The Rest and Rush of December

Greetings Watershed Stewards,

Though we haven't quite reached Winter Solstice, we have seen signs of the winter to come in Northeast Ohio, especially at our east side parks. In winter, our streams may be resting, covered in a blanket of snow and ice, or they may be rushing as they fill with rain and snowmelt during our warmer days. Like our streams, you may find yourself resting or rushing this time of year. We hope you will stop to think of our streams as you find time to pause and reflect in nature or by the fire, or even as you dash around with all your winter errands.

Please enjoy a bit of rest this month as WVP staff work on our celebration with you on Monday December 12th, and get ready for more rush as we plan more adventures for WVP in 2023.

Gratefully,

Elizabeth Hiser (she/her)

Stream Restoration Ecologist

Happenings

WVP Monitoring

We are looking forward to recognizing all our newly certified volunteers at our End of Year Celebration on the 12th. Many of our volunteers are close to certification and just need to participate in our monitoring activities to get certified. If that includes you, or you want to brush up on your chemistry monitoring skills, we have a few ways to join the monitoring fun this December:

Attend the in-person chemistry monitoring training on December 5th at 2pm at the Watershed Stewardship Center

Watch two virtual monitoring trainings and answer questions about the trainings:
Euclid Creek video (18 mins)
What are the 4 steps to remember while collecting water?
Rocky River video (22 mins)
What are 3 parameters that we measure?
How do we measure them?
Why are they important?

If you watch the virtual trainings, email us at [email protected] with answers to the questions to verify that you completed the videos. The WVP team will record your hours. *To receive certification at the annual meeting, please email your answers before December 7th.

WVP Hosted Opportunities

Watershed volunteers practice chemistry monitoring techniques while learning about urban watersheds. Watershed Stewardship Center, January 2022

[Photo credit: Cleveland Metroparks]

(R) Work Session: Invasive Plant Management: Grapevine Cutting*

Sun, Dec 4, 1 - 3 p.m. @ Garfield Reservation

(M) Training: Water Chemistry

Mon, Dec 5, 2-3:30 p.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center

(R) Work Session: Invasive Plant Management: Grapevine Cutting*

Sun, Dec 11, 1 - 3 p.m. @ Garfield Reservation

*Open to the public, email us to register.

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

View Event Details

(L) Monday Meetup: WVP 10 Year Anniversary + End of the Year Wrap-Up

Mon, Dec 12, 6 - 8 p.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center RSVP via Eventbrite here

Thank you for an incredible year!

Stay tuned for more opportunities in 2023.

Opportunities With Our Partners

Great Lake Commission | Great Lakes HABs: A Regional Update

Thu, Dec 1, 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. Webinar. Join the Great Lakes Harmful Algal Blooms Collaborative for a webinar titled Great Lakes HABs- A Regional Update. The webinar will feature lake-by-lake reports on HAB-related issues and research. Register here.

Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District | Green Yards and Healthy Homes*

Wed, Dec 7, 6 - 7:30 p.m. Cuyahoga Heights. Attend this in person workshop and learn about chemicals we use in our homes and yards and alternatives that can be used to create healthy environments for all. Workshop is free. There is an option to make a take home cleaning product for $5. | Register here

Cleveland Metroparks | Winter Waterfall Bus Tour*

Thu, Dec 8, 10 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. $50 Join Naturalist Jake Kudrna on a journey to seek out some of the biggest and best waterfalls our local rivers and streams have to offer. | Register here

Cleveland Metroparks | Digital Emerald Necklace*

Read and Watch here

*WVP volunteers can submit supplemental hours in Volgistics under (S) Watershed Partner Event by Dec 31.

Recording Hours with WVP