A seemingly dry stream bed during Monday MeetUp

October 2, 2023 @ Foster's Run Restoration Project, North Chagrin Reservation

[Photo credit: Cleveland Metroparks]

Life in the Hyporheic Zone

We usually talk about streams and rivers in terms of riffles, runs and pools. During the Watershed Volunteer Program's October Monday MeetUp with Stream Restoration Ecologist, Elizabeth Hiser, we were able to observe part of the Foster's Run Restoration Project flowing in an interstitial state due to drought conditions. It was a great opportunity to talk about stream mechanics and subsurface flow. There’s a complex system of gravity and capillary action that drives how water flows through the porous stream bed. That interplay of surface water and ground water in the riverbed, known as the hyporheic zone, creates an ideal habitat for part of the life cycle of many of the macroinvertebrates that we regularly observe during our warm weather field season. WVP volunteers will now have another chance to get better acquainted with hyporheos. We'll be offering macroinvertebrate monitoring during the cold season in our inaugural Winter Stonefly Survey. For more information, take a look at the spotlight below.

Back on drier land, we're holding various (R)estoration projects including our first seed collecting event of the season on the evening of Friday, October 20th in Hinckley Reservation. Take advantage of this opportunity to learn from our resident expert, Senior Conservation Science Manager, Dr. Constance Hausman.

See you at your next WVP event,

Sara Corrigan

Watershed Volunteer Coordinator

Happenings

Watershed Spotlight

Stonefly Lifecycle

[Image credit: FlyFisherman.com]

Upcoming Opportunity: Winter Stonefly Surveys

Do you have an interest in sampling macroinvertebrates? WVP is currently planning to offer a series of on-land volunteer-led stonefly surveys in Baldwin Creek this winter. Stoneflies are a type of macroinvertebrate distinguished by three body segments, six legs, two long antennae and two elongated, wispy tails. They are great indicators of stream health and are thought to be the most sensitive order of aquatic insects. Winter 2021 was the first time that winter stoneflies were spotted in Baldwin Creek. We hope that the 2023 - 2024 Winter Stonefly Surveys will help to better determine the stonefly distribution and population at Baldwin Creek this winter.

If you are interested in participating, please fill out the survey below.

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WVP Hosted Opportunities

WVP Monday MeetUp

October 2, 2023 @ Foster's Run Restoration Project, North Chagrin Reservation

[Photo credit: Cleveland Metroparks]

(R) Work Session: Monarch Waystation Restoration*

Thu, Oct 19, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. @ Euclid Beach Park, Euclid Creek Reservation

(R) Seed Collection: Johnson's Creek*

Fri, Oct 20, 5 - 6:30 p.m. @ Johnson's Picnic Area, Hinckley Reservation

(R) Work Session: Tree Planting

Wed, Oct 25, 9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. @ Engle Road Trail, Big Creek Reservation

(R) Work Session: Invasive Buckthorn & Alder Removal

Thu, Nov 2, 10am - 12pm @ Lake Bunn, Bradley Woods Reservation

(R) Work Session: Live Stake Planting

Fri, Nov 3, 1-4pm @ Hinckley Stables Stream Restoration Project, Hinckley Reservation

(R) Seed Collection: Johnson's Creek*

Sat, Nov 4, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. @ Johnson's Picnic Area, Hinckley Reservation

(M) Talk: Monitoring Celebration and Program Updates

Wed, Nov 15, 2023, 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center

(R) Work Session: Invasive Woodies

Friday, Nov 17, 1 - 3 p.m. @ Lake Isaac, Big Creek Reservation

(L) Monday MeetUp: Interlake Steamship*

Mon, Nov 20, 2023, 6 - 7:30 p.m., @ Watershed Stewardship Center

Save the date:

Watershed Volunteer Program End of Year Celebration coming Dec 11th

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

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

Opportunities With Our Partners

View Event Details

(S) Native Tree and Plant Nursery Tour- West Creek Conservancy

Sat, Oct 21, 2023, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. @ Stearns Native Nursery, 7000 Randolph Dr., Parma, OH

Join the West Creek Conservancy for a tour of a native nursery. Learn about the behind the scenes operations then end your morning with hot cocoa and a bonfire! More Details and Registration Here

(S) Tree Giveaway- West Creek Conservancy

Sat, Oct 21, 2023, 12:30-3 p.m. @ Stearns Native Nursery, 7000 Randolph Dr., Parma, OH

West Creek is having a free tree giveaway this Saturday from 12:30-3, (while supplies last) at Stearns Nursery. The public can simply stop in, register, and grab a tree or two. Some species available are red maple, London plane, Rubber tree, and a couple oak species.

(S) Birds at the Lagoon

Sun, Oct 22, 2023, 8:30 - 10 a.m. @ Oxbow Lagoon, Rocky River Reservation

Hike the trails around Oxbow Lagoon to look for year-round and migrating birds.

More Details and Registration Here

(S) Walking Tour Series: Astorhurst Hike - Tinker's Creek Watershed Partners

Wed, Oct 25, 2023, 5- 6:30 p.m. @ Astorhurst Trailhead, Bedford Reservation

Join the Tinker's Creek Watershed Partners' Alyssa Mills on a hike through Astorhurst Park and learn about this former golf course that has been converted to parkland. More Details and Registration Here

(S) Tinker's Creek Stream Clean-up in Walton Hills - Tinker's Creek Watershed Partners

Sat, Oct 28, 2023, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. @ T. G. Young Park, Walton Hills, OH

Protect the watershed with Tinker's Creek Watershed Partners and help remove trash, tires and other debris during this stream clean-up. More Details and Registration Here

(S) Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District: Green Yards & Healthy Homes

Thu, Nov 2, 2023, 6 - 7:30 p.m. @ University Heights Library, 13866 Cedar Road University Heights, OH

Our yards and homes have an enormous impact on the natural world and to our own health. Learn how to replace chemicals in your yard and home with a few inexpensive, all-natural, effective ingredients to create a healthy habitat for all.

More Details and Registration Here

(S) Adopt-a-Trail with National Park Service

Sun, Nov 12, 2023, 9am - 12:00 p.m. @ Everett Covered Bridge, 2370 Everett Road, Peninsula, OH

Adopt-a-Trail volunteers help Cuyahoga Valley National Park staff maintain safe and well-groomed trails. They participate in trail "sweeps" by picking up litter, trimming branches, clearing culverts, and reporting trail conditions on their adopted trails.

More Details and Registration Her e

(S) Summit Metroparks Reforestation Plantings

Wed, Nov 15, 2023, two sessions: 8 - 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. @ Pond View Trail, Tinker's Creek Area

Help Summit Metroparks create the next generation of forests and flex your green arms/thumbs. 135 bare root trees and 135 live stakes will be planted during these sessions, species include: Oak, maple, dogwood, aster and more.

More Details and Registration Here

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

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The Akron Zoo Reintroduced an Extinct Species in Tahiti | Read on

PA's ‘Snot Otter’ Gets a Prime Spot on a New State License Plate | Read on

Even the Dead Cannot Escape Climate Change | Read on

The effects of climate change are causing havoc in many cemeteries. Headstones disintegrated by the wildfires in California, above-ground caskets submerged by melting permafrost in Alaska, and surface vaults swept away during flooding in Louisianna are just some examples of the situation. Pictured here is part of a coffin that has become exposed along a heavily eroded river bank in Mississippi. The article directly above covers this confounding, traumatic, and expensive problem in more detail.

[Photo Credit: Judy Blair Berry]