Currents | May 2021

Did you know that the Great Lakes are the biggest freshwater source in the world? Lake Erie is the most productive for fishing of all the Great Lakes. Your support helps make our streams clean, clear and healthy so they can support this complex ecosystem. By donating to PCS, you help us reach our goals of restoring rivers that lead to Lake Erie beaches that promote fishable and swimmable conditions for generations.

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May

Liv PicLiv (they/them) grew up exploring Oak Openings sand dunes and getting muddy in the Maumee River. Liv earned a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Geography and East Asian Studies from Ohio University in 2015. Liv took two opportunities to live in China, first for a summer study abroad program at Beijing University, and two years later, to work as a staff writer for The World of Chinese art and pop culture magazine. 

Although life in Beijing was exciting, it was easy to miss mature trees and diverse wildlife. Liv started a habit of hiking and camping trips in the countryside hills outside the city. When they moved back to the United States, it was with a newfound appreciation for America's unique place in environmental history, and a deep longing to work in environmental advocacy.

Liv earned a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Bowling Green State University in 2019. Since returning to Northwest Ohio, they've worked in visitor engagement at the Toledo Museum of Art, as an administrative assistant to the Buddhist Temple of Toledo, and as an LGBT advocate, both as an independent consultant and with Equality Toledo.

Liv enjoys the area's many parks in all four seasons: cross-country skiing in winter, wildflower identification in spring, camping in summer, and trail biking in the fall. When they're not outside, Liv can be found singing, playing guitar, and storytelling via elaborate Dungeons & Dragons games with friends.

May currents SplashSummer will be here before we know it! Long evening hours, warm weather, and sunsets on the river are the perfect combination for helping your community and our river. We have two great ways that you can get involved with PCS this summer through our annual programs, Get the Lead Out! and Clean Your Streams 365.

The water levels of the Maumee River are lowering, slowly, and the walleye have finished their runs. Soon we can wander along the banks of the Maumee looking for left-behind lead and fishing line. Get the Lead Out! is one of our annual programs. It is great for volunteers of all ages and can be done throughout the summer season. We will have a schedule up soon and you can also schedule your own private event. Contact our office if you plan to attend one of our upcoming public events or wish to schedule your own private Get the Lead Out!  Still, need convincing that this program is great for you? This video will take you up close to what it is really like to take part in Get the Lead Out! For more information or to register a group, check out our website.

Clean Your Streams 365 is a year-round effort to give more power to the public to reduce marine debris locally. Our rivers collect trash year-round, unfortunately, so we decided they should be cleaned 365 days a year (except, of course, when the river is flooded or frozen!). Clean Your Streams 365 allows groups of any size, age, and/or ability level to directly improve rivers by working in streams and along the bank. Upon registration, volunteers will be assigned a location to clean depending on their skills, preference, and clean-up needs. We loan out a supply kit complete with cleanup supplies, First Aid kits, data collection reporting forms, and detailed instructions. Date and time depend on the weather, water levels of the river, and group preferences. This way, we can give water a hand nearly 365 days a year! We have several groups and companies scheduled for at CYS 365 sign up your company today!  For information or to register a group, check out our website

May currents BlueWeekParticipate in educational programs for adults and kids, with regional experts, and DIY adventures and contests, that give you an opportunity to learn about the unique natural features of Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan! Blue Week highlights the connection between land, water, and wildlife. We all need healthy habitats and soil for healthy water, especially in Northwest Ohio! There are a variety of water quality talks throughout the week. There will be a great talk at Salamander Flats about the innovations in wetland restoration. Lucas County Soil and Water Conservation District will be hosting a rain barrel workshop! Check out these sessions and so much more here!

 

May currents GreenTeam

Thank you to all of our volunteers, University of Toledo’s Rocket Recycling team, Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful, Toledo Roadrunners Club, and runners who supported our sustainability mission at the Mercy Health Glass City Marathon!  For the sixth year, PCS has led the “Green Team” to reduce packaging waste, prevent potential marine debris into the Ottawa River, and divert thousands of pounds of recyclable materials from a lifetime in the landfill.  This year, we recycled energy gel packs through the Terracycle program, plastic water bottles, cardboard, and plastic overwrap.  For more about our efforts, check out our social media page and website.  Thanks to everyone who made a donation or volunteered their time with us during race weekend! You can still support the Green Team by making a donation here.

May currents AnnualReport2020 was one for the books. As everything changed around us, we found that our mission and volunteers are stronger than we could have ever imagined. Not only did we have comparable numbers to previous years, but everyone masked up and stayed safe while volunteering. We knew our volunteers and donors care deeply about our communities with the work they contribute to at Partners for Clean Streams but to see everyone care about the individual safety of everyone they came close to was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We are excited that soon, you will also be able to see all the accomplishments and positive impacts we have made together during scary and crazy times with the release of the 2020 Annual Report. In the meantime, you can check out our previous Annual Reports online here. 

Currents: May 2021


Your donation, no matter how small, can make a huge difference in the long run. Every penny goes a long way in protecting your water.

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Bob Neubert

President of the Board
Lucas Co. Engineers

Andrew Curran
Vice President
Assistant Scout Executive,
Boy Scouts of America

Joan King
Treasurer
First Solar

Kyle Spicer
Secretary
Private Citizen

Denise Fonner
Board Member
Private Citizen

Chris Smalley
Board Member
Park Services Supervisor
Metroparks of the Toledo Area

Bill Hoefflin
Board Member
Private Citizen

Bill Buri
Board Member
Pexco Packaging

Marilyn DuFour
Board Member
Private Citizen

 

Partners for Clean Streams Inc. is striving for abundant open space and a high quality natural environment; adequate floodwater storage capacities and flourishing wildlife; stakeholders who take local ownership in their resources; and rivers, streams and lakes that are clean, clear and safe