November

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.

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November

lake slopescroppedConstruction is reaching a closing point at Camp Miakonda as crews reach critical junctures for the major tasks. Partners for Clean Streams (PCS) couldn't be more thrilled with the way the project has progressed over these past months. Excavating the nearly 10,000 cubic yards of sediment from Lake Sawyer has shifted from trucking it off site to shaping banks and removing the temporary access road as water quickly flows back in. Sloping back the excavated areas in Lake Sawyer will help prevent erosion as well as provide a gradual transition between deeper and shallow areas, perfect for aquatic habitat and recreational activities.

Along the edges of Lake Sawyer are several built-up sections that are designed to be wetland shelves. These shelves will allow for water to filter through, removing sediment and any potential pollutants before the water reaches the lake, and eventually the Ottawa River. These areas will remain underwater, yet will be shallow enough to become a unique educational opportunity for Boy Scouts and the public to learn about wetland plants and their benefits in contrast to drier conditions. North of the swimming pool and pocketed throughout the remaining property, we've restored about three full acres of wetlands by both treating invasive species and planting new, beneficial native species.

Flowing into Lake Sawyer are two tributaries on the property, Cunningham and Hartman Ditches. Hartman was redirected into the lake, after it had originally emptied into the Ottawa River, by installing a 3-sided culvert. Having both tributaries flowing into the lake should encourage more water movement, helping to provide oxygen to the deepened waters, benefiting fish and turtles. Both tributaries received stone work to help direct the water and lock-in new native plantings added for sediment control.

Beyond Lake Sawyer is the Ottawa River, which has been eroding the banks bordering the lake for years. The project has implemented numerous in-stream structures designed to push the highest velocity current of the river into the center of its existing channel, minimizing the impact on either side. In addition, stone toe protection was built along more than 650 feet of the banks to help prevent erosion occurring at high-flow events. The design of the protection is such that as the rock gets pushed by water, they fall in a way that's actually beneficial for the entire structure.

The project at Camp Miakonda has been a huge success so far. Over the coming year, we will be closely monitoring over 26, 000 plants, numerous stone structures, and water levels throughout the restoration area to ensure continuing success. We will also be creating educational signage that will teach visitors about all aspects of the restoration project. Without the cooperation with the Boy Scouts, our contractors Geo. Gradel and Ecological Restoration, and other community partners, this wouldn't have been nearly as successful. Thank you!

dessertsresizedThank you to everyone who joined us at the Annual General Meeting on Thursday, November 8th at the Yager Center in Swan Creek Metropark. The evening was a great success as it allowed us to highlight the past year’s events and projects, as well as reconnect with old friends. We also began looking forward to next year’s plans. A Silent Auction was held featuring donations from local businesses and all profits are going to help fund our programs.  Hors d’oeuvres, and desserts from Michael’s Catering were a delicious highlight of the evening. Congratulations to the Clean Your Streams Challenge winners that were presented with certificates of their achievements. Congratulations to these re-elected board members -Tim Schetter, Andrew Curran and Elliot Tramer. PCS staff would like to thank those who helped make the evening a success and everyone who supported us through this “record breaking” year at any of our events and/or projects.  Your support is greatly appreciated as we continue to grow and expand our horizons.

terryand dianecropped.sizedEvery year, we present the Clean Streams Partner Award to an incredible leader in local water conservation. This person cannot shoot laser beams from their eyes but instead, works wonders through dedication and commitment for our local waterways. This year’s Clean Streams Partner is Terry Shankland. Terry has been involved with the Maumee RAP and PCS as a volunteer of Clean Your Streams Day since the late 1990's. He served as the event caterer for Clean Your Streams for 15 years, providing a continually growing number of volunteers with hot dogs, baked beans and chili. He currently sits on the Board of Directors for PCS. In 2006, he was appointed to the Toledo Parks Commission Board. Terry has also served as a citizen member of the TMACOG Ottawa River and Maumee River Committees, is the former President of the Ottawa/Jermaine Park boards, and volunteered for Special Projects with the Epilepsy Center of Northwest Ohio.

Terry is a self-employed, small business owner responsible for the operations, marketing and customer service for Shankland's Catering, which he started 30 years ago. Terry is a lifelong resident of the metro-Toledo area where he and his wife, Diane, currently reside.
Terry was chosen to receive the Clean Streams Partner Award for his countless hours of service in supporting the Maumee RAP and PCS. His dedication to regional water-quality projects is admirable and contagious. His support of cleaner, clearer and safer waterways has been consistent for many years and is visible in the leadership roles he takes.  Terry was honored at this year’s Annual General Meeting. For all your hours of service and dedication, Terry, we thank you.

cys 16 - monroe street kickoff 9-15-2012 013croppedsizedEvery year, at Thanksgiving time, I am reminded to pause and reflect on my blessings. Of course, like many of you, those thoughts usually center on family, well-being, and helping provide for my family. But this year, I am also trying to intentionally think about those often over-looked fundamentals. Fundamental blessings like open and green spaces, a sunny fall day, fresh water, and the ability to actively enjoy all of those gifts here, close to home.  I am privileged to lead an organization that focuses on protecting, restoring, and engaging people with those wonderful natural resources. And yet, in the demanding work called for in this profession, it is all too easy to focus on the negative, long-term challenges – rather than on the privileges of serving, engaging, teaching, and leading. I gratefully chose to focus on the thousands of hours volunteers have given this year to restore areas, to care for our natural environment, and to teach the youth to continue caring for the water and the land. Or the blessing of a dedicated, caring staff carrying the day-to-day load and going above and beyond a “job” to demonstrate that "Giving" is year-round.  I am also thankful for the businesses and individuals who entrust us with the financial resources to continuing giving back to our community by caring for the land and the water.

Those volunteers, staff, colleagues, and donors are actively living out the “Giving” in ThanksGiving year round. With this in mind, turn this season – from Thanksgiving through New Year’s – into an opportunity to not only passively reflect on your blessings but also as a time to decide how you will actively live out the “Giving” all year-long.  Please consider making PCS one of the ways for you and your family to actively give back. There are many meaningful opportunities for you at www.PartnersForCleanStreams.org, ranging from volunteer opportunities to membership and donations to steps to take at home to conserve water.  In whatever way you chose to “Give”, the PCS staff, our waterways, native wildlife and our future generations thank you.

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