Send us Fan Mail

Mike and Donna report from the 19th annual Ohio Stormwater Conference in Sandusky, OH. The day's presentations touch on education, stormwater modeling and maintenance, and funding, and demonstrate how design choices and policy decisions can ripple across entire communities.

Our guests include:

Erica Matheny, Tinker's Creek Watershed Partners
Refka Abroug, Tinker's Creek Watershed Partners
Jesse Rufner, GPD Group
Jack Caruso, Cleveland Metroparks
Joey Smith, Ohio State University
Tony Burgoyne, OHM Advisors

Topics discussed:

• The Tinkers Creek Watershed Partners’ new strategic plan and illustrated watershed mapping
• Water scarcity, pollution, and access to clean drinking water in Northern Africa
• An East Cleveland project that ties together water lines, roadways, and sewer improvements
• Antecedent moisture modeling
• Extreme storms, risk tools, and what “reasonable” infrastructure can handle
• Mosquito science in stormwater control measures
• Stacking funding sources and building coalitions through policy roundtables

For more information on the Ohio Stormwater Conference, visit tinkerscreek.org

Send us Fan Mail

April is National Native Plant Month, and in this episode we talk with Sustainability Specialist Kevin Harrison and Paul Kovalcik of our Stormwater Inspection & Maintenance (SWIM) department, unpacking what defines a "native plant" and why they matter for water quality and habitat. We talk about how native species support pollinators, and why losing host plants can impact the entire food web.

We connect native landscaping to the Sewer District's stormwater management and stream-restoration projects, and explain how invasive species can take over when nothing has co-evolved to keep them in check.

Our guests offer tips on how to choose the right tree for the right place, when to plant, and why starting small is the best advice for building a low-stress native garden.

Other resources:

NRCS - Natural Resources Conservation Service, a U.S. Department of Agriculture agency that provides a "PLANTS" (Plant List of Attributes, Names, Taxonomy, and Symbols) database with automated tools, weblinks, and references.

https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/

Cleveland Metroparks Tree Selector Tool - Enter in various site attributes for guidance on tree species selection for any type of planting project.

https://treeselector-clevelandmetroparks.com/tree-selector

Rain Garden Manual for Homeowners - Courtesy of Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District, this manual outlines rain garden terms and definitions, recommendations for creating the right garden for your property, and important diagrams and planting instructions.

https://www.neorsd.org/Stormwater%20Form/landing%20page/2007_rain_garden_manual.pdf

Send us Fan Mail

A fallen log in a stream can serve as beneficial fish habitat or pose a flood hazard. Stormwater inspectors Kelsey Hickox and Andriana Hayes explain what Stormwater Inspection and Maintenance (SWIM) looks like and why the Sewer District pays so much attention to creeks, culverts, and stormwater basins.

We also discuss urgent storm response and why field verification matters for our stormwater modeling. Plus, practical tips for homeowners to help with their community's stormwater-management efforts.