Donate Now!Become a partner by supporting our efforts. |
Sponsor an Event!Show your support for our areas waterways at one of our events. |
Community PartnershipPartner your organization with us in creating clean, healthier and safer rivers in Northwest Ohio |
Did you know that the Great Lakes are the biggest freshwater source in the world? Lake Erie is the most productive for fishing of all the Great Lakes. Your support helps make our streams clean, clear and healthy so they can support this complex ecosystem. By donating to PCS, you help us reach our goals of restoring rivers that lead to Lake Erie beaches that promote fishable and swimmable conditions for generations. |
On February 25th, local youth, our Board President, and our staff worked together to assemble 20 new fishing line recycling bins for the “Reel In and Recycle” program. Kids got their gloved-covered hands sticky to glue the pieces of PVC pipe together and then add the finishing touches to the bins with stickers that will let everyone know that these are not something for trash, but serve a greater purpose. Fishing line that enters these bins will be safely removed, cleaned (usually by PCS staff or our ZooTeen partners) and then delivered to Berkley Conservation Institute to be recycled into fish habitat! The bins created at this workshop will replace damaged ones from the ice NW Ohio saw last winter along with adding additional bins to the 45 that are already scattered across the Greater Toledo Area!
To find where our bins are located go to: http://partnersforcleanstreams.org/events/reel-in-and-recycle and click on Bin Locations. While there you can also sign up to adopt, host, or sponsor- a-Bin and help us promote streams and lakes that are clean, clear and safe!
When asked about the benefits of rain water capture, the gardeners out there will likely tell you that it helps to cut down on water bills during the growing season. However, the ecologists out there will also tell you that is can help reduce the ever-present issue of nutrients and other contaminants flowing in our streams, rivers, and lakes. But how can installing a rain barrel/rain garden on your property help reduce the amount of contaminants, like excess nutrients, from entering our waterways when there are typically not a great deal of those contaminants in rainwater?
The answer is pretty straight-forward. As rain runs off of lawns or over hardened surfaces like sidewalks and roads, it picks up chemicals on those surfaces; think fertilizers, oil and grease, road salt, etc. Many of these contaminants are harmful to aquatic critters (fish, amphibians, etc.), and you are probably well aware of the annual Lake Erie algal bloom that the runoff of fertilizer-filled waters contributes to.
In summary, there are several reasons to divert rain water away from our NW Ohio surface waters, and fortunately, there are several ways that home and business owners do this! Below are summaries of three options; rain barrels, downspout redirection, and planting native vegetation/rain gardens.
Soon runners from all over will be in Toledo for the 44th Mercy Health Glass City marathon. With over 10,000 people projected to be attending the race, runners and spectators, that means there will be a TON of trash. Partners for Clean Streams has been involved in this race for the past 5 years as the “Green Team”; recycling thousands of pounds of materials that would otherwise make its way into the landfill. We are looking for volunteers to assist us once again to help make the marathon as sustainable as possible. Sign up to volunteer at this link and scroll down to or do a page search for the Green Team.
Green Team Dates:
Being the primary point for recycling is a huge task! Please consider helping!
Since you are reading this article, we know that you follow PCS news in some form or fashion. We are glad that you have found us here and want to make sure you know about all of our news platforms. If you are a Facebook and/or Twitter user, you will find frequent updates from us regarding upcoming events, volunteer impacts, and news from around the Greater-Toledo area (and the world), covering ways that people like you are working towards cleaner waterways! We are also on Instagram and YouTube, and typically use these platforms to share news and photos/videos of our wonderful volunteers in action.
Links to all of our platforms are below:
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Bob Neubert
President of the Board
Lucas Co. Engineers
Andrew Curran
Vice President
Assistant Scout Executive,
Boy Scouts of America
Joan King
Treasurer
First Solar
Kyle Spicer
Secretary
Private Citizen
Denise Fonner
Board Member
Private Citizen
Chris Smalley
Board Member
Park Services Supervisor
Metroparks of the Toledo Area
Bill Hoefflin
Board Member
Private Citizen
Bill Buri
Board Member
Pexco Packaging
Partners for Clean Streams Inc. is striving for abundant open space and a high quality natural environment; adequate floodwater storage capacities and flourishing wildlife; stakeholders who take local ownership in their resources; and rivers, streams and lakes that are clean, clear and safe