A Watershed Steward is leaning over to look at macroinvertebrate specimens.

Garfield Reservation, April 2022

[Photo credit: Cleveland Metroparks]

Volunteer Science and

Watershed Stewardship

Hi Watershed Stewards,

I'd like to take a moment to sincerely thank you for everything you do as Volunteer Scientists and Watershed Stewards.

Volunteer Science and Stewardship is so incredibly beneficial to both the scientific community and your communities. The work you do enables us to keep our parks and waterways healthy (and beautiful!) by maintaining different sites that need a little extra love and care. The data you collect, through projects like our Macroinvertebrate Monitoring program, gives researchers a much broader snapshot of the watershed as a whole that we would not have access to without your help.

The Watershed Stewardship Program, the Cleveland Metroparks, and our partners are so grateful for the time you devote to taking care of the land around you and our NEO watersheds. We want you to know how incredibly valuable your work is and how much we appreciate your help.

Thank you so much and happy Fall,

Taelor Benoit (he/they)

Watershed Volunteer Program Coordinator

Do Our Events Work For Your Schedule?

As we enter October, we hope to continue to offer events and projects that align with the work you want to do. Please reach out to us with requests for different days/times that work with your schedule or for events you enjoy but haven't seen lately, please let us know!

We hope you join us for more watershed fun!

Watershed Reflections

Thank you all for your September contributions--200+ hours of your time! We can't thank you enough for the hard work you've devoted to watershed stewardship, you're absolutely amazing!

A few special thank yous are in order to everyone who helped us in our final push for restoration work before winter. Our Area Managers are so thankful for all the Watershed Stewards who assisted them with tree planting/care, invasive removal efforts, and green infrastructure care. Thank you so much!

Also, a huge thank you, once again, goes out to Vicki Straus for assisting the Sierra Club in coordinating the documentary viewing and Q&A panel for The Erie Situation. Thank you for going above and beyond--we're so amazed by you! What a wonderful opportunity for outreach, thank you, also, to all the other WVP Stewards who were able to join us!

We have a lot of fun upcoming events scheduled for October (including a Seed Collecting and Farewell Celebration for Lisa Meranti tonight from 4 - 7 p.m.! Drop in anytime!) and the beginning of November in seed collecting, green infrastructure, and some educational talks and tours about watershed science! Our Area Managers still need a ton of help planting and caring for trees before winter, so be sure to check out our upcoming tree plantings.

We thank you all for your continued efforts and hope to see you soon!

Hannah, our former WVP Seasonal Staff member, and Bre, WVP's Community Science Assistant, throw a sampling bottle with a string attached to it over the side of a bridge in order to collect a water quality sample from the creek below.

[Photo credit: Cleveland Metroparks]

Cleveland Water Alliance: Lake Erie Volunteer Science Network 2022

Learn more about the Lake Erie Volunteer Science Network (LEVSN) in this fun video, featuring former and current WVP Staff Members, describing the importance of community science and watershed stewardship!

A group photo of volunteers at a tree planting.

Foster's Run, North Chagrin Reservation, September 2022

[Photo credit: Cleveland Metroparks]

(R) Work Session: Seed Collecting and Farewell Celebration for Lisa Meranti

Wed, Oct 5, 4 - 7 p.m. @ Johnson's Picnic Area, Hinckley Reservation

(R) Work Session: Wolf Picnic Bioretention Planting and Care**

Sat, Oct 8, 9 -11 a.m. @ Huntington Reservation

(R) Work Session: Tree Planting

Sat, Oct 15, 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. @ Rising Valley Park, Hinckley

(L) Monday Meetup: Western Reserve Land Conservancy

Mon, Oct 17, 4 - 6 p.m. @ Sherwin Bird Sanctuary

(R) Work Session: Tree Planting*

Wed, Oct 19, 1 - 3:30 p.m. @ Sagamore Hills

(R) Work Session: Euclid Creek Tree Planting

Fri, Oct 21, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. @ Euclid Creek Reservation

(L) Talk: NEORSD Regional Stormwater Management Program and West Creek Flume

Wed, Oct 26, 6 - 8 p.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center

(R) Work Session: Euclid Creek Tree Planting

Thu, Oct 27, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. @ Euclid Creek Reservation

(L) Monday Meetup: Art House Tour with Big Creek Connects and West Creek Conservancy

Mon, Nov 7, 5 - 6:30 p.m. @ Art House Inc., Cleveland

(L) Talk: Watershed Planning and Regional Watershed Efforts at NOACA

Wed, Nov 9, 5:30 - 7 p.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center

*Open to Public, email us to register.

**Open to Master Rain Gardeners, email us to register.

WVP volunteers, please log into Volgistics to register.

Harmful Algal Blooms Webinar Series | Remote Sensing and Strategic Management of CyanoHABs Across the Nation*

TODAY, Oct 5, 11 a.m. Join the Algal Bloom Action Team (ABAT), Corey Markfort, Ph.D., Greg LeFevre, Ph.D., and Jennifer Graham, Ph.D. discuss the exploration of complex HABs mixtures and mid-range remote sensing in Iowa lakes and the structured decision-making research around cyanoHABs management in New York state parks. | Register here

Doan Brook Partnership | Gorge Hike with Dr. Roy Larick*

Oct 8, 2 - 4 p.m. Participate in a guided hike in the Doan Brook gorge while learning how stormwater is processed and slowed using green infrastructure before entering Doan Brook, how the gorge was formed, and how it has changed due to human influence. | Register here

Doan Brook Partnership | Grow Not Mow (Site 2 Planting)*

Oct 15, 9 a.m. - noon. Grab your shovels, spades or waterproof garden gloves and join Doan Brook Watershed Partnership and the City of Shaker Heights for a fun day of planting! | Register here

Cincinnati Nature Center | Conservation Changemakers: Nicole Jackson*

Oct 19, 7 - 8 p.m. Join this webinar to hear from environmental educator, and Founder of Black in National Parks Week, Nicole Jackson for a reflective presentation on the benefits of building meaningful relationships with nature, some of the challenges and triumphs she's faced in her career, and a discussion how we can be more impactful using nature as a guide for success. | Register here

Cincinnati Nature Center | Conservation Changemakers: Priya Nanjappa**

Nov 9, 7 - 8 p.m. Join this webinar to hear from Priya Nanjappa, Vice President of Conservation Programs at the National Parks Conservation Association, as she shares her journey as a nature lover, toad scientist, and environmental leader. | Register here



Assessment and Prioritization of Culverts for Enhanced Fish Passage* 

Click here to view a pre-recorded presentation (Dec 21) by Natalie Kruse-Daniels of Ohio University talk about an ODOT project to prioritize culvert upgrades for fish passage. 

Cleveland Metroparks | Digital Emerald Necklace*

Read and watch here

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

**WVP volunteers can submit supplemental hours in Volgistics under (S) Watershed Partner Event by Nov 30.

Check out the article directly below to learn about a seemingly

impossible find that recently ocurred at a river near you!

[Photo Credit: Cleveland Metroparks]

Rare Pink Salmon Caught by Cleveland Metroparks Crew in Rocky River | Read on

Highly Invasive Spotted Lanternfly Found in Downtown Cleveland | Read on

Tropical Duck Spotted Nesting in Ohio for the First Time | Read on

Maryland Has Eradicated These Giant Swimming Rodents | Read on

An Endangered Salamander Is Preventing a Solution to Traffic Backup on a Highway in Florida | Read on

Water Resources/Stream Restoration Senior Design Engineer 

Davey Tree, Kent - OH | Apply Here 

Watershed Team Leader I

NEORSD – Cleveland, OH | Apply here

Hydrogeologist 4

WA Department of Ecology – Lacey, WA | Apply here

Multiple Positions

Biohabitats – Flexible, SC, NM | Apply here

Environmental Quality Specialist 13 (NPS Unit)

Environment, Great Lakes, & Energy (EGLE) – Lansing, MI | Apply here

Natural Resources Project Assistant - PT

Cleveland Metroparks – Hinckley Reservation | Apply here

Multiple NOWCorps Positions

Varies - Northeast OH | Apply here

General Construction Stormwater Inspector

WA Dept. of Ecology – Lacey, WA | Apply here

Outreach Educator/Watershed Coordinator  

Tinkers Creek Watershed Partners – Twinsburg, OH | Apply here

Water Resources Engineering Project Manager 

Davey Tree - Gainesville, VA | Apply here