17 Ohio watershed groups win share of $37,500 to improve water quality

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Euclid Creek, Tinkers Creek and the Rocky River are among 17 watersheds awarded water quality grants Wednesday.

Dominion Energy and Western Reserve Land Conservancy gave out $37,500 in mini grants, an annual program since 2015 to help organizations working to protect and improve land around rivers, lakes and streams throughout Ohio. More than $142,000 has been awarded to 38 watershed groups so far.

“It’s a privilege to support and learn about some of the amazing environmental initiatives that are happening throughout the state of Ohio,” said Julie Pischulla, general manager of design construction and capital planning for Dominion Energy. “We congratulate all of the award winning watershed organizations across our territory and believe it is our duty to recognize such outstanding grassroots efforts through our environmental and community service commitments.”

The Belmont Soil and Water Conservation District in St. Clairsville received the 2018 Spotlight Award and a grant of $6,500 in support of the Crabapple Creek Restoration Project to remove a submarine bridge and install an alternative stream crossing.

Here are the rest of the grants awarded Wednesday, many for creeks and rivers that flow into Lake Erie:

  • -Bass Lake Association (Chardon): $1,500 to purchase and install up to 700 new trees and shrubs as part of the 2019 Beaver Creek Wetland and Stream Restoration Project.
  • -Buckeye Lake for Tomorrow (Buckeye Lake): $1,500 to produce marketing and engagement materials.
  • -Chagrin River Watershed Partners (Willoughby): $2,500 to install native plants along -Corporation Creek to help soak up stormwater, stabilize the banks and improve the scenic beauty of Erie Road Park.
  • -Carroll County Soil and Water Conservation District (Carrollton): $2,500 to work with local farmers to reduce soil erosion by establishing permanent vegetation in critical areas.
  • -Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District (Cleveland): $2,500 to plant trees, restore areas around rivers with native vegetation, and clean streams throughout Cuyahoga County with community and student volunteers.
  • -Friends of Euclid Creek (Cleveland): $2,400 to conduct a tree planting project at Hawken School that will promote the infiltration of stormwater runoff and support Euclid Creek water quality.
  • -Friends of Hudson Park (Hudson): $2,500 to complete a steam restoration project on a portion of Tinker’s Creek headwater stream at Darrow Road Park.
  • -Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed (Columbus, OH): $2,400 to remove invasive species and restore native vegetation restoration along 1,000 feet of Kempton Run.
  • -LoCo ‘Yaks (Lorain, OH): $1,500 to purchase a fully outfitted adaptive kayak to help those with physical disabilities enjoy time on the Black River and Lake Erie.
  • -Medina County Soil and Water Conservation District (Medina, OH): $2,500 to purchase water monitoring equipment for organizational and community use.
  • -Northeast Ohio Public Information and Public Education (Painesville): $1,500 to create a -Reduce Your Runoff: Slow it Down, Spread it Out, Soak it In calendar. The calendar will include resources to educate the public about runoff including information on rain gardens, rain barrels, checking vehicles for leaks and spills, choosing environmentally friendly household products, etc.
  • -Ohio Wetlands Association (Amherst): $700 to create materials for Ohio Vernal Poolooza, a three-day conference on vernal pool biology, management, and monitoring.
  • -Sandusky River Watershed Coalition (Tiffin): $1,500 for the creation and purchase of educational materials for an outreach campaign titled, “What can you do to protect our river?”
  • -Save the Lake Coalition (Medina): $500 to help offset the costs of materials needed in monitoring Chippewa Lake’s water quality.
  • -Rocky River Watershed Council (Cleveland): $2,500 to establish a bioengineered streambank stabilization demonstration area at the Strongsville Backyard Preserve for local education purposes.
  • -Tinker’s Creek Watershed Partners (Twinsburg): $2,500 to support the collection of quality data in the Tinker’s Creek watershed to track trends, prioritize projects, and tell a compelling story about the watershed.