May – Partners for Clean Streams

Change for Clean Your Streams

admin — Fri, 02 May 2014 13:46:49 +0000

Every year, hundreds of Partners for Clean Streams volunteers—people like you!—take to the waters and remove the garbage that doesn’t belong there. In 2013 alone, volunteers removed over 16,000 pounds of trash on Clean Your Streams Day. Believe it or not, we are starting to plan for this year’s 18^th Annual Clean Your Streams on September 20^th 2014. (So save the Date!) But we need your help for this year and years to come. Partners for Clean Streams is dedicated to the waterways of the greater Toledo area, but we depend on your support. We want to know – Can your group, business, or family bring the most Change for Change? We challenge each group that will join us for this year’s Clean Your Streams event to pool dimes, nickels, quarters and pennies. Search under sofa cushions! Raid piggy banks! Empty car cupholders! Set out a jar in the office! Start collecting change now!

After you have collected your Change, bring it with you to the Clean Your Streams Appreciation Picnic AFTER the cleanup. Each group’s collective Change for Change will be weighed and weight totals will be marked on a board at the Picnic. The group with the heaviest Change wins the Challenge and will receive a Mystery Award! To get the Change collection started, tape our half sheet flyer to a jar and set it in your office, break room or counter or pass it around at scout or church meetings. Get your Change for Change Flyer! Your loose change can add up to make a lot of Change for our local rivers!

Kyle’s Last Hurrah

admin — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 20:01:55 +0000

To all my colleagues, partners, and friends, I want to personally thank you for helping to guide and teach me over the last few years. Without your help and support, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I have accepted an offer for a new job, making April 18, 2014 my last day as the Project Coordinator at Partners for Clean Streams. Over the coming months, I will be working part-time however, to wrap up as much as possible with the current projects PCS is working on, leaving Kris and the staff with a strong foothold to finish the work at hand. I am incredibly proud of the accomplishments PCS has attained throughout my employment. We’ve helped put nearly 30 people in seasonal/long term jobs caring for the environment, made strides towards successfully launching an all-inclusive “one-stop-shop” online tool for Beneficial Use Impairments and projects going on in the Area of Concern, and conducted the biggest restoration effort to date for PCS, the Camp Miakonda project. PCS also saw record breaking numbers for volunteers, especially at Clean Your Streams Day, and that was a celebration we all could share.

I spoke at the National Conference on Ecological Restoration, presented to hundreds of Boy Scout leaders, and lectured at a Stream Restoration Workshop alongside many of my colleagues. Between these, I lost track of the number of people I’ve talked to about the environment, project impacts on local ecology and homeowners, and why people like us are doing this kind of work. I have the utmost respect for everyone in this field. Whether you’re sweating out in the field or staying late in the office to finish a proposal, you’re all making a huge difference in the world, and I thank you for that. I hope to continue staying involved with PCS on a volunteering basis, and help further their mission of clean, clear, and safe water for years to come. Once again, thank you, everyone.

Shop Amazon or Kroger, Earn Money for Rivers!

admin — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 20:01:24 +0000

How often do you go shopping? How often do you support your local rivers? Why not do it at the same time? PCS has partnered with Kroger and Amazon Smile to earn rewards when customers choose PCS to receive a portion of the profits upon purchasing items from them. Set up your Kroger Community Rewards membership with your Kroger Card and set Amazon Smile instead of the normal amazon site with PCS your chosen organization. Amazon Smile is the same store as Amazon, just going through the Amazon Smile “door” to get there. The money we receive from Kroger and Amazon Smile is put to use in conserving our local rivers. It costs you nothing and signing up takes less time than pumping gas!

Every year in April and May, Kroger requires members to renew their Community Rewards membership. Please renew and support us so we can continue putting those dollars into our rivers and streams. To renew your membership, just sign into your Kroger account and select Partners for Clean Streams to receive a portion of Kroger’s profits. If you are not already earning rewards for us with the Kroger Community Rewards program, then it only takes a few steps to link your Rewards Card to PCS. For further instructions and to learn how you can earn rewards for local rivers, check out the instructions here.

If you’re a frequent online shopper, and Amazon is your go-to play for all things, next time try Amazon Smile. When you designate Partner for Clean Streams as the organization of your choice, a percentage of every purchase you make will go to protecting your rivers in the greater Toledo area. Head over to www.smile.amazon.com, sign in, and select Partners for Clean Streams. Amazon Smile still has all the great deals and stores to shop from online. Replace your current Amazon bookmark with Amazon Smile, and you’ll be on your way to improving your local rivers! Both of these programs cost you nothing and it’s quick, easy, and a seamless way to make a real difference. In advance, thank you for making our rivers a priority.

Maumee Corps Gears Up for a New Season

admin — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 20:00:16 +0000

Spring is here, which means the Maumee Corps project is officially underway again. Our project partners, The Nature Conservancy and Metroparks of the Toledo Area, have already been incredibly busy and pushed our accomplishments even further. The project has impacted more than 1,500 acres of land by applying prescribed burning techniques, as well as herbicide spraying, mowing, canopy reduction activities, and more. Much of the work being done will greatly benefit the federally endangered Karner Blue Butterfly, by promoting grass and herbaceous plant growth, specifically wild lupine, a highly sought after species of plant for the butterfly. Recently crews performed scheduled, prescribed burns in the prairies of Oak Openings followed by the planting of native seeds to reestablish healthy ecosystems in the park. In total, 29 total people have been hired through this grant, clocking in nearly 70,000 hours of work. We’re only beginning the heavy season of work for 2014, and we’ve smashed through our goals and expectations. Look for more information in the coming months!

April Showers Bring New Website and Annual Report

admin — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 19:56:37 +0000

To celebrate Earth Day and Earth month, we unveiled our new website and interactive 2013 Annual Report! Explore new features of the website and tell us what you like best. The NEW WEBSITE, designed by Strategically Digital, is more engaging and easier to navigate. Can you find any typos or links that go nowhere? Let us know (we are only human after all)! While you are at it, take a look at our 2013 Annual Report! Are you in any of the pictures in the photo albums or videos from last years’ events? What memories does it bring back? After taking a look at our new website and 2013 Annual Report, let us know what you think. We would love to hear any comments, suggestions or delights. With a new website, new Annual Report and new spring life, why not join us and be part of the new change by becoming a member of PCS or volunteering?

Kids Take to the Streets for Water!

admin — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 19:54:49 +0000

Thank you to the 73 volunteers that took to the streets during April for Storm Drain Marking. You marked 383 storm drains and dropped off educational material to 1072 homes. You successfully reminded citizens that storm drains lead straight to the nearest ditch, creek, or waterway without being filtered. These dedicated volunteers from University of Toledo, Scout groups and other youth groups, worked in neighborhoods in Northwood, Ottawa Hills, Sylvania, Washington Township, Rossford, Oregon, Waterville and Holland as part of Global Youth Service Day. To help us all remember, a good rule of thumb about what should go down a storm drain is “If you wouldn’t drink it, don’t pour it!”. If your group is interested in participating in Storm Drain Marking throughout the summer, please contact us to get scheduled. Thank you again to our dedicated volunteers.