The scope of Waters of the United States (WOTUS) over time

October 18, 2023

[Image credit: S. Mažeika Patricio Sulliván, Ph.D.]

Ephemeral Streams' Legal Protection Becomes Ephemera

With the Supreme Court's May 25th decision in the case of "Sacket v. Environmental Protection Agency", the definition of "waters of the United States" has changed. In August, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and The U.S Army Corps of Engineers issued a final rule to conform their definition with the court's interpretation of the Clean Water Act. The graphic above is excerpted from S. Mažeika Patricio Sulliván's Testimony for the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works - Examining the Implications of Sackett v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for Clean Water Act Protections of Wetlands and Streams. It gives us a great view of watershed protection over time and what we can expect Federal protections to look like going forward.

As Watershed Stewards, we understand that the health of our water is not limited to the health of Traditional Navigable Waterways and Perennial Streams. The court's decision shows a foundational ignorance of how the watershed system works. This makes it essential for us to be aware of what protections our local communities are providing. Does your city have good riparian and wetland setback ordinances? If not, stay tuned, we'll talk about how to be the voice for your creeks in upcoming newsletters.

In the meantime, we can use some hands in our holistic approach to watershed conservation. Join us tomorrow Nov. 2nd at Bradley Woods for Invasive Species removal, Friday Nov. 3rd at Hinckley Stables for a Live Stake planting event and Saturday Nov. 4th at Buzzard’s Roost for Seed Collection. Details are on the schedule below.

See you at your next WVP event,

Sara Corrigan

Watershed Volunteer Coordinator

WVP Hosted Opportunities

Seed Gathering

October 20, 2023 @ Johnson's Picnic Area, Hinckley Reservation

[Photo credit: Cleveland Metroparks]

(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. @ Buzzard's Roost, Hinckley Reservation

(M) Talk: Monitoring Celebration and Program Updates

Wed, Nov 15, 6 - 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, 6 - 7:30 p.m., @  Watershed Stewardship Center

(L) Talk: Fish Recovery in the Cuyahoga River 

Wed, Dec 6, 6 - 7:30 p.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center

Save the date:

Watershed Volunteer Program End of Year Celebration coming December 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.

(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) Charting Doan’s Flow: Brook and Community

Thu, Nov 9, 2023, 6 - 8 p.m. @ Nature Center at Shaker Lakes

2600 South Park Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44120 Road, Peninsula, OH 

Doan Brook Watershed Partnership invites you to celebrate those who are making our watershed more vibrant, healthy and sustainable. The keynote speaker is long-time partner and Doan Brook advocate, Paleolithic archaeologist, Dr. Roy Larick.

Many of Cleveland’s small watercourses are buried and forgotten. Doan Brook is just large enough, just distant enough from Public Square — and loved just enough — to have escaped this fate. Still, Doan has suffered in human hands. Dr. Larick will summarize the Partnership’s accomplishments of twenty years and chart the flow of Community Doan during the decades to come.

More Details and Registration Here

(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.

Humans Pump So Much Groundwater That Earth’s Axis Has Shifted | Read on

Over 1,000 Trout Were Released into the Cuyahoga River | Watch video here

Feeding Canada Geese Is Now Illegal in Mentor | Read on or watch video here

Here's Your Guide to Plants, Bugs, and Other Harm-Causing Invasive Species in Northeast Ohio | Read on

Manhole Covers Have Become Collector’s Items in Japan | Read on

This is what manhole covers look like in Japan. These cast iron sewer system lids have quite a unique existence; they are highly coveted works of art, symbols of regional pride, and now.....sources of revenue. Click on the article directly above if you'd like to learn more about how all of this comes together in the Land of the Rising Sun.

[Photo Credit: Kaushik Patowary/Amusing Planet]

Private Lands Engineering Assistant (2 positions)

Virginia Tech - Abingdon, VA / Apply Here Beckley, West VA / Apply Here

NOWCorps Watershed Program Assistant

Cuyahoga County Board of Health - Parma, OH | Apply Here

Wetland Scientist

Cleveland, OH | Apply Here

Urban Forestry Survey Technician

Great Parks of Hamilton County - Woodlawn, OH | Apply Here

Ecosystem Specialist

Wetland Studies & Solutions - Gainsville, VA | Apply Here

Lead Wetland Delineator

Stantec - Columbus, OH | Apply Here

Environmental Scientist Specializing in Wetlands, Permitting, NEPA

Davey Tree Expert Co. - Virginia Beach, VA | Apply Here

Wetland Biologist

Enviroscience – Stow, OH | Apply Here

Ecological Restoration Construction Technician

Enviroscience – Stow, OH | Apply Here