Watershed volunteers celebrating a decade of watershed stewardship. Watershed Stewardship Center, December 2022

[Photo credit: Cleveland Metroparks]

Flowing into 2023

Greetings Watershed Stewards,

As we near the end of 2022 we want to thank all of you for everything you do to be a watershed steward at home, in the Cleveland Metroparks, and in your communities. Two hundred seventy nine of you engaged with the program this year to dedicate over 2,900 hours of your time to learning, monitoring, restoring and spreading awareness about watershed stewardship.

Just a few of your accomplishments:

helped to plant 2,575 trees in eight reservations
cared for trees in four reservations
maintained four bioretention sites
assisted with two stream restoration projects collecting and planting seed and livestakes
pulled, cut and tackled garlic mustard, loosestrife, cattail, phragmites, bamboo, yellow flag iris, mugwort, teasel, buckthorn and vines in seven reservations
harvested willows to feed the baby Rhino
collected over 300 monitoring samples

We can't thank you all enough.

We are looking forward to following your watershed stewardship journeys in 2023. Happy New Year!

Gratefully,

The WVP Team

Happenings

WVP Hosted Opportunities

Watershed Volunteer Program staff celebrating a decade of watershed stewardship. West Creek Reservation, October 2022

[Photo credit: Cleveland Metroparks]

(L) Talk: 2023 WVP LinkUp*

Sat, Jan 14, 10 a.m. - Noon @ Watershed Stewardship Center

(L) Talk: Smart Watershed Technology Roadshow

Thu, Jan 19, 3 - 4:30 p.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center

(R) Work Session: Seed Processing and Packaging

Fri, Jan 27, 6 - 8 p.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center

(R) Work Session: Invasive Plant Management

Wed, Feb 8, Noon - 2 p.m. @ Lake Isaac, Big Creek Reservation

(L) Monday MeetUp: Friends of Lower Lake

Mon, Feb 13, 6 - 7 p.m. @ Online

(L) Talk: 2022 Monitoring Recap

Tue, Feb 21, Noon - 1 p.m. @ Online

*Open to the public, email us to register.

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

View Event Details

Opportunities With Our Partners

Northeast Ohio Master Rain Gardener Program*

Online: Jan 30 - Mar 10

In-Person: Wed, Mar 1 - Apr 5, 10 am - 1 pm @ South Euclid Community Center

Looking to take action in your own yard to address runoff? Take the Master Rain Gardener Course and learn all about how to locate, size, design, dig, and plant your very own rain garden. Register with our partners here.

Inviting Biodiversity into Our Gardens: Five-part Virtual Symposium*

Thu Jan 11 Session 1, Thu Jan 25 Session 2, 1 - 3 p.m. @ Online

Inviting Biodiversity into Our Gardens will inspire homeowners, horticulturists, botanists, naturalists, educators, conservationists, landscape designers, and others to learn more about the value of using native plants and trees to create and maintain healthy habitats.

The free virtual series will feature five sessions intended to guide you from start to finish in creating gardens that benefit pollinators and other wildlife. Join and explore the importance of restoring our increasingly fragmented and disappearing native habitats beginning in our own backyards—whether small or large. Register with our partners here.

Local Watershed Groups Seek New Members:

Volunteer with the Friends of Euclid Creek (FOEC): FOEC works to educate the public and protect the watershed of Euclid Creek in the eastside suburbs. Join FOEC and learn about native plants, environmentally friendly actions, and protecting Lake Erie. Learn more at www.friendsofeuclidcreek.com

Rocky River Watershed Council (RRWC) seeks new volunteer board members. RRWC is dedicated to protecting the Rocky River and its tributaries. Board members help plan events such as tree plantings, stream clean-ups, rain barrel workshops, and outreach with their local communities. All levels of experience welcome – they seek to represent a wide range of stakeholder backgrounds. Learn more at www.myrockyriver.org, email the Watershed Coordinator or mark your calendars for the annual meeting Wednesday, January 25^th 6:00pm – 8:00pm at Allardale Lodge in Medina.

Cleveland Metroparks | Digital Emerald Necklace*

Read and Watch here

*WVP volunteers can submit supplemental hours from 2022 in Volgistics under (S) Watershed Partner Event by Dec 31. Contact us if you need assistance reporting any hours from 2022 after December 31st.