Dr. David Baker Receives 2008 National “River Hero” Award
On Sunday May 4th at the River Network’s 9th National River Rally “River Heroes” Banquet held at Sawmill Creek Resort in Huron, Ohio Dr. David Baker, Director Emeritus of the Heidelberg College National Center for Water Quality Research was one of five National “River Hero” Award recipients.
A “River Hero” is defined as someone within the watershed movement who provides leadership, inspires the work of others, utilizes innovative strategies and techniques to achieve significant results and fosters the growth and sustainability of a watershed community.
Dr. David Baker was nominated for his initiative of organizing the local Sandusky River Watershed Coalition in August 1997 and all he has done since then to encourage educate and support the organization from its inception through today. Cindy Brookes, Sandusky River Watershed Coordinator, presented Dr. Baker with his award. In her presentation she stated, “Today, Dr. Baker spends many of his retirement hours administering two grants for the National Center for Water Quality Research, which are currently being implemented within the Sandusky River Watershed….These two grants total over $1.5 Million and are part of the Coalition’s implementation efforts…. For a man who is ‘retired’ and/or ‘part time’, Dr. Baker is certainly FULLTIME devoted to educating all stakeholders about the importance of taking action to improve water quality.”
His work of studying nonpoint source loading in the Sandusky River for over 30 years was what created the need for his vision of the Sandusky River Watershed Coalition and late last summer the Coalition celebrated its 10th year anniversary thanks to his vision.
Sandusky River Watershed Coalition to host "What's Coming At You?" Water Quality Seminar
Additional Information in Water Supply
Annual Meeting - Thursday, September 13th
Grants and Clean Ups and Annual Meetings... oh my!
While the heat of summer may be "bearing" down on us, it is no reason to sit at home. The summer newsletter is packed full of info on projects, the annual meeting, and information about your chance to get out and help make the Sandusky a cleaner stream... call it a day to give a little bit back to a river that gives us all so much all year long! Just click on the Newsletters link in the green column on the left side of the page. We will post new newsletters there as they are ready to go, and keep a library of past newsletters available as well. Enjoy!
January 10, 2007
Dear Member,
Hi! I am Cynthia “Cindy” Brookes, your new Sandusky River Watershed Coalition Coordinator. I started with the Sandusky River Watershed Coalition on November 20, 2006 and have been working hard to get up to speed, especially in regard to the details of the many grants that are presently our primary source of funding. I am excited about working with the Sandusky River Watershed Coalition as it enters its 10th year of organized efforts to make the waters of the Sandusky River fishable, swimable and drinkable.
In its short history the SRWC has a lot to be proud of, especially in the last year. While reviewing all the activities and events that have occurred over the past years I came to realize that the most important aspect, membership, was being overlooked. Please consider renewing your membership and gain ownership in the pride of the Sandusky River Watershed Coalition. Membership dues begin at just $10 a year for individuals, and $15 a year for organizations. Local support such as yours is often crucial in qualifying for grants.
Below are some of the Sandusky River Watershed Coalition achievements of 2006:
§ The Honey Creek Watershed Action Plan received full endorsement, the first Watershed Action Plan to achieve such status in Ohio’s Lake Erie Basin.
§ A $66,000 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant for Stream Habitat Improvement along the Upper Broken Sword sub-watershed provides cost-share on over 1000 acres of winter cover crops and permanent cover in the next two years.
§ The Sandusky River – Tiffin Watershed Action Plan has been submitted for review in September and has been given full endorsement – pending status. Revisions will be submitted in early 2007 in hopes of obtaining Full Endorsement.
§ We received a three year ODNR Watershed Coordinator Grant to extend our program until at least 2009.
§ We raised over $10,000 through our memberships, donations and fundraising events.
§ We held the Sandusky River Symposium in June at Heidelberg College that emphasized the current issues, the goals for improving, and the tools, funding, and methods that will help the Sandusky River Watershed Coalition as well as other watersheds accomplish cooperative goals.
§ We have approved 79 septic systems for cost-share assistance of which 52 replacements were installed across the watershed in 2006.
As members of the Coalition we all have ownership in the Sandusky River Watershed accomplishments, but remember it is the membership that gives you those bragging rights. And again it is time to renew your ownership in the progress being made. You can help even more by asking one person or business to join our efforts by becoming a member of the Sandusky River Watershed Coalition. Anyone can join at anytime and our website is always available.
This year we have made it even more convenient to become a member by visiting our website at
www.sanduskyriver.com and pay by credit card. Once on the website go to the left side column and find the Secure Donation box and select the membership level or the open box to set your own amount and then click to donate. Follow the simple easy rules and you are a member.
Please help the Sandusky River Watershed Coalition stand on its own by renewing your commitment today!
Sincerely,
Cynthia A. Brookes
Watershed Coordinator
August 30, 2006
Sandusky River Watershed Partners,
After three wonderful years serving as your watershed coordinator, I am sorry to say that September 11th will be my last day with the Sandusky River Watershed Coalition. I have accepted a position with the Ohio Lake Erie Commission in Toledo and will start there on September 18. While I am sad to go, I am truly excited about the new opportunities and challenges that await me. The Ohio Lake Erie Commission is a wonderful organization, working hard to protect not just Lake Erie, but its watershed as well. In some ways you could say that I am not as much leaving the Sandusky, as I am adding a few more watersheds to my plate. Details about the hiring process for the next coordinator as well as the maintenance of the Coalition over the next few months will be posted on the website. Please continue to check there for updates on the process.
Before I left this role, I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who has helped me, and the Coalition, over these past few years. As your watershed coordinator, I came to work each day with a sense of pride, knowing that I was helping to make a difference in the community I call home. Having started here fresh out of college, the Coalition took a big risk when it named me watershed coordinator. Since then, I have done everything in my power to make sure that decision was the right one. Hopefully you will agree that the last 3 years have been good for the group, I am certainly proud of what we have accomplished. As always, work like this takes time, and it takes dedication. As I move on to new challenges with the Lake Erie Commission, I will continue to keep an eye on the exciting things happening here in the Sandusky. The presence of the National Center for Water Quality Research, dedicated local agencies such as your Soil and Water Conservation Districts and Health Departments, and the countless hours of volunteer time provided by local citizens are just a few reasons why the Coalition has become such a success, and will continue to thrive for years to come. Going forward, the challenge remains for the next coordinator. The watershed is large and the issues are diverse, but with a little hard work and a lot of passion, we can continue to succeed.
In the end, this organization is not so much the person in this seat, as it is the culmination of the efforts of people like you. Someone recently said that this position is much like being the conductor of a well tuned symphony. While I will not take credit for having the skills of a conductor, I will agree that working with the Coalition’s many partners is much like working with a symphony. Each of you has a role to fill, and each is talented in their own regard; and while alone the music you each make is nice, together you create something greater than the sum of your parts. The power lies in your commitment to partnership.
With the new watershed coordinator grant on its way, so to comes a whole new series of projects and possibilities. While my time as your coordinator is drawing to a close, the Coalition still has many great days ahead of it. I urge you all to get involved. Attend a Clean Sweep, come to the Annual Meeting, make a donation of time or money, or join a committee. The conductor working alone can do very little, but with your participation, great things can result. I thank you all for your support, understanding, and friendship – to me this has been more than just a job. I look forward to joining the ranks of the Sandusky River Watershed Coalition's membership and volunteers as we take the next step forward.
Respectfully yours,
Christopher M. Riddle
Sandusky River Watershed Coalition Coordinator
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
-Margaret Mead
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 31, 2006
TAFT ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $2 MILLION IN GRANTS
TO SUPPORT WATERSHED PROTECTION ACROSS OHIO
Funding to help 19 local organizations restore and protect water resources
COLUMBUS - Governor Bob Taft today announced a total of $2,060,365 in grants to further restore and protect water resources in 19 watersheds across Ohio.
"These grants are valuable investments in grassroots efforts to ensure clean, plentiful water throughout Ohio," Taft said. "By protecting streams and watersheds at the community level, our local partners are making important progress toward statewide water-quality goals."
The grants, which are funded by a combination of state and federal money, will support one of two priorities. In some areas, the grants will support watershed coordinator positions for up to four years to develop and implement watershed action plans. In areas where organizations have already produced state-endorsed watershed action plans, grant monies will be used to employ coordinators to oversee implementation of specific projects prioritized within the plans. In all cases, a local match is required.
Watershed coordinators perform public outreach and lead their communities in the creation of watershed action plans, with the goal of bringing all waters within their area into compliance with accepted water quality standards. They also identify areas where the water quality is excellent and work with local residents to raise awareness of these areas.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Soil & Water Conservation administers the program with support from other ODNR divisions and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. This partnership offers operational assistance to 30 local programs around the state. Grants were awarded on a competitive basis.
2006 Watershed Coordinator Grants
Sponsor Watershed Term Total $ Annual $
1. Brown SWCD White Oak Creek 3Yr $72,586- $24,195
2. Clermont SWCD East Fork Little Miami River 3Yr $105,000 - $35,000
3. Cuyahoga County Board of Health Tinkers Creek 4Yr $92,000 - $23,000
4. Cuyahoga SWCD Rocky River 3Yr $105,000 - $35,000
5. Darke and Miami County SWCDs Stillwater Watershed Project 3Yr $105,000 - $35,000
6. Delaware SWCD Upper Big Walnut Creek 4Yr $140,000 - $35,000
7. Delaware SWCD Upper Scioto River 3Yr $105,000 - $35,000
8. Duck and Otter Creek Partnership,Inc. Duck and Otter Creek 3Yr $99,000 - $33,000
9. Friends of Big Walnut Creek & Tributaries Big Walnut Creek 4Yr $135,930 - $33,983
10. Friends of Old Woman Creek Association Firelands Coastal Tributaries 4Yr $140,000 - $35,000
11. Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed Lower Olentangy 3Yr $105,000 - $35,000
12. Little Miami River Partnership Little Miami Watershed, Todd's Fork 3Yr $90,000 - $30,000
13. Lorain County Board of Commissioners Black River 4Yr $140,000 - $35,000
14. Ohio University - Voinovich Center for Leadership Raccoon Creek 3Yr $105,000 - $35,000
15. Rural Action Federal Valley 3Yr $105,000 - $35,000
16. Rural Action, Inc. Monday Creek 3Yr $105,000 - $35,000
17. TMACOG Portage River Basin 4Yr $140,000 - $35,000
18. Washington SWCD Duck Creek 3Yr $80,849 - $26,950
19. WSOS Community Action Commission, Inc. Sandusky River 3Yr $90,000 - $30,000
Total $2,060,365 - $621,128
For additional news online, check out the ODNR Press Room at Ohiodnr.com
Sandusky River - Tiffin Watershed Action Plan - public comments needed.-
To view the plan, click here, directions on how to download the plan can be found on the page under the heading "Getting Involved."
How to cite your sources... ever wonder how may places you can find literature on the Sandusky River? Well, the new Sandusky River Watershed Bibliography can help. Click here to view the document.
Symposium Presentations on Web - This series of presentations includes a great amount of detail on many issues, as well as many fantastic graphics and other visuals. To access the presentations click on the "Stream Flow" link above, then on "Sandusky River Symposium" located in the green column of links, on the left of the page.
Summer Meeting Canoe Float Gets Underway
Sandusky River Symposium a great success!!!
THANK YOU MEMBERS!!! With a $300.30 donation collected during Earth Day Activities, Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda, MD has brought our 2006 fundraising campaign to a total of $8,335.30 !!! Their generous donation means that our 2006 campaign has now surpassed the total dollars raised from our 2005 campaign! Thank you to all of our members for making 2006 such a great year!!! Oh, and for those who are wondering why a high school in Maryland is sending us a check... long-time member Corky Logsdon, who grew up on the Sandusky River, is a teacher at the school. Thanks again to the students, faculty, and staff of Walter Johnson High School.
Web survey results now available online - click here to view the results. The water quality survey for the SR-Tiffin watershed plan has been completed. The results of the survey are now available. The results have a confidence interval of 13%.
