You’re invited to the Maumee Area of Concern (AOC) Summit on December 8th, from 9:30 to 12:30 at the Ohio EPA Northwest District Offices, 347 N. Dunbridge Rd Bowling Green OH 43402. During the Summit, we will discuss recent projects and updates around the Area of Concern. We will also hear from our other Partners who are actively making strides towards improving many of the impairments impacting wildlife, habitat, and water quality of the lower Maumee River and its direct tributaries. Future work within the AOC that still remains will also be discussed.  Please consider joining us on December 8th to share your thoughts, concerns, and ideas regarding the AOC and the future of our rivers here in our community and beyond. If you want to get more involved with the Maumee Area of Concern Advisory Committee (MAAC), go to their website to learn more and to find the application to become a member of the MAAC. 

November 29th, 2016 will be known nationally as #GivingTuesday, and on this day, your donation to Partners for Clean Streams is matched by the Toledo Community Foundation and The Toledo Blade. That’s right! Donations on #GivingTuesday will be matched one-to-one, creating an instant return on your investment and making your generous gift stretch even further.  What exactly is #GivingTuesday you might ask? Well, we’ve all heard of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but #GivingTuesday is a new concept for most of the world but one that is quickly gaining recognition. In fact, this year marks the fifth Annual #GivingTuesday.  It is a day for you, and others in the community, to give back to a cause they truly believe in.  What better cause to invest in than clean water! Partners for Clean Streams asks you to donate to help us educate kids and adults alike, hold volunteer stream cleanup events, and engage stakeholders in large scale restoration projects to improve the waterways of the greater Toledo area. Here at PCS, we depend on donations from people like you to help us stay afloat and sustain the programs that have such positive impact on our rivers. Through #GivingTuesday, we are raising money to ensure fishable and swimmable streams, rivers, and lakes for generations to come. This is the best time to make your first contribution to us, to make your usual yearly contribution to PCS, or to pay your membership dues. Donations to Partners for Clean Streams can be made on November 29th by going to our website or by mailing in your donation. #GivingTuesday is on our calendar. Is it on yours?

It’s fall in northwest Ohio, and if you’re a homeowner, you have most likely thought about what you will do with all the leaves appearing on your lawn. Some of you may already have a plan for your leaves this fall – rake them, bag them, mulch them, compost them, or just simply leave them! All of which are good options, but we are here to help you make the right decision for your home and make the connection between leaves and clean water. Many of us remember raking leaves as a kid, and then jumping into the piles, only to have to rake them all again. However, raking leaves is more than just fun and games. If you do not like having leaves on your lawn, consider using the leaves as compost for next year’s flowerbeds, around your trees, or in your garden. Once spread on gardens or flowerbeds, the leaves will begin to decompose and release nutrients back into the soil, naturally fertilizing them for next spring. If you don’t want to compost your leaves and instead want to pile them on the curb, think about your nearest storm drain. Similar to how the leaves decompose and release nutrients when left in the yard, leaves will also do this if left on the curb to eventually wash down to the nearest storm drain, stream, or ditch to enter the water system untreated. If thousands of leaves are entering the drains this fall, a large amount of excess nutrients is also entering the system, impacting the quality of our water.  Leaves can also clog storm drains, resulting in potential flooding during rain events.

If you are going to pile the leaves on the curb, we ask that you think about two things before you do so: 1) distance to nearest storm drain and 2) next scheduled pickup date through your waste management provider. Pile the leaves on your easement, instead of directly on the pavement or curb. Also, check your local waste management to see when the next scheduled pickup for yard waste is so that you can plan to pile leaves around then.  Some providers recommend putting leaves in a bag, which contains them much better than an open pile. However, some bags are not biodegradable while the leaves inside are. Check with your local waste provider to see what they prefer. The simplest option for handling your leaves this fall is to simply leave them where they lie. The leaves release nutrients back into the soil, create a natural cover for plants to winter over, and block weeds from sprouting early in the spring. However you wish to handle your leaves this fall, please remember to do so responsibly and properly. And use what Mother Nature has given us, free fertilizer for our gardens!