develop effective approaches to environmental policy, natural resource protection, and sustainability initiatives. She has more than 20 years of experience in campaign planning and implementation and has helped secure nearly $4 billion in federal funding and more than $10 million for organizations. Previously, she served as Vice President of Policy for Natural Resources at the Ohio Environmental Council, Associate Director at Freshwater Future, and Director of Sustainability at Smart Columbus. In these roles, she contributed to major regional and national initiatives, including passage of the Great Lakes Compact, briefing the Obama White House on safe drinking water policy, advancing multi‑state commitments to reduce nutrient pollution in Lake Erie. She holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental biology and business administration from Heidelberg University and a master’s degree in natural resource management from James Cook University.

Mike McNutt, Strategic & Crisis Communicator

Mike McNutt has over 20 years of experience in strategic and crisis communications, public affairs, government relations, environmental and sustainability program management across public health and utility, non-profit natural resources sectors. His career spans roles with Columbus Public Health, Cuyahoga County Board of Health, Tinkers Creek Watershed Partners, Palmdale Water District, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and Las Virgenes Municipal Water District. McNutt specializes in translating complex scientific and policy issues into accessible public messaging and has led communications during major events including the 2018 Woolsey Fire, 2025 Palisades Fire, COVID-19 pandemic, and California's historic drought. In 2023, he led his team to receive the Frank Potter Cowan Crisis Communications Leader Award from the California Association of Public Information Officials. He believes effective environmental communication must bridge scientific expertise with public understanding, empowering communities to become active participants in resource stewardship through cross-sector collaboration and innovative storytelling. McNutt holds degrees in Environmental Science and Communication from The Ohio State University. He currently serves as Vice President of the SENR Alumni Society Executive Council.

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Additional Information 

We strive to host events that are inclusive and accessible to everyone. If you have a disability and require accommodations to fully participate in this activity, please reach out to Hallie Stelzle, EPN Program Assistant (stelzle.2@osu.edu). Requests made five business days in advance will generally allow us to provide seamless access. However, we will make every effort to meet requests made after this time frame. You will be contacted by someone from our staff to discuss your specific needs.