It doesn’t have to be such a big wake up call that helps us realize how often take for granted the fertile soils, variety of trees and flowers, abundant flowing rivers and great landscapes we have in our corner of the world. Because sometimes we notice small, seemingly insignificant things that can take our breath away and it is those moments that can compel us to appreciate and protect what we have every day.
This year, please consider helping your waterways by supporting the local organization that protects them with an end of the year gift. Become a Partner for Clean Streams by donating $15 or more! Your donations will keep the dynamic cleanup events, education activities, restoration projects and public outreach vital and growing. While we are dedicated to the waterways of the greater Toledo area, we depend on your support. Donating by the end of the year ensures your tax exemption to the extent allowed by law and that we start next year with even more resources to support clear, clean, and safe water. You can donate online or by sending in a check to Partners for Clean Streams, PO Box 203 Perrysburg OH, 43552.
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We re-launched the RAP Committee, MaumeeRAP.org, the new DMDS, and a new local grant opportunity. So that’s what a re-launching blitz looks like! For those that missed it, read on for a summary and visit MaumeeRAP.org for more information.
If nothing else in this industry, we love our acronyms. So bear with us while we announce the many new or re-invented initiatives, all while adding some new acronyms to our collective jargon.
On December 4, we announced that your local hub for information on all things Maumee Area of Concern (AOC) or Maumee RAP will be MaumeeRAP.org. The website is still under development, but you can go to it now for important info on the MAAC (not football but Maumee AOC Advisory Committee), the new Data Management and Delisting System (or DMDS for short) for the Maumee AOC, and the new local Request for Proposals for a small grant opportunity.
Also, with much ado, at the recent AOC Summit (Area of Concern Summit, that is), we announced the re-establishment of a local Maumee RAP Committee with a fresh new name: Maumee AOC Advisory Committee, or MAAC for short. The new MAAC will be a stand-alone committee, no longer under PCS’s umbrella, but still with our guidance and support as PCS as the newly dubbed Maumee AOC Facilitating Organization (but sadly, no nice acronym for that one). Applications are available at MaumeeRAP.org for those interested in joining the new MAAC. Applications are now due January 9th, 2015.
The DMDS is an online tool that serves a one-stop-shop for up-to-date status of the Beneficial Use Impairments in the watersheds in the Area of Concern, along with pertinent analytical data and projects underway, completed, and envisioned for the AOC. All of this critical information is shown geographically and through searchable resources and queries. The DMDS is a tool meant to inform decision makers, and those practitioners working in the water and on the ground, regarding the most critical areas to target, types of activities needed, and plentiful, diverse projects already underway in the AOC. Using all this information, together, the many businesses, government agencies, non-profit organizations and citizens working in tandem will be able to determine more targeted steps needed to make measurable improvements to the many local waterways in the Area of Concern.
And last, but certainly not least, we announced a local small grant opportunity focused on improving the Beneficial Use Impairments and on demonstrating that small, but important, water quality improvements can move the needle on measurable improvement, especially when they can later be scaled up and aggregated across watersheds. Short electronic proposals, for up to $15,000 in grant funding, are due January 30th, 2015 for projects to be completed by June 2016. Please review the full RFP at MaumeeRAP.org.
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Clean Stream Partner Awards are given to a “river hero” who has done remarkable work in favor of clean, clear and safe rivers. This person has shown passion and dedication for years in bringing people together to solve large, complex issues. This year, the award goes to Kurt Erichsen.
Kurt began his career by receiving his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and Water Resources from Oregon State University in 1997 and his Master of Science in Sanitary Engineering in 1978. He became a Registered Professional Engineer from the State of Ohio in 1982 (passing the exam with the highest score in the state). He has worked on the popular “Give Water a Hand” campaign in 2006 and was awarded the John Bosely Leadership award from the National Association of Regional Councils in 2009. The Ohio House of Representatives H.R. honored him in 2009 as well. He has worked for TMACOG since 1987 in various roles, currently serving as the Vice President of Environmental Planning.
Kurt has worked on many different projects including writing, maintaining and upgrading the “208” Area Wide Water Quality Management Plan, establishing the Regional Stormwater Coalition, collaborating on the watershed restoration plan for Wolf Creek and Berger Ditch Watershed, and managed several projects related to the Ottawa River Contaminated Sediments. He also worked on overall watershed plans for the Maumee Remedial Action Plan, bringing us closer to cleaner rivers for generations to come. In addition to these major projects, Kurt has been involved by preparing, supervising or conducting dozens of other programs that benefit our local rivers.
Kurt is receiving the Clean Streams Partner Award for his tireless dedication to clean water throughout the region for the past 27 years. His leadership skills have been successful at bringing various agencies and collaborators together to solve various watershed issues. Thank you for your years of service, dedication and leadership, Kurt. Oh, and for your fun caricatures that quietly liven up many dull agendas and a few long meetings!
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Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Annual General Meeting at the Ward Pavilion last month. The evening was quite chilly but the warmth of friendly, happy people and conversation, made up for it. Shankland’s Catering had a variety of foods and people enjoyed wine from Majestic Oak Winery. The presentation included all the highlights of work that has been done in the past year, and many well deserved awards. Clean Your Streams Challenge winners were presented with certificates and rotating plaques. The Board President awarded Kurt Erichsen with the Clean Streams Partner Award, a prestigious award for his leadership and dedication to over 25 years of improving our waterways. Finally, PCS paying dues members re-elected 3 board members and voted in 2 new board members. Congratulations to our newest board members, Denise Fonner and Kyle Spicer. The evening concluded with a Silent Auction with paintings, glass from the Toledo Museum of Art, Imagination Station tickets and much more. Thank you to all who celebrated 2014 and helped us look forward to 2015.
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Tis the season for brightly colored corn cobs, sweaters, hot apple cider and leaves. Lots of leaves. We all know that leaves come from the trees in our forests, along the streets, and in our back yard. But where do the leaves go? If humans did nothing, the leaves would pile up on a forest floor creating an insulating carpet that protects the ground (including the plants and animals that live there) for the winter. In the spring, the leaves soak up extra water and decay slowly, enriching the ground with nutrients. However, most people rake, blow, mow or in some way move leaves from their lawns into piles, often inviting children at heart to play in the piles. Some people use these leaves to fertilize and cover their garden. Many people bag them up and let their city take them away (never to be seen again). Often, huge piles of leaves are stowed along the side of road, near storm drains. When this happens, leaves can go down the drain, into the nearest stream exposing the ecosystem to an overload of nutrients. While some leaves are essential food for the tiniest creatures forming the base of the food web, too many, all at once, carrying lots of other nutrients and debris along with them, are just too much of a good thing. Sometimes, these large piles of leaves block the storm drains completely. If this happens before a rain storm, the rainwater is blocked and can end up flooding the street, nearby backyards and even potentially basements.
So what can you do? You could “just leaf it be”! Try leaving the leaves on your lawn just once. Maybe just a section of your yard with not too many leaves. The leaves will release nutrients back into your grass, reducing the need for you to fertilize your grass in the spring. It also provides a great way to block weeds, which always seem to be the first to grow in the spring. Or rake them up and use them in flower beds, gardens, a compost pile, wherever the leaves can be a benefit. Many cities post dates when they will collect yard waste. Check your local paper, the city website or ask around for the pickup date. In the meantime, here are a few tips.
– The day before (not weeks before) the scheduled pickup date, gather all the leaves to the curb. This way, your leaves are not sitting on the curb for long periods of time with more possibility of getting blown into a storm drain or blown into the street, where they can become an overload to the system.
– When you do pile your leaves, do not pile them in the street, put them on your easement.
– Some cities recommend putting the leaving into a bag, which contains them much better than an open pile. However, the bag is not biodegradable while the leaves are. Check your city’s instructions for their recommendations.
– If you do live near a ditch or stream, naturally leaves will end up there, which is fine. But do not put the piles and piles of leaves into it. This is like adding slow releasing fertilizer into the stream.
– When you do pile your leaves, please make sure to keep access to fire hydrants, mail boxes and to driveways clear.
While you are enjoying fall, please remember to take care of your leaves properly. If you have questions about the best way to care for your yard, there are many resources online or by asking a Soil and Water District or an environmental group, like PCS, near you. That way, we can all enjoy the beauty and joy that fall brings.
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By Casey Fuleky
As I write this letter, I am finishing up my last day as an Outreach Intern here at Partners for Clean Streams. Since I first began my internship in May, my knowledge and appreciation regarding clean, clear, and safe water has vastly expanded. Assisting with tasks such as designing Clean Your Streams t-shirts, strengthening ties with the public through social media, and ultimately organizing various volunteer river cleanup events, really opened my eyes to how much work the PCS team and its Partners put into planning their events.
There is no doubt that my favorite responsibilities at PCS involved getting a little dirty and interacting with the public for events like Get the Lead Out, Girl Scouts programs, and Clean Your Streams Day. It is our job at PCS to educate the public on how they can individually do their part in keeping our water clean, and these events really put it in perspective for them. Achieving common goals concerning clean, clear, and safe water would be unobtainable without these partnerships with our citizens.
In the end, working with a team that was just as passionate about Earth’s environments as I am, was refreshing and inspiring. Although my time with Partners for Streams has concluded, I feel relieved leaving here knowing that PCS will continue to flourish in good hands.
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Want to support our work towards clear, clean, and safe water, especially after the local water crisis this summer? Thinking of when to give your annual donation or pay your yearly dues to PCS? Do it on December 2nd, or Giving Tuesday and the Toledo Community Foundation and the Center for Nonprofit Resources will match your donation. That’s right! Donations made as part of Giving Tuesday will be matched one-to-one, creating an instant return on your investment and making your generous gift stretch even further. Donate directly at http://bit.ly/1zMBp1D!
But what is Giving Tuesday? Everyone has heard of Black Friday. Some people have heard of Cyber Monday. But Giving Tuesday is a new concept for most of the world. In fact, this year, December 2, 2014 is the third Annual Giving Tuesday. It is a day for everyone to give back to a cause they believe in. Everyone, from current donors to large companies to people new to the organization, are encouraged to “give back” on this day. Partners for Clean Streams is inviting you to donate to help us educate kids and adults alike, hold volunteer stream cleanup events, and engage stakeholders in large scale projects to improve our waterways in the greater Toledo area. Here at PCS, we understand that it’s your donations that helps us sink or float. For Giving Tuesday, we are raising money to ensure fishable and swimmable streams, rivers and lakes for generations to come. Giving Tuesday is for donating to the cause that means the most to you. Because your donations will be matched, your donations are more powerful and important than ever. This is the best time to make your first contribution to us, to make your usual yearly contribution to PCS, or to pay your membership dues. Donations to Partners for Clean Streams can be made on December 2 at http://bit.ly/1zMBp1D or by mailing in your donation. Giving Tuesday is on our calendar. Is it on yours?
]]>The focus of this Summit is on several projects within the Area of Concern and Ohio EPA’s new AOC Program Framework. There will also be reports from Ohio EPA, US EPA, and other groups actively working on water quality and watershed projects within the Maumee AOC. You can view the agenda here.
Please RSVP by Monday, Dec. 1 to [email protected]. We hope to see you there! ]]>
Join us for the Annual General Meeting on Monday, November 17, as we celebrate the success of 2014 at the Ward Pavilion in Wildwood Metropark. There will be an optional tour given by Metropark staff of one of the areas undergoing habitat restoration under our Maumee Corps work that PCS and the Metroparks of the Toledo area are doing together. The event begins at 5:30pm with hors d’oeuvres. Following hors d’oeuvres, there will be a presentation highlighting all the work done this year and a sneak peak into next year’s plans. We will congratulate Clean Your Streams Challenge Award winners and present the first place winners with a certificate. We will also present the Clean Streams Partner Award, a prestigious award given to an outstanding member of the community who has shown laudable effort in protecting our local waterways. In the past few years those awarded have been: Cherie Blair, Terry Shankland, Matt Horvat, Steve Pollick and Sue Horvath and others. There will also be a Silent Auction of art pieces and other valuable items. For the business meeting part of the meeting, we will elect next year’s board members. If you are interested in becoming a board member, please contact PCS as soon as possible. We would love to have you join the team. The evening will be filled with food, celebration of the work on our rivers and our volunteers and plans to support our rivers in the future. Watch your mailbox for your invitation. Please RSVP by November 10. We look forward to seeing you there!
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One of our main focuses at PCS is removing the trash from local streams and rivers. Even though volunteers remove tons of trash every year during our cleanup events, trash accumulates quickly in our waterways. That’s certainly not what we want in our drinking water. Unfortunately, this reoccurring problem is more widespread than Toledo. Marine debris, or trash in waterways, is a huge ongoing issue around the world. However, there are actions we can take to prevent trash from reaching the waterways and PCS is working to initiate those actions locally. PCS received a grant from NOAA’s Marine Debris program, through the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, to further enhance two of our largest river cleanup initiatives, Clean Your Streams and Get the Lead Out. In addition, we will be creating educational tools to explain the connection between household trash, how that trash travels to a river, and what happens to the trash once it reaches its final destination. One of our strategies in correcting the trash problem is by providing the proper receptacles for disposing of certain types of debris. PCS is teaming with NOAA Marine Debris and Ohio’s Clean Marinas program to install new Fishing Line Recycling Bins in heavily fished areas around the greater Toledo area.
To further engage the community, groups will be able adopt these recycling bins, maintain and monitor the amount of line collected. PCS is currently organizing this program and planning for implementation in the spring of 2015.
With the NOAA Marine Debris and a Litter Grant from the Ohio EPA, we are targeting river cleanup areas that need more attention, more often than our large, one-day regional Clean Your Streams Day cleanup. We will track the trash accumulation in local waterways in detail and therefore be able to understand the patterns of deposition. This program is in the early planning stages and will be executed next year. With help from the Toledo Community Foundation (through a grant received last year), we are organizing these new programs to further extend the impact of our already successful Get the Lead Out and Clean Your Streams events. While PCS is going ahead strong in trash removal efforts, you could be the real hero by preventing trash from entering our waterways. You ultimately choose where to throw your empty lunch bag or whether to buy something that can be recycled or not. You can make a difference in the marine debris issue by taking preventive actions, like securing your trash can to prevent it from blowing away or taking extra care to hold onto cups and straws on a windy day at the park. Trash in our environment adds up quickly, and while we are working hard to correct the issue, the process begins with you. It is easier to prevent trash from getting into the water, than getting it out. In advance, we thank you for doing your part.
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