WVP Tree Planting

October 25, 2023 @ Engle Road Sled Riding Hill, Big Creek Reservation

[Photo credit: Cleveland Metroparks]

Let the Celebrations Begin

Tonight, November 15th, we will be celebrating all things monitoring at our annual Monitoring Celebration at the Watershed Stewardship Center. Join us and our watershed partners as we honor this year's monitoring efforts and learn about program updates from water chemistry managers. Whether you are new to monitoring or an experienced monitor, all are welcome to attend. Pizza will be served.

Registration for the Watershed Volunteer Program End of the Year Celebration is now open. This year's event will be held on Monday December 11th from 6 - 8 p.m. and will feature a documentary about our Watershed Stewardship Center, an overview of what we've accomplished during 2023 and an awards ceremony. There will be a buffet and coffee bar, feel free to bring a dessert, if you wish. All WVP Volunteers are welcome to bring a guest. Registration for the event is open from November 15th through Friday December 1st.

Please RSVP in Volgistics.

Before you tuck into Thanksgiving, you can spend some time with fellow volunteers at our Monday MeetUp with Interlake Steamship on Monday November 20th from 6 - 7:30 p.m. Hear about their history of maritime trade and future of Environmental Stewardship on the Great Lakes.

See you at our next WVP event,

Sara Corrigan

Watershed Volunteer Coordinator

Happenings

Special Opportunities

Above: Bank looking downstream prior to regrading; Below: Bank after regrading work

November 2023 @ Brecksville Reservation

[Photo credit: Cleveland Metroparks]

Brecksville Bridle Trail Stream Stabilization Project

Cleveland Metroparks nears completion of an in house trail adjustment and stream stabilization project. Once finished, the Bridle Trail Stabilization Project will limit excess soil and nutrients flowing from Chippewa Creek into the Cuyahoga River. In addition to removing obsolete pavement and infrastructure near the stream, the project restores a tributary and enhances the existing neighboring wetlands.

In the above images, you can see how the bank has been regraded to a gentle slope. The pink flags indicate where we will place lines of live fascines, which should take root, joining seed, matting and live stakes to stabilize the banks.

If you have availability tomorrow, November 16th or Friday November 17th and would like to help with this exciting project, sign up in Volgistics. If you have questions, email Elizabeth Hiser. The location will be Chippewa Picnic Area, Brecksville Reservation.

Hinckley Dam and Spillway Construction

Late summer 1926 @ Hinckley Reservation

[Photo credit: Cleveland Metroparks]

Hinckley Spillway Fish Relocation Project

Tomorrow, Thursday November 16th, join Aquatic Biologist Mike Durkalec and his team from 9 a.m. to noon. They will be removing and relocating fish from the Hinckley Lake Dam Spillway with the assistance of WVP Volunteers.

Work on the Hinckley Lake Dam Restoration Project started in September. Hinckley Lake was drained and Mike's team relocated its fish. They will now be working to get fish out of Hinckley Lake Dam Spillway, which is being drained for dredging.

If you have availability on November 16th and would like to help, please sign up in Volgistics. For further details, please Email us .

Read more about the Hinckley Lake Dam Restoration Project Here.

Ironweed Seed Heads

November 3, 2023 @ Buzzard's Roost, Hinckley Reservation

[Photo credit: Cleveland Metroparks]

Independent Seed Collection Project

Have you participated in one of our seed collecting events? Are you interested in being trained as a WVP Independent Seed Collector? If so, please Email us.

We are looking for volunteers to collect seeds from Buzzard's Roost in Hinckley Reservation, which will be the site where silt from the Hinckley Dam Restoration Project will be deposited. The goal is to collect as much existing seed as possible so that it can be used to reseed the area once the work is completed.

Read more about the Hinckley Lake Dam Restoration Project Here.

WVP Opportunities

Seed Gathering

November 4, 2023 @ Buzzard's Roost, Hinckley Reservation

[Photo credit: Cleveland Metroparks]

(M) Talk: Monitoring Celebration and Program Updates

Wed, Nov 15, 6 - 7 p.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center

(R) Special Project: Hinckley Spillway Fish Relocation Project

Thu, Nov 16, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. @ Hinckley Dam Spillway, Hinckley Reservation

(R) Special Project: Brecksville Bridle Trail Stream Stabilization Project

Thu, Nov 16, two session: 9- 11 a.m. & 1- 3 p.m. @ Chippewa Picnic Area, Brecksville Reservation

(R) Special Project: Brecksville Bridle Trail Stream Stabilization Project

Fri, Nov 17, 9 - 11 a.m. @ Chippewa Picnic Area, Brecksville Reservation

(R) Work Session: Invasive Woodies

Fri, Nov 17, 1 - 3 p.m. @ Lake Isaac, Big Creek Reservation

(L) Monday MeetUp: Interlake Steamship*

Mon, Nov 20, 6 - 7:30 p.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center

(L) Talk: Fish Recovery in the Cuyahoga River*

Wed, Dec 6, 6 - 7:30 p.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center

(R) Work Session: Invasive Buckthorn and Alder Removal

Fri, Dec 8, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. @ Bunns Lake, Bradley Woods Reservation

(O) WVP End of Year Celebration

Mon, Dec 11, 6 - 8 p.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center

(M) Talk: Salt Watch*

Thu, Dec 14, 6 - 7:30 p.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center

(R) Work Session: Invasive Grapevine Removal

Tue, Dec 19, 10 a.m. -12 p.m. @ Edgewater Park, Lakefront 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.

View Event Details

Opportunities With Our Partners

(S) Summit Metroparks Reforestation Plantings

Wed, Nov 15, 2023, two sessions: 8 - 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. @ Pond View Trail, Tinker's Creek Area

Help Summit Metroparks create the next generation of forests and flex your green arms/thumbs. 135 bare root trees and 135 live stakes will be planted during these sessions, species include: Oak, maple, dogwood, aster and more.

More Details and Registration Here

(S) Cleveland Metroparks Walk Along the River

Sun, Nov 26, 2023, 11a.m. - 12 p.m. @ Morley Ford Fishing Area parking lot, Rocky River Reservation

Take a post-Thanksgiving hike along the Rocky River with a Cleveland Metroparks Naturalist and learn about how it changes throughout the seasons.

More Details Here

(S) NEO Master Rain Gardener Fall/Winter 2023 Online Course

Self Paced Course @ Online, registration through Dec 31, 2023

This Master Rain Gardener Program will teach you how to manage rain water in your own yard. Rain gardens naturally manage stormwater by infiltrating precipitation and allowing it to soak into the ground rather than sending it directly to storm sewers and nearby streams untreated. Experienced instructors will provide customized feedback which will enable you to design and install a rain garden. Topics will include site assessment, soil analysis, design, construction, plant selection, mulching, and maintenance.

The Residential Certification is geared toward homeowners who would like to install a rain garden in their own yard and serve as the neighborhood expert on rain gardens.

Professional Certification Classes are also available

More Details and Registration Here Cost $50

Cleveland Metroparks | Digital Emerald Necklace*

Read and Watch 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.

Recording Hours with WVP

Extras

In the News

Cleveland Metroparks Kick Off a Huge Construction Project at Garfield Park Reservation | Watch video here

A New Pump Station Will Reduce Sewer Overflows into the Cuyahoga River | Read on

Westerville, Ohio Man Promised to Save Turtles Through a Kickstarter Charity, But Used the Money to Buy Crypto Instead | Read on

In Massachusetts, Cranberry Growers Are Bringing Wetlands Back from the Dead | Read on

Experts Say That This Freshwater Denizen Is the Most Nutritious Vegetable on Earth | Read on

Popeye should've carried a can of THIS instead of spinach!

Pictured here is a patch of watercress in Huntsville, Alabama (formerly known as the Watercress Capitol of the World). Recently determined by the CDC to be the world's healthiest vegetable, watercress is found throughout much of the United States and is commonly harvested for use in salads. It was even on the menu at the first Thanksgiving. Click on the article directly above to learn more about this aquatic relative of kale and radishes.

[Photo Credit: Eric Adams]