Watershed Stewards of the Year

December 11, 2023 @ Watershed Stewardship Center, West Creek Reservation

[Photo credit: Cleveland Metroparks]

End of Year Celebration/ Salt Watch / Next NR Lecture

As 2023 draws to a close, we had the pleasure of honoring our volunteer corp at our Annual End of the Year Celebration. It was a chance to reflect on the good work that was accomplished and to award our Watershed Stewards of the Year.

2023 WVP Outstanding Engagement Award

Melanie Zarnoski

Runner-up: David Scott

Honorable Mention: Casey Binggeli

2023 WVP Highest Service Contribution by a New Steward

Robyn Miklovich

Runner-up: Paul Miklovich

Honorable Mention: Magnus Olav Nyaas Ravna

2023 WVP Outreach Steward of the Year

Robert Bennett

Runner-up: Millie Harnocz

Honorable Mention: Carrie Hansen

2023 WVP Restoration Steward of the Year

David LeBrun

Runner-up: Mary Partin

Honorable Mention: Margaret Rhynard

2023 WVP Monitoring Steward of the Year

Mark Wincek

Runner-up: Robert Bennett

Honorable Mention: Margaret Rhynard

The Watershed Volunteer Program will end 2023 with over 90 events and over 3,100 hours of important and effective work. All of this is thanks to our 238 volunteers.

See you at our next WVP event,

Sara Corrigan

WVP Coordinator

Happenings

Natural Resources Winter Lecture Series

December

"The Recovery of Fish Populations in the Cuyahoga River Over the Past 50 Years" with Aquatic Biologist Mike Durkalec.

Wednesday, December 6, 2023 from 6 - 7:30 p.m.

January

Join Research and Database Manager, Dr. Nathan Byer for "The Adapted Hunt Drift Fence Technique (AHDriFT): passive monitoring opportunities for small and elusive animals". A look at his AHDriFT work and how these efforts have improved our understanding of sensitive reptile and mammal communities in our parks

Wednesday, January 17, 2024 from 6 - 7:30 p.m.

February

Join Natural Resources Coordinator, Jen Brumfield for "The Secrets of Bird Migration", a deep dive into the astounding world of avian migration and Cleveland Metroparks role in thousands upon thousands of birds' survival. From death-defying flights over the ocean to following star patterns in the sky, to tracking birds with weather radar, we'll demystify birds' miraculous migrations and dig in to their local natural history.

Monday, February 12, 2024 from 6 - 7:30 p.m.

March

Join Vegetation Research Coordinator, Sarah Eyesenbach for "Conservation Value Trees". Cleveland Metroparks Natural Resources Division is interested in preserving tree species that are under threat from a variety of forest pests and pathogens. Come learn more about the American Chestnut, American Elm, Ash, American Beech, and Eastern Hemlock along with our efforts to maintain and protect these species.

Monday, March 4, 2024 from 6 - 7:30pm

WVP Opportunities

[Image credit: Isaak Walton League]

Key

(L)earning: These events include talks, workshops, and training sessions.
(M)onitoring: These events include water quality testing through chemistry and macroinvertebrate monitoring.
(R)estoration: These events include bioretention clean-ups, tree plantings, invasive plant removal, etc.
(O)utreach: These events are used to spread awareness of the Watershed Volunteer Program and general watershed health.

(M) Talk: Salt Watch*

Thu, Dec 14, 6 - 7:30 p.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center

(R) Work Session: Invasive Grapevine Removal

Tue, Dec 19, 10 a.m. -12 p.m. @ Edgewater Park, Lakefront Reservation

(M) Work Session: Winter Stonefly Survey Kickoff

Thu, Dec 21, 2023, 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. @ Baldwin Creek

(M) Work Session: Winter Stonefly Surveys

Sat, Jan 13, 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. @ Baldwin Creek

(L) Natural Resources Winter Lecture Series: The Adapted Hunt Drift Fence Technique (AHDriFT): Passive Monitoring Opportunities for Small and Elusive Animals *

Wed, Jan 17, 6 - 7:30 p.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center

(R) Work Session: Invasive Grapevine Removal

Fri, Jan 26, 12-2 p.m. @ Center Park, West Creek Reservation

(R) Work Session: Seed Processing

Wed, Jan 31, 6 - 8 p.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center, West Creek Reservation

WVP volunteers, please log into Volgistics to register for primary events.

*Open to the public. Click Here or Email us for the registration link.

View Event Details

Opportunities With Our Partners

(S) NEO Master Rain Gardener Fall/Winter 2023 Online Course

Self Paced Course @ Online, registration through Dec 31, 2023

This Master Rain Gardener Program will teach you how to manage rain water in your own yard. Rain gardens naturally manage stormwater by infiltrating precipitation and allowing it to soak into the ground rather than sending it directly to storm sewers and nearby streams untreated. Experienced instructors will provide customized feedback which will enable you to design and install a rain garden. Topics will include site assessment, soil analysis, design, construction, plant selection, mulching, and maintenance.

The Residential Certification is geared toward homeowners who would like to install a rain garden in their own yard and serve as the neighborhood expert on rain gardens.

Professional Certification Classes are also available

More Details and Registration Here Cost $50

Cleveland Metroparks | Digital Emerald Necklace*

Read and Watch here

More (S)upplemental events can be found on our website here.

*WVP volunteers can submit supplemental hours in Volgistics under (S) Watershed Partner Event Contact us if you need assistance reporting any hours.

Recording Hours with WVP

Extras

In the News

Pictured here are some Atlantic puffins in Iceland. Every year near the end of these aquatic birds' mating

season, many babies (or pufflings) wander into nearby towns. Those babies are caught by townspeople,

brought back to the oceanside cliffs where they have lived since birth, and thrown off the edges!!! The article directly below explains the purpose of this activity, which has become somewhat of an annual tradition.

[Photo Credit: HALLDOR KOLBEINS/AFP via Getty Images]

Why Do People Launch Baby Puffins Off Cliffs in Iceland? | Read on and watch TikTok video here

Floating Wetlands Enhance the Lakefront at Cleveland's Gordon Park as Part of the CHEERS Project | Read on

North Park in Brunswick Will Soon Be Closed for Quite a While, According to City Officials | Read on

A Fish and a Mussel from Ohio Are Among 21 Species Recently Classified as Extinct in America | Read on