10 Year Anniversary Bioblitz, August 9, 2023 @ Acacia Reservation

[Photo credit: Cleveland Metroparks]

31 Days of Summer

Greetings Watershed Stewards,

Signs of summer's wane are appearing, from students heading back to school to the sale of mums and ubiquitous pumpkin spice. However, the fall equinox arrives on September 23, 2023 at 2:50am and we have plenty of summer left in our WVP schedule.

Our Monday MeetUp on August 28th is a bit farther a field than usual as we head to Kent State University for a crowd hydrology demonstration with Akron Crowd Hydrology and Portage Park District. Following this you'll have the option to try macroinvertebrate testing, water flow testing, the "floating fruit" test, or use an electromagnetic meter.

Acacia Reservation celebrated its 10th anniversary with a Bioblitz where 71 participants made over 1,000 observations, identifying 435 unique species (and counting). During the month of September, we'll be involved in a parkwide Pollinator Bioblitz. Join the iNaturalist group to help survey the current state of pollinators within the Cleveland Metroparks.

WVP Volunteers can register to represent us at Clean Water Fest at our (O)utreach table on September 23rd. Volunteers can also gain (S)upplemental credit for attendance.

After a successful run, the collaboration with our Green Infrastructure team will hold its last session at North Chagrin Nature Center's bioretention on Sunday August 27th. Thank you to the 51 volunteers that took part in the Green Infrastructure Gardening Series.

Kind regards,

Sara Corrigan

Watershed Volunteer Program Coordinator

Happenings

Watershed Spotlight

A map with data from the public gathered through LEVSN.

[Photo credit: Cleveland Water Alliance]

Celebrating A Milestone In Water Stewardship: Lake Erie Volunteer Science Network

By: Max Herzog, Program Manager, Cleveland Water Alliance

"I am thrilled to share the remarkable journey of the Lake Erie Volunteer Science Network (LEVSN), a movement that's rewriting the narrative of community-driven water stewardship. Our story, which began in 2020 with separate volunteer water quality monitoring groups from Michigan, New York, and Ohio, has transformed into a regional network that empowers 16 partner organizations. Through collaborative efforts and a commitment to our communities, LEVSN has created a platform that combines local data into a comprehensive picture of the health of watersheds across the vast Great Lake Basin. As the coordinator of this network, Cleveland Water Alliance (CWA) continues to leverage data, technology, and collaboration to safeguard our natural resources and foster growth in our freshwater economy."

Read the full story here

WVP Hosted Opportunities

Backyard Bash, August 12, 2023 @ West Creek Reservation

[Photo credit: Cleveland Metroparks]

(L) Climate Conversation with Jennifer Grieser*

Wed, Aug 23, 6 - 8 p.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center, West Creek Reservation

(R) Invasive Plant Removal: Cattails

Thu, Aug 24, 5:30 - 8 p.m. @ Lake Isaac, Big Creek Reservation

(R) Green Infrastructure Gardening Series*

Sun, Aug 27, 9 - 11 a.m. @ North Chagrin Reservation

(L) Monday MeetUp with Akron Crowd Hydrology*

Mon, Aug 28, 6 - 8 p.m. @ Kent State University

(M) Work Session & Talk: Rocky River Chemistry Monitoring*

Wed, Aug 30, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. @ Charles A. Harding Memorial Covered Bridge, Olmsted Falls

(M) Work Session: Scenic Rivers Macro Monitoring*

Tue, Sep 12, 2023, 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., @ North Chagrin Reservation

(O) NEORSD Clean Water Fest

Sat, Sep 23, 2023, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., @ Environmental and Maintenance Services Center, Cuyahoga Heights (3 shifts available)

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

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

View Event Details

Opportunities With Our Partners

(S) Stream Monitoring Using Aquatic Insects

Sat, Aug 26, 2023, 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. @ Deer Haven Park in Delaware, Ohio

Use macroinvertebrate monitoring to test the quality of a stream with the Midwest Biodiversity Institute. Cost $40 More Details and Registration Here

(S) MOTUS Dragonfly Workshop - Cleveland Metroparks and US Forest Service

Sat, Aug 26, 2 - 5 p.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center, West Creek Reservation

Join dragonfly scientists, Ami Thompson, Melissa Sanchez Herrera, and Sandra Hunt-von Arb to capture, tag, and release Green Darner Dragonflies. The location of the dragonflies will be recorded by various Motus stations and will be used to track their migratory patterns for future conservation and research.

Email karin.theophile@usda.gov if you are interested in participating.

(S) Parks for Pollinators Bioblitz - Cleveland Metroparks

Sep 1 - Sep 30 @ All Cleveland Metroparks Reservations

Join the Cleveland Metroparks and National Recreation and Park Association for a Pollinator Bioblitz. Throughout the whole month of September you can help track the number of pollinator species inside the Cleveland Metroparks. Join the iNaturalist group and upload any pictures of pollinators that you take inside of the parks. The species will be identified and recorded to help raise awareness of our current pollinator crisis. Join the iNaturalist Group Here

(S) West Creek Watershed Mini Documentary and Hike

Sat, Sep 2, 2023, 4 - 5:30 p.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center, West Creek Reservation

The West Creek Watershed is widely known for its conservation comeback story. Head out on the nearby trails to discover some of the reservation's unique features and future plans, then head back to the nature center for a special screening of a brand new, 20-minute mini documentary that covers the inspiring story and vision of West Creek Reservation. More Details Here

(S) Great Lakes Conference 2023

Oct 12-13, 2023 @ Hilton Cleveland Downtown

“Learn from experts. Network with peers. Explore restoration sites. Take action.”

More Details Here

Cleveland Metroparks | Digital Emerald Necklace*

Read and Watch here

More partner 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

How to Get Your Green Space Certified as Official Wildlife Habitat | Read on

Ohio EPA Study: Water Quality of the State’s Largest Rivers Has Improved with the Dayton-Area Ones Among the Best | Read on

Step Inside the Cargill Salt Mines Under Lake Erie | Read on

We’re Going to Need a Bigger Drone: The Technology Keeping Swimmers Safe at One New York Beach | Read on

An alligator was captured in Pennsylvania's Kiski River. It's now an animal ambassador for a reptile rescue site. | Read on or watch video here

Meet Chomper, an alligator that was recently caught in a Pennsylvania River. He now 'works' at Nate's Reptile Rescue as an animal ambassador for various educational programs. Check out the article directly above if you're interested in learning more about this peculiar (but not completely unique) situation.

[Photo Credit: Anthony Locante]