2008 Euclid Creek Watershed Events
Invasive Plant Pull - May 17, 2008
Euclid Creek Rain Barrel Workshop - July 23, 2008
6th Annual Euclid Creek Day - September 13, 2008
May 17, 2008
Invasive Plant Pull Stewardship Event
Thanks to the ten participants who came out to pull invasive Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) at Wildwood State park in Cleveland. This invasive plant out-competes native spring wildflowers and is not a good food source for wildlife. Alliaria petiolata is quickly taking over the Euclid Creek Wildwood State Park and has invaded the Rocky River, Vermilion River, Doan Brook, and Chagrin River areas.
The group removed 20 bags of the invasive plant. This effort will continue annually as the Garlic Mustard seed bank must be depleted, so get ready to help out next Spring.
July 23, 2008 - Euclid Creek Metroparks Reservation, Rear Quarry Shelter
First Euclid Creek Rain Barrel Workshop
a Success!
It is clear that there is a lot of interest in rain barrels as the Euclid Creek Rain Barrel Workshop filled up two days after registration opened. The workshop, held at the Euclid Creek Reservation Rear Quarry shelter, brought mostly Euclid Creek Watershed residents out to make their own rain barrel for collecting rain water for lawn and garden watering. Water normally flows through your downspout into a city storm water system, or runs onto a paved surface eventually into a storm drain leading to our creeks and rivers.
Participants learned not only how to easily make their own rain barrel at an affordable cost, but learned the benefits of using rain barrels, which include, lower water costs, improved health of garden plants and beneficial microbes in the soil, natural recharge of groundwater, and decreased water pollution by reducing polluted storm water runoff (from sediment, fertilizers, grease, oil and bacteria).
Consider participating in a rain barrel workshop to help protect our watershed and to learn more about the benefits of rain barrels. Keep an eye out for future rain barrel workshops organized by Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District or through partner organizations like the Cleveland Metroparks, Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, and Cleveland Botanical Gardens.
September 13, 2008 - Euclid Creek Metroparks Reservation, Upper Highland Picnic Area
6th Annual
Euclid Creek Day Highlights
The 6th Annual Euclid Creek Day was a shared event this year with the Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District's (SWCD) 59th Annual Meeting. The September 13 Conservation Day and picnic celebrated efforts going on to clean-up the watershed and introduced participants to the wide variety of ways in which to get involved.
In spite of the inclement weather nearly 100 volunteers participated and got to see first hand the impacts of storm water as the Euclid Creek raged through the reservation. A wide variety of activities were held at the Euclid Creek Reservation, including a stream monitoring training session with Dr. Nichols of John Carroll University; a visit to see the Euclid Creek East Branch Dam, a dam scheduled to be removed to allow for fish passage and stream restoration Summer of 2009; a rain barrel demonstration and talk about the benefits of capturing rain water; and a tour of the Nine Mile Watershed wetland project in South Euclid. A picnic lunch was prepared by volunteers from the Richmond Heights Key Club. And one of the Conservation Awards went to an active Euclid Creek Watershed Program steward, Joe Newman, for his six years of dedication and participation in the Public Involvement Public Education Committee representing Mayfield Heights. Attendees had the chance to talk with 13 different environmental organizations who participated in the event, and were able to fill out an Environmental Awareness Survey in order to guide public education efforts in their community.
Additional Euclid Creek Day activities were two motor oil drops available for residents of Beachwood and Richmond Heights. And the City of Lyndhurst facilitated planting a rain garden at Schaeffer Park the following rain-free weekend with help from the Brush and Regina Environmental Clubs.
By providing opportunities for watershed residents to learn more about a variety of programs and projects taking place in the watershed, we continue to lay the groundwork for long-term stewardship of this valuable natural resource.
Thanks to everyone who assisted in organizing and participating in Euclid Creek Day! Special thanks to the Euclid Creek Day Sponsors and Partners: The Euclid Creek Watershed Council communities (Beachwood, Cleveland, Euclid, Highland Heights, Lyndhurst, Mayfield Heights, Mayfield Village, Richmond Heights, and South Euclid), the Friends of Euclid Creek, and the Public Involvement & Education Committee. Additional donations provided by Biohabitats, Inc., Cleveland Botanical Garden, Cleveland Metroparks, John Carroll University and Legacy Village. Volunteers helping from the Richmond Heights Key Club and the Brush and Regina Environmental Clubs.
Dr. Nichols with John Carroll University leads Volunteer Stream Monitoring Training Session.
Claire Posius, Euclid Creek Watershed Coordinator, discusses Euclid Creek East Branch Dam Removal project.
Amy Roskilly, CSWCD Education Coordinator, gives Rain Barrel Demonstration.
Richmond Heights Key Club volunteers help out with lunch.
13 Exhibitors participated.
Joe Newman, Mayfield Heights Public Education/Involvement Committee representative (6 years), receives Certificate of Appreciation award by Jan Rybka, District Administrator CSWCD
Site Visit to Langerdale Detention Basin Wetland Retrofit project in South Euclid's Nine Mile Creek Watershed, Ivette Bolender of Biohabitats and Councilwoman Goodman presented project details.
Rain Garden installation at City of Lyndhurst’s Schaeffer Park with Brush and Regina Environmental Clubs.
Rain Garden installation at City of Lyndhurst’s Schaeffer Park with Brush and Regina Environmental Clubs.