The program has two focuses: working with local universities to incorporate water quality monitoring into coursework, and a community-based volunteer initiative where five sites are monitored monthly.

Please click here to download the Euclid Creek Volunteer Monitoring Program brochure.

Other Involvement Opportunities

If your volunteer organization, boy or girl scout troop or school would like to get involved please call the Euclid Creek Watershed Coordinator for more information about any of the following:

Stream Cleanups

Stream Monitoring

Storm Drain Stenciling

(click here for fact sheet)

Rain Garden Installation Projects

Invasive Plant Pulls

Rain Barrel Workshops

Friends of Euclid Creek!

Attend a monthly meeting and JOIN!

Friends of Euclid Creek (FOEC) monthly meetings

First Tuesday of every month at 6:30 pm
South Euclid Community Center

1370 Victory Drive, South Euclid 44121

Friends of Euclid Creek website: http://www.friendsofeuclidcreek.org

Check out the FOEC newest BLOG website to catch up on the groups news: http://foecnews.blogspot.com

Click here for the FOEC 2010 Membership Form

Euclid Creek Watershed Resources

Euclid Creek Watershed Update E-Newsletter
This newsletter will be produced on a quarterly basis moving forward.
If you have an article or issue to include in upcoming newsletters,
please email or contact the Watershed Coordinator.

Click here to view the e-Newsletter webpage.

Euclid Creek Books

Euclid Township, 1796-1801: Protest in the Western Reserve, by Roy Larick and Craig Semsel

Published in October 2003 by the Western Reserve Historical Society and the Euclid Historical Society.

"Roy Larick and Craig Semsel team up to tell a story of our region’s early years from the perspective of the men and women who laid it out for settlement. The story is told using surveyors’ personal journals and field notes as well as Connecticut Land Company meeting minutes." (from Western Reserve Historical Society website)

Available from (checks payable to) the:

Euclid Historical Society
21129 North Street
Euclid, OH 44117
216-289-8577
$20.00 (includes shipping)

EUCLID CREEK (Images of America), by Roy Larick with Bob Gibbons and Edward Siplock

Published in 2005 by Arcadia Publishing.

Available at www.arcadiapublishing.com, or by email at sales@arcadiapublishing.com or at 888-313-2665. Also available from (checks payable to) the:

Euclid Historical Society
21129 North Street
Euclid, OH 44117
216-289-8577
$20.00 (includes shipping)

Drawing from numerous archives, Larick, Gibbons and Siplock have surmounted municipal boundaries to show the whole history of the Euclid Creek watershed—our important natural and cultural landmark. Learn about the story of a Great Lake tributary watershed based on motive power themes:

- Water mills turning virgin forest into villages and schooners
- Steam and rails taking bluestone and wine to distant markets
- Electrified rails filling summer resorts and country estates
- Early automobiles ferrying suburbanites to Tudor side streets
- Interstate highways funneling exurbanites into lifestyle centers

Euclid Creek, by Michael Ceraolo

Published in 2006 by deep cleveland press.

Available at www.deepcleveland.com, or at deep cleveland press, p.o. box 14248, Cleveland, Ohio 44114, or press@deepcleveland.com.

"This 130-page epic poem traces the origins of Euclid Creek and proceeds to illuminate hundreds of years of Northeast Ohio history as it meanders like the flow of water through people, places and events that have shaped the destiny of the land that we call home. A must read for denizens of the Western Reserve." (from Deep Cleveland Press website)

2009 Euclid Creek Environmental Awareness Survey Results

The Euclid Creek Watershed Program (ECWP), supported by its partners the Euclid Creek Watershed Council, the Friends of Euclid Creek and the Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District (CSWCD), conducted an environmental awareness survey in 2009. Households throughout the watershed were encouraged to complete the survey in order to help assess the level of awareness residents have with regard to common household activities and their potential impact on the quality of our local water resources. Answers provided will serve as a tool to develop water quality educational materials for target audiences, and will help to determine appropriate methods to deliver educational messages.

To see detailed results from the 291 survey responses received click here.

Euclid Creek Bird Survey, 2003

The Kirtland Bird Club, along with members of the Friends of Euclid Creek conducted a bird nesting survey in June 2003.

Results of the survey are available on the website link http://www.geocities.com/Birds_of_Euclid_Creek/ (or click on the Great Blue Heron photo to be routed to the website).

The survey outlines the types of species and where they were found within the different habitats in Euclid Creek. Including, woodland, successional forest, wetlands, grasslands and urban areas. The survey shows that even in Euclid Creek, there are many places for habitat to live and thrive. Thanks to Anna and the Bird Club for this great effort and information on our bird species in the watershed.

Oil & Gas Well Informational Brochures

If you are a landowner who has been approached by an oil and gas industry representative, please view the following brochures for more information on resources available to you and things to consider when reviewing lease language.

Oil & Gas Brochure, General

Oil & Gas Brochure, More Detailed

The Geauga County SWCD also has a wealth of informational links if you want even more information (click here).

What is a Rain Garden?

Rain gardens are attractive landscaped areas planted with perennial native plants that do not mind getting "wet feet." Build in a saucer shape, rain gardens allow water to percolate into the ground. The benefits of rain gardens are multiple. Rain gardens:

Help keep water clean by filtering storm water runoff before it enters local waterways
Help alleviate problems with flooding and drainage
Enhance the beauty of yards and communities
Provide habitat and food for wildlife like birds and butterflies

Recent studies by the US Environmental Protection Agency have shown that a substantial amount of the pollution in our streams, rivers and lakes is carried there by runoff from practices we carry out in our own yards and gardens! Some of the common "non-point source pollutants" from our yards end up in our local waterways include soil, fertilizers, pesticides, pet wastes, grass clippings and other yard debris.

The first rain gardens were our native ecosystems. Before our lands were settled, rain was filtered through soils, roots, and plants in our native forests, wetlands, and meadows. Most of the water that entered our surface waters was cool, clean groundwater. Our wealth of streams, rivers and lakes was naturally clean.

When European settlers cleared the land and built communities, the natural water-cleaning systems were removed. Our streams and rivers became more and more degraded as water ran off the land instead of being taken up by plants, soaking into the soil, and filtered by soils and wetlands.

Rain gardens were invented as a way of imitating the function of these natural filtering systems that development removed. Infiltration was already in use, where storm water is stored to soak into the ground. However, the introduction of plants to the system was a new idea for storm water engineers.

Planting rain gardens is a great way to help our communities "bloom," making them more attractive places to live while maintaining watershed health!

Click here to see the Rain Garden Brochure for Homeowners.

For the detailed manual on installing a rain garden, which explains how to install a rain garden, including site and soil conditions needed, native plant recommendations, etc., click here - Rain Garden Manual for Homeowners - to download the .pdf (2,483 kb) or call 216-524-6580 for your own copy.

Four rain gardens were planted in the Euclid Creek Watershed Summer of 2006 with a Lake Erie Protection Fund Grant, see the detailed final report by clicking here: Putting Urban Landscapes to Work for Water Quality: Evaluating the Benefits and Challenges of Rain Gardens in the Euclid Creek Watershed

Current Rain Gardens in the Euclid Creek Watershed:

Location	Size	Date Installed
Mayfield School Board Building, Mayfield Heights	300 sq. feet	November 2009
Wildwood Lakefront State Park, Bioswale Project, Cleveland	2,250 sq. feet	June-July 2009
Hawken Middle School, Lyndhurst	200 sq. feet	June 2009
Schaeffer Park, Lyndhurst	300 sq. feet	September 2008
South Euclid - Lyndhurst Library, South Euclid	300 sq. feet	July 2006
Brainard Park, Lyndhurst	300 sq. feet	October 2006
Euclid Creek Reservation - Welsh Woods, Euclid	150 sq. feet	September 2006
Richmond Heights Kiwanis Lodge, Richmond Heights	200 sq. feet	August 2006

What is a Rain Barrel?

A rain barrel is a container used to collect and store rainwater that would otherwise be lost to runoff and likely diverted to a storm drain. Collected water may then be used to water lawns and gardens. Rainwater can be harvested in many ways. The catchment system described here is just one way to capture rainwater for usage in your yard.

Here are just a few reasons to use a rain barrel:

Water Conservation - Approximately 60% of our municipal water supply goes directly to watering our lawns. By using rain barrels, you lessen the amount of water flowing into our storm drains, sewer systems, and ultimately local waterways. This water can then be used during hot or dry spells to water your garden.

Protection of local watersheds - 70 million pounds of pesticides are applied to lawns each year, contaminating storm water (rainwater) runoff. Fertilizers and pesticides are the primary source of water pollution. By collecting rain water, you prevent that runoff from picking up and carrying these harmful pollutants into our local waterways.

Natural Gardening - Using rainwater to water your garden is natural and healthy. Plants and beneficial microbes like rainwater because it is naturally soft - free of chlorine, fluoride, and other chemicals.

For more information on Rain Barrels, including installation and maintenance, click here: Rain Barrel Fact Sheet (.pdf)

Or 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 Cleveland Metroparks, Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, and Cleveland Botanical Gardens.

Other On-Line Resources

EPA Launches New Web Tools to Inform the Public About Clean Water Enforcement: Interactive Web tool allows the public to check water violations in their communities The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is launching a new set of web tools, data, and interactive maps to inform the public about serious Clean Water Act violations in their communities. Improving water quality is one of EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson’s priorities and in 2009, Administrator Jackson directed the agency to develop concrete steps to improve water quality to better enforce the Clean Water Act and to use 21st Century technology to transform the collection, use and availability of EPA data. The web tools announced are part of EPA’s Clean Water Act Action Plan to work with states in ensuring that facilities comply with standards that keep our water clean.

The new web page provides interactive information from EPA’s 2008 Annual Noncompliance Report, which pertains to about 40,000 permitted Clean Water Act dischargers across the country. The report lists state-by-state summary data of violations and enforcement responses taken by the states for smaller facilities. The new web page also makes it easy to compare states by compliance rates and enforcement actions taken and provides access to updated State Review Framework reports.

Interactive Map for Clean Water Act Annual Noncompliance Report: http://www.epa-echo.gov/echo/ancr/us/

State Review Framework: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/state/srf/index.html

Enforcement and Compliance History Online: http://www.epa-echo.gov/echo

Nonpoint Source (NPS) Encyclopedia

California's NPS Encyclopedia is a free on line reference guide designed to facilitate a basic understanding of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution control and to provide quick access to essential information from a variety of sources by providing direct hyperlinks to resources. The purpose of this on line resource guide is to support the implementation and development of NPS total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) and watershed action plans (WAPs) with a goal of protecting high quality waters and restoring impaired waters. Please visit the NPS Encyclopedia by clicking here.

Ohio EPA's On-Line Mapping System

If you would like to see Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's newest Geographic Information Systems (GIS) map features, click here. Information includes stream monitoring data, combined sewer overflow outfalls, NPDES Permits, and data for download including river mile maps, watershed boundaries, streams & rivers and land use information.

TPL's On-Line Mapping System - the Ohio Greenprint Gateway

If you have ever wanted to make a professional looking map without the expensive software, you now have a resource with access to the internet. The Trust for Public Land (TPL) created the internet-based Ohio Greenprint Gateway, a web-based Geographic Information System (GIS). The site has parcel-level information, natural resource layers and demographics for 20 counties in Northern Ohio. The intent of the website is to create regional priorities for conservation. There is a user-friendly training and you can access even more data with approval by the webmaster. Website Address: http://www.ohiogreenprint.org.

National Tree Benefit Calculator

"Trees in urban areas provide a number of important benefits. They help to clean the air, curb stormwater runoff, raise property values, sequester carbon and reduce energy costs" from www.treebenefits.com

To learn more about the benefits your street tree provides, you can now calculate the benefit by clicking here.

Center for Watershed Protection

"The Center for Watershed Protection works to protect, restore, and enhance our streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands, and bays. We create viable solutions and partnerships for responsible land and water management so that every community has clean water and healthy natural resources to sustain diverse life."

The CWP has a fantastic website with many watershed resources at http://www.cwp.org/.
Make sure to check out the Runoff Rundown Newsletter on their website.

Website to Manage Unused Medicines

The National Community Pharmacists Association and Sharps Compliance Inc. have launched a new website to help divert prescription drugs from being flushed down the drain or being sent to landfills, where the compounds can leach into the groundwater. The website, www.disposemymeds.org, is part of the organization's national campaign. The site allows consumers to search for pharmacy disposal programs by state, city or zip code.

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