A big bunch of new OWU Freshmen and assorted handlers spent a very pleasant morning pulling out invasive plants and planting native species.
The walk in to the site, through Glen Echo Park.
About 15 large lawn waste bags of periwinkle and dwarf honeysuckle – both invasives that negatively affect leaf-litter (and thus a key habitat for reptiles and other animals) – were removed.
Students also planted native wild geraniums.
Recording of event is here.
Please register using this Eventbrite link. To get the Zoom link, check your email (OWU students, staff and faculty) or contact Carline Cicerchi or John Krygier.
The Annual Olentangy Watershed Forum brings together a series of speakers to discuss the status of the watershed. This year features Keynote speaker Jonathan Overpeck, co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize as part of the United Nations advisory group on climate change and Dean of the School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, “American Rivers and Climate Change: a Tale of Two Hydrologic Extremes”
The forum is great for regional practitioners as well as students, who can network and make contacts for internships and projects.
8:00 – 8:10 Welcome and introductions, Sean Kay, Ohio Wesleyan University
8:10 – 8:55 Keynote speaker: Jonathan Overpeck, co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize as part of the United Nations advisory group on climate change and Dean of the School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, “American Rivers and Climate Change: a Tale of Two Hydrologic Extremes”
8:55 – 9:05: Q & A
State of the Watershed Updates
9:05 – 9:15: Update from Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed (FLOW) by Kelly Thiel. FLOW was formed as a non-profit 501(c)3 in August 1997. FLOW’s mission is to keep the Olentangy River and its tributaries clean and safe for all to enjoy, through public education, volunteer activities, and coordination with local decision-makers.
9:15 – 9:30: Update from Del-Co Water by Jeff Kauffman. Del-Co Water Company, Inc. was formed in 1969 and provides quality drinking water to seven counties (Delaware, Morrow, Marion, Knox, Franklin, Union, and Crawford) serving a population of over 140,000.
9:30 – 9:45: Update from City of Delaware and Olentangy Watershed Alliance (OWA) by Caroline Cicerchi. The City of Delaware works diligently to protect existing stormwater infrastructure as well as the Olentangy River and its tributaries through its Stormwater Management Program. OWA was formed as a non-profit in April 1999, with a mission to inspire appreciation and stewardship of the Upper Olentangy River and its watershed.
9:45 – 9:55: Update from Preservation Parks by Chris Roshon. The mission of Preservation Parks of Delaware County is to protect and conserve the natural and historic features of Delaware County and to inspire outdoor exploration and learning.
9:55 – 10:05: Q & A and Break
10:05 – 10:15: Vanessa Bishop, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
10:15 – 10:30: Erin Wolfe, Delaware Soil & Water Conservation District. “Del-Aware Water: Outreach Efforts in the Watershed”
10:30 – 10:50: Jim Palus, FLOW. “Putting FLOW’s Greenspace Implementation Plan Into Action”
10:50 – 11:20: Ed Rankin & Anthony Sasson, Midwest Biodiversity Institute, “Fish and Mussels Trends in the Central Scioto River Basin”
11:20-11:50: Jesse Womack, The Nature Conservancy. “The Nature Conservancy & the Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework”
11:50 – 12:00: Janelle Valdinger, Ohio Wesleyan University, “Connecting with Career Connection”
Interactive maps are HERE.
The Greenspace Analysis summarizes existing GIS layers to identify land important for preservation. A scoring system was developed with consideration of parcel-based features (e.g. Parks & Golf Courses), linear features (e.g. Trails & Utility Easements), and features that span multiple parcels (e.g. Wetland & 100yr Floodplains).
Two scoring displays can be viewed in the web maps HERE. Screenshot below:
Additional interactive maps include
Find Your Home Watershed, Watershed Characteristics, Development in the Watershed, and Dams on the Lower Olentangy River: all HERE.
Ohio Wesleyan University students volunteered to go door to door in the city of Delaware promoting a levy on the November 7, 2017 ballot to fund our Delaware Preservation Parks system.
Ohio Wesleyan University students, who are also Environmental Studies majors and members of our campus Environment and Wildlife Club, volunteered to go door to door in the city of Delaware promoting a levy on the November 7, 2017 ballot to fund our Delaware Preservation Parks system.
The students were briefed by Steve Berry, a Delaware resident and volunteer with Preservation Parks. Emily Howald (second from left) helped organize the effort, and knocked on doors with Daniel Delatte (left), Nina Codrington-White (second from right) and Holly Keating.
Preservation Parks in Delaware County, Ohio, consists of ten ecologically significant parks, all open to the public.
Preservation Parks in Delaware County, Ohio, consists of ten ecologically significant parks, all open to the public.
“Our goals are to preserve green space in our rapidly developing county and to provide environmental education to its residents. Because parks add value to our quality of life, Preservation Parks is committed to continuing to acquire and develop additional areas which can enrich the lives and provide clean, safe places for recreation and relaxation for all members of our community.” (source)
More information at:Â http://www.preservationparks.com/
