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| Home | Projects | Resources & Publications | About Us | Local Tributaries | |
| Stream Science | Monitoring | Watershed Action Plan | GREEN Bean | Water Pollution Facts | |
Projects |
We currently have 27 volunteers in our citizen scientist stream monitoring program. Our trained monitors sample several locations in the Old Woman Creek, Pipe Creek, Sawmill Creek, and Mills Creek watersheds monthly for water chemistry. We also monitor macroinvertebrates once a year in the Old Woman Creek and Pipe Creek watersheds.
Click here for more information about our monitoring program.
Old Woman Creek Watershed Action Plan
Watershed Action Plans are community driven documents created to help identify watershed improvement needs and opportunities. The FCT began in 2007 with the task of developing such a plan for the Old Woman Creek Watershed. The plan was endorsed in 2009 by ODNR and the Ohio EPA and serves as a resource for prioritizing improvement projects and requesting grant funding.
Click here to view the Old Woman Creek Watershed Action Plan.
Old Woman Creek Hardwood Restoration
Five acres of Old Woman Creek Reserve located on Darrow Rd in Berlin Township have been invaded by reed canary grass. This invasive species of wetlands and riverbanks has overtaken the natural flora which has sparked the need for management to protect the estuary downstream. To control the invasive species, ODNR periodically applies herbicide to eradicate the plant and FCT volunteer help to replant the area in native species of swamp white oak, pin oak, dogwood, and buttonbush. To date, over 700 trees have been planted, which can be seen from both Darrow Rd and Rt 2. (look for the orange tree tubes!).
Click here to see photos of our tree plantings.
Naturescaping
Native plantings, praries, and 3 rain gardens were installed with help from volunteers from the Erie County Master Gardeners Program, Friends of Pipe Creek Watershed, and Friends of Old Woman Creek at the Erie County Services Center as part of the Erie County Naturescaping Project. This project was funded through the Great Lake Commission Erosion and Sediment Control Grant Program to demonstrate native plants and rain gardens to be used as a solution to reducing negative impacts of stormwater run-off. This project is administered by the Firelands Coastal Tributaries Watershed Program to provide education to local residents, businesses, developers, and public officials in the Firelands area. Click here to see photos of our gardens and volunteers.
Litter Clean-ups
The FCT partners with Erie County Solid Waste District to assist local volunteer groups like the Friends of Pipe Creek watershed to hold litter cleans ups of streams, shorelines, parks, and roadways. Clean-up events are usually held from spring through summer.
Click here to see photos of our past clean-ups.
G.R.E.E.N. Bean Clean-up Supply Trailer
In 2010 the Erie Soil and Water Conservation District (in partnership with the Erie Solid Waste District) received a grant from ODNR Litter Clean-up Program to purchase a litter clean-up supply trailer called the G.R.E.E.N. Bean. The G.R.E.E.N. Bean is free to use by volunteer groups in Erie County. Click here for more information.
8 Mile of Coast in 90 Days Clean-up
In Spring of 2011 the Erie Soil and Water Conservation District (in partnership with the Erie Solid Waste District) received a grant from ODNR Coastal Clean-up Program to promote clean-up projects along Lake Erie’s Coast. The City of Sandusky, City of Huron, EHOVE, Attica Public Schools, Friends of Pipe Creek Watershed, Friends of Old Woman Creek, and Old Woman Creek Reserve partnered to clean-up 25 public access sites along Erie County’s coastline.
Click here to see photos from the Clean-up.
Rain Barrels Workshops
Rain barrel workshops are a great way for Homeowner’s to be part of the solution of stormwater management. Our workshops teach the value of rain barrels, how to build them, and maintain them. Best of all, each participant get to make their own! All tools and supplies are provided. Click here for more information and workshop listings. To date over 300 rain barrels have been made!!
Financial support for this website was provided by a grant under the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act, NA07NOS4200102,
administered by the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, MD