Bioretention Concept

[Image credit: Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District]

Letting It All Soak In

When people talk about green infrastructure, they're usually talking about using resilient, nature-based systems to alleviate pressure on antiquated gray infrastructure. This might include green roofs, permeable pavements, bioswales and rain gardens. They can play a critical role in urban landscapes, especially in older cities, like Cleveland who still have combined sewers by reducing the water flowing into storm drains during rain events.

When we talk about green infrastructure in WVP, we're often referring to the bioretention installations throughout the Cleveland Metroparks that are part of our stormwater control measures. These practices have a slightly different impact from ones that are designed to capture water that would otherwise flow directly into catch basins or storm sewers in the built environment of a city. In this case, they are reducing the effect of the impervious surface of parking lots inserted into the natural settings of our parks. They still have the same pollutant removal mechanisms of absorption, adsorption, evapotranspiration, microbial action, plant uptake, and filtration to alleviate runoff contaminated by cars. They still trap water that's been heated by running over hot pavement but when it's on the edge of Lake Erie, like at Edgewater or Euclid Beach, they have a very immediate effect on water quality. They also slow the flow of water, allowing it to percolate down into the soil, improving subsurface flow and recharging groundwater. Since the park system was developed on land that followed our area's major creeks, rivers and tributaries, and their valleys, maintaining the balance of how water should flow over land and underground is of key importance in these locations.

These green infrastructure systems are engineered; they have to be designed, built, planted out and maintained. We're beginning Bioretention Planting Projects today at Euclid Beach Park and Friday at Brookside Reservation from 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. On June 10^th, we're offering a Green Infrastructure 101 Training, where you can learn all the inlets and outlets of their design and function. Starting on June 16^th, we'll kick off our weekly Green Infrastructure Gardening Series. You can be involved from planting the first seedlings to maintaining lush, mature gardens. WVP Volunteers register here and public volunteers can sign up here.

Regards,

Sara Corrigan

New WVP Intern Jack Conley (center) working on Headcut Repair using Zuni Bowl technique

May 17, 2024, West Creek Reservation

[Photo credit: Cleveland Metroparks]

(R)Work Session: Bioretention Planting 

Wed, May 29 , 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. @ Euclid Beach, Euclid Creek Reservation

(R)Work Session: Bioretention Planting 

Fri, May 31 , 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. @ Brookside Park, Brookside Reservation

(R) Work Session: Invasive Mugwort Removal

Tue, Jun 4, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. @ Lakefront Administration, Lakefront Reservation

(R) Volunteer Led Work Session: Invasive Dame's Rocket Removal

Wed, Jun 5, 6 - 8 p.m. @ Eastland Road trailhead of the Lake to Lake Trail , Big Creek Reservation

(L) Green Infrastructure 101 Training*

Mon, Jun 10, 6 - 7:30pm  @  Watershed Stewardship Center, West Creek Reservation

(R) Green Infrastructure Gardening Series*

Sun, June 16th, 9 - 11 a.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center, West Creek Reservation

(R) Work Session: Invasive Cattail Removal

Tue, Jun 18, 6 - 8 p.m. @ Lake Isaac, Big Creek Reservation

(R) Green Infrastructure Gardening Series*

Sun, June 23rd, 9 - 11 a.m. @ Wolf Picnic Area, Huntington Reservation

(M) Training: Water Chemistry

Sat, Jun 29, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center's Laboratory, West Creek Reservation

(R) Green Infrastructure Gardening Series*

Sun, June 30th , 9 - 11 a.m. @ Sideyard Park, Ohio Erie Canal Reservation

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

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

WVP 2023 Green Infrastructure Gardening Series

Aug 13, 2023, Watershed Stewardship Center, West Creek Reservation

[Photo credit: Cleveland Metroparks]

(S) Warmer, Wetter Weather: Tackling Urban Stormwater Problems 

Air date: Tue. May 21st, 30 min. @ Online

Cities with aging infrastructure face an uphill battle with regard to stormwater management, a challenge underscored by recent calamitous weather events. Sewer District engineer George Remias illustrates how a warming atmosphere acts like a sponge, soaking up more moisture and leading to intense rainfalls. Given the potential for the weather's damaging impacts on urban centers, we discuss the vital role of monitoring tools in forecasting rain events and planning resiliency projects, and  more.

Listen Here 

(S) Guided Walk through Acacia Reservation, Transforming a Golf Course into a Natural Area

Thu, May 30, 6:30 - 8 p.m. @ Cedar Road parking lot, 26899 Cedar Rd, Beachwood, OH 44122W

Join Chris Vild, Environmental Manager for Beachwood, and Jennifer Grieser, Director of Natural Resources for Cleveland Metroparks on a walk through Metropark's Acacia Reservation. The guided walk will cover the history of the space since the Cleveland Metroparks took ownership of the property and what it takes to transform a golf course back into a natural area.

More Details and Registration Here

(S) Rocky River Watershed Council: 25th Annual River Cleanup

Sat, Jun 1, 9 a.m. - Noon @ Emerald Necklace Marina

For 25 years volunteers have been meeting at Emerald Necklace Marina on the first Saturday in June to pick up trash along the stream. This year, the RRWC is proud to celebrate a quarter-century of work to preserve and protect the Rocky River.

Join in at 9:00am on Saturday June 1st at the Emerald Necklace Marina for a clean-up followed by a volunteer appreciation barbecue (vegetarian options included)!

More Details and Registration Here

(S) 25th Annual Big Creek Cleanup

Sat, Jun 1, 9 a.m. - Noon @ Various Locations (listed below)

Volunteers Needed for 25th Annual Big Creek Watershed Cleanup! 

On Saturday, June 1st, 2024, Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District and Big Creek Connects with the support of community stakeholders will host the 25th Annual Big Creek Watershed Cleanup from 9:00am – Noon. Volunteers are needed to help pick up stream side trash and should meet at one of the following locations starting at 8:45am.

• Brookfield Park – Brookfield Ave. (between Bellaire and W. 130th)
• Brooklyn City Fire Department (8400 Memphis Ave – Brooklyn, OH)
• Snow Road Picnic Area along Big Creek Parkway

Bags and work gloves will be provided. Dress for the weather and wear work boots or work shoes. Long sleeves and pants are recommended. Children under 18 must have adult supervision. 

Please email nlopez@cuyahogaswcd.org for more information

(S) Rain Garden Training Course

Jun 7 - 12 @ Online

This course will teach you how to manage rain water in your yard by designing and installing a rain garden. 

More Details and Registration Here  

(S) Freshwater Science: A HABs Primer

Tue, Jun 18, 12:00 – 12:30 p.m. @ Online

Ahead of NOAA’s annual Lake Erie HABs Forecast on June 27, catch up on the background and future of Lake Erie’s HABs with Ohio Sea Grant’s Dr. Chris Winslow. This primer will include up-to-date information on topics such as nutrient sources in the Maumee River watershed that drive blooms, the progress toward meeting nutrient load reduction goals, and best practices for farmers. Dr. Winslow will also provide updates on the state’s Harmful Algal Bloom Research Initiative research efforts, as well as the Lake Erie and Aquatic Research Network’s wetland research projects for the H2Ohio initiative.

More Details and Registration Here  

Cleveland Metroparks | Digital Emerald Necklace*

Sign up 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.

The Yankees Versus..........The Midges???

Right now in Northeast Ohio, adult midges are starting to emerge along Lake Erie (as well as from many inland ponds and wetlands) in the first of two yearly appearances. These insects sometimes heavily cover vehicles, roads, buildings, and street lights. They can be quite impactful in groups. In fact, they may have even helped the Cleveland Indians win a playoff game in 2007! Pictured here is the New York Yankee's pitcher from that very game being sprayed by his manager after midges began swarming and distracting him during the eighth inning. There's more cool stuff to learn about these critters. Just check out the article below.

[Photo Credit: Fly Fisherman/Amy Sancetta, AP/Bob Bennett]

Don’t Hate on Midges. They’re Productive Members of Nature’s Society. | Read on

Cleveland Heights, OH Residents Encouraged to Make Space for Native Plants in Their Yards | Read on and watch video here

Making Batteries Takes Lots of Lithium: Almost Half of It Could Come from Pennsylvania Wastewater | Read on

Some New Jersey Residents Outraged Over Their Town's Plan to Exterminate Its Canada Goose Population | Read on and watch video here

Lake Superior Runs for President, Ponders a Running Mate | Read on

Natural Resources Extension Associate, CEPSCI Program (App deadline 5/31)

Clemson University, Clemson, SC | Apply Here

Erosion and Sediment Control Inspector

Coyle SWPPP Professionals, Ohio locations | Apply Here

Storm Water Inspector | Apply Here

District Program Administrator | Apply Here

Stark Soil & Water Conservation District - Massillon, OH |

Graduate Opportunity to Advance Nationwide Watershed

Monitoring Through Novel Technologies

Baylor University - Waco, TX | Apply Here

Fisheries Biologist (3 openings)

Ohio Department of Natural Resources - NE Ohio Locations | Apply Here

Director of Water Resources

Environmental Design Group - Cleveland, OH | Apply Here

Aquatic Resources Field Technician

Trout Unlimited - Fully Remote MI | Apply Here

Natural Resource and Outreach Specialist

West Creek Conservancy - Parma, OH | Apply Here

Water Resources Engineer

Biohabitats - Baltimore, MD | Apply Here

Seasonal Stream Restoration Technician

Trout Unlimited - Bartow, West VA | Apply Here

Wetland Restoration Research Technician

Kent State Department of Biological Sciences - Kent, OH | Apply Here