Nadia, a Watershed Steward, cuts rubber mats to smother invasive yellow-flag iris

North Chagrin Reservation, June 2022 [Photo credit: Cleveland Metroparks]

Restore With Us

Greetings Watershed Stewards!

We are looking forward to getting you out in our streams this summer and fall as our stream restoration projects are progressing.

The Garfield Park Pond and Wolf Creek restoration continues to move along as stream restoration work has now begun in earnest. Our contractors have started to build up the stream bed and are laying stone for riffles and carving out areas for pools. We are looking forward to seeing this come together and having Wolf Creek flow separately (offline) from the new pond.

Restoration of Foster's Run in North Chagrin Reservation is also underway. We just wrapped up the third week of construction and next week the team will start building the 5th and 6th riffle habitats before tackling the addition of two cascades to replace an old culvert that was used to pipe the stream through a manmade pond. Once the stream work is complete, the old pond will be converted to wetlands and all pavement from the original road will be removed.

We hear from our contractors that work at Johnson's Creek in Hinckley Reservation will start any day now, and you will see a new properly sized culvert go in with upstream and downstream restoration. This project will remove the undersized culvert that was creating a barrier to fish passage and create habitat for fish and macroinvertebrates.

Join us September 21st to see restoration first hand and help plant trees at the Foster's Run Restoration ahead of our project ribbon cutting.

Happy August and Happy restoring stewards!

Best, 

Elizabeth Hiser (she/her)

Stream Restoration Ecologist

Independent Opportunities:

Habitat Monitoring Crew

Herbarium Specimen Assist

Calling all trained stewards! Did you attend our QHEI and HHEI trainings? Are you free with a few days notice? Do you like to traverse through and to streams while carrying equipment? All while learning from our expert aquatics staff? Then we have an opportunity for you! Our Aquatic Biologist Mike Durkalec is in need of helping hands the next few weeks as one of his seasonal staff went back to school. 

Are plants your thing? Our Wetland Ecologist John Reinier is in need of someone with a background in processing herbarium specimens. If you have helped with mounting plants, John would love to have your help in documenting our wetland plants. This will be an ongoing task this summer and fall and may also include some light data management and organization.

Email Us and we can get you connected with Mike and John to help out.  

Watershed Reflections

Wow WVP has hit the ground running through the summer heat and storms. We are so impressed and grateful for your efforts!

Congratulations to our newest Certified Stewards: Katie Gannon, John Litwinowicz, Kyle McGovern, Dan McLaughlin, Samantha Meyer, Sean Pierce, Vicki Straus, Elise Taylor, and Matt Tucholski!

Thanks to our team of teasel tacklers and those that helped to tackle cattails at Lake Isaac! Invasive plant management is a long haul game, and we are glad to have your help along the way!

Park staff checking in on the Edgewater Green Roof. | Edgewater Park, July 2022 | [Photo credit: Cleveland Metroparks]

When it Rains, it Pours

But, how does the Cleveland Metroparks make sure that the rain doesn’t negatively impact the park and surrounding area?

My name is Aidan Meidenbauer. Up until 8 weeks ago, I couldn’t answer this question. Thanks to Elizabeth Hiser and a number of other Natural Resource employees, I’m starting to gain an understanding of the amazing work that the Natural Resources team performs for the Metroparks! Hopefully, this article can help you gain an appreciation for their work too!

Two Watershed Stewards holding equipment used to perform water quality monitoring tests. | Euclid Creek Reservation, May 2021 | [Photo credit: Cleveland Metroparks]

Outreach Event: Backyard Bash*

Sat, Aug 13, 11:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. @ West Creek Reservation

Training: Water Chemistry

Mon, Aug 15, 6 - 8 p.m. @ Rocky River Reservation

Work Session: Tree Care

Thu, Aug 18, 5 - 8 p.m. @ Garfield Reservation

Monday Meetup: Discover the Euclid Creek Watershed with

FOEC and Cuyahoga SWCD

Mon, Aug 22, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. @ Greenwood Farm, Richmond Heights

Work Session: Foster's Run Tree Planting

Wed, Sep 21, 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. @ North Chagrin Reservation

*Open to the public. WVP volunteers, please log into Volgistics to register.

Dams and Culverts - Reconnecting Our Waterways*

Watch this video about how culverts and dams can impact flood risk and fish habitat. Click here to view.

Ohio Sea Grant | Lake Erie Awareness Day**

Aug 11, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.. Register here to spend the day touring South Bass Island to learn about Ohio's greatest water resource, the island's history, native plants and animals, the dangers of plastic pollution, and boating safety. Fun giveaways and prizes are available!

Chagrin River Watershed Partners | Wildwood Bioretention Maintenance**

Aug 12, 9 a.m. - noon. Contact us here to join Cleveland Metroparks staff members and fellow volunteers in maintaining bioretention cells in the Wildwood Park parking lot by weeding, picking up trash, and more!

Interagency Ecological Restoration Quality Committee | Restoration of Braddock Bay on Lake Ontario Under Varying Water Levels*

Aug 25, 11 a.m. - noon. Register here to join Dr. Rachel E. Schultz in learning about the restoration of Braddock Bay, a coastal wetland degraded by cattail invasion and erosion, by the U.S. EPA through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Cleveland Metroparks | Digital Emerald Necklace*

Read and watch here.

USEPA | Advancing Watershed Protection Through Land Conservation*

Click here to read or download this new guide aimed at showing how land trusts can advance their watershed protection efforts.

Ohio Farm Bureau Federation | 2022 Water Quality Status Report*

Read here.

*WVP volunteers can submit supplemental hours in Volgistics under (S:L) Conference/Symposium/Workshop/Webinar/Tour by August 30.

**WVP volunteers can submit supplemental hours in Volgistics under (S:R/O) Watershed Partner Event Support by August 30.

A Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District stormwater inspection team heads

into the Doan Brook culvert to check for debris and structural integrity.

[Photo Credit: Joshua Gunter]

Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District Inspects the Doan Brook Culvert Under University Circle | Read on

Talking Trash: Meet Cleveland’s Volunteer Garbage Man of the Water | Read on

Ohio EPA Cleanup of ‘Salt Fill Site’ Should Allow Ecologically Damaged Mentor Marsh to Truly Heal After More Than 50 Years | Read on

The Men Who Ditched Their Grass Lawns for Clover | Read on

Sea Turtle Hatchling Saved by an Australian Zoo Defecated Plastic for Six Days After Rescue | Read on

Outreach Educator/Watershed Coordinator  

Tinkers Creek Watershed Partners – Twinsburg, OH | Apply here

NOWCorps Member Coordinator

Tinkers Creek Watershed Partners – Twinsburg, OH | Apply here

Multiple NOWCorps Positions

Varies - Northeast OH | Apply here

Environmental Scientist II

Markosky Engineering Group – Steubenville, OH | Apply here Posted 8/2/22

Environmental Program Consultant – Flood Resiliency Blueprint Project Manager

Dept. of Environmental Quality – Wake County, NC | Apply here Closes 8/10/22

PhD Opportunity in Stream Restoration and Invasive Species  

Virginia Tech – Blacksburg, VA | Apply here Starting Date Jan 2023 

Community Engagement Specialist

MDB, Inc.- Washington, DC or Research Triangle Park, NC |  Apply Here

Ecological Restoration Technician

Enviroscience - Stow, OH |  Apply Here

Staff Environmental Scientist

Burns McDonnell - Columbus, OH |  Apply Here

Postdoctoral Scholar – Watershed And Water Quality Modeling

The Ohio State University - Columbus, OH  |  Apply Here Posted 7/12/22

Education Program Coordinator

Ohio River Foundation - Columbus, OH  | Apply Here 

Conservation And Parks Technician – Pt, Mitchell Memorial Forest

Great Parks of Hamilton County - Cleves, OH  |  Apply Here Posted 7/19/22

Water Resources Specialist  

Dauphin County Conservation District - Dauphin, PA | Apply here Open Until Filled 

Water Resources Engineering Project Manager  

Davey Tree - Gainesville, VA | Apply here Open Until Filled  

Environmental Technician 

Davey Tree - Cincinnati/Bethel, Ohio | Apply here Open Until Filled 

Stormwater Program Manager 

Licking Soil & Water Conservation District - Newark, OH | Apply here Open until filled

Conservation Educator 

Licking Soil & Water Conservation District - Newark, OH | Apply here Open until filled