Pipe Creek
Pipe Creek is a small tributary to Sandusky Bay. The creek flows through the City of Sandusky on the east side. Local citizens are working to start a community-based group in the area that would benefit the creek and the local community. This web-page is dedicated to the goings-on of the Pipe Creek residents as they find their feet. The goal of the SRWC is to provide some guidance and assistance to the group to help them find their way. If you live in the Sandusky River Watershed and are interested in getting more involved in your local stream, contact us for information on how we can help.
Friends of Pipe Creek Celebrate the 4th, Educate Local Residents!
Friends of Pipe Creek Watershed manned a booth during the Stars and Stripes
Celebration in downtown Sandusky on the 4th of July. The event was well
attended and a dozen members of friends were on hand throughout the day long event
to provide information regarding watersheds and to answer questions from those
in attendance. Thirty-two community members signed up to receive information
regarding future meetings. Erie Soil and Water Conservation District provided
a demonstration watershed model that depicted how land uses impact water
quality and quantity. The City of Sandusky donated water bottles that were given
out to those who stopped by the booth. Many other agencies provided valuable
print materials that were distributed that day. Many children participated in
the event and seemed to take away a better understanding of the importance of
"keeping the water clean" as voiced by one 8 year old boy.
Friends of Pipe Creek Watershed Foster Citizen Participation
The newly organized Friends of Pipe Creek Watershed, focused on monitoring and protecting Pipe Creek, have participated in two recent events at two different locations on Pipe Creek. Approximately 30 community members have participated on two Saturday mornings in June according to Co-Chairs Kathie Mueller and Tina Showalter.
On Saturday, June 10, Anne Coburn-Griffis, Northwest Ohio Stream Quality Monitoring (SQM) Coordinator of ODNR, Division o f Natural Areas and Preserves Scenic Rivers Program, Heather Elmer
, Coordinator of Ohio Coastal Training Program at Old Woman Creek, along with Eric Dodrill, District Director of Erie Soil and Water Conservation District, lead the SQM assessment. The monitoring was the initial effort by the group to determine changes of water quality and aquatic habitats overtime by establishing what macroinvertebrates live in Pipe Creek. Initial results were better than expected. ’s Big Island Water Works Plant at 2425 First Street, with Doug Keller, Superintendent of the waterplant, offering to give a tour as time allows after the meeting.
Heather Elmer, Coordinator of Ohio Coastal Training Program at Old Woman Creek; Elaine Waterfield, President of the Friends of Old Woman Creek; Doug Keller, Sandusky Water Services Superintendent; Tina Showalter, Member of St. Stephen United Church of Christ; Patti Keller, Property owner; Sparky Weilnau, Erie County Commissioner; Chris Riddle, Sandusky River Watershed Coordinator; John Biechele, Property owner; Blake Silkwood, Operations Manager, Hanson's Aggregates, Northern Ohio; Kathie Mueller, Property owner; Dave Waddington, Sandusky City Commissioner; Eric Dodrill, District Director, Erie Soil and Water Conservation District; Celine Hemminger, Education Coordinator, Erie Soil and Water Conservation District
Thanks to the United Church of Christ for use of their facilities on Perkins Ave.
Other stream quality monitoring dates across the Sandusky Watershed are:
August 5 - 10am and October 14 - 10am - Wolf Creek Park canoe launch area, St Rt 53 south of Fremont - 10am.
Sandusky Scenic River Day is June 24, 10am-2pm. The event will be held in Wyandot County. To register call 419-981-6319. There will be a 4 mile canoe float and a stream monitoring demonstration. Adult live vests are provided, children are asked to bring their own.
"Clean-up The Creek" Day is being considered for the fall, as well. ’s northshores direct tributaries is invited to attend.
On Saturday June 17, another group of concerned citizens collected litter, including four old tires, loading up a pickup truck near the mouth of Pipe Creek at the foot of River Avenue in Sandusky. The effort was lead by Dave Waddington, Dannie Edmon, City Commissioners, and Doug Keller, Sandusky Water Services Superintendent, while Waddington and Edmon attended both events. A
Meetings are open to the public and anyone concerned about water quality in the area
Monthly meetings are held the last Thursday of the month, with meetings in March, April and May held at the St. Stephen United Church of Christ, 905 E. Perkins Ave. The next meeting will be June 29, 2006 at 7:00 PM at the City of Sandusky
The next meeting is Thursday, May 31 at 7:00 PM, at St. Stephens UCC, 905 Perkins Ave., Sandusky . Hope to see you there!
Photos from the Water Quality Training held by Friends of Pipe Creek. The trainer, Anne Couburn Griffis, works for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Scenic Rivers Program on the Maumee and Sandusky State Scenic Rivers.
