Adopt-An-Area of the Olentangy

The Sierra Club and the Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed (FLOW), with support from the Columbus Foundation and Keep Columbus Beautiful, will partner with local businesses, schools, and other organizations to adopt 7 key areas of the Olentangy River. Volunteers will conduct regular clean-ups and invasive plant removal in those areas. Scheduled dates for 2009 are April 18, June 20, and October 3.

Here’s how the program will work:

• Groups, businesses, churches, schools, families or individuals may adopt an area.

• Groups adopting an area need to clean the area at least 3 times each year.

• Keep Columbus Beautiful supplies groups with trash bags, gloves, and tools (on loan) at no cost.

• Sierra Club and FLOW will recognize participating groups in our newsletters and work with local media to attain publicity for the event.

Benefits of Adoption

• Adopting an area promotes a cleaner river and gives YOU an active role!

• You give your group positive attention for the valuable service you perform!

• You help the City of Columbus save tax dollars by volunteering to clean up!

• In 2007, over 8,700 volunteers donated over 26,054 hours of their time for cleanups and beautification projects, amounting to over $470,193 saved!

If you are involved with a business, group, school or other entity that is willing to adopt-an-area, please email or call 614-461-0734 x311. We ask that a team leader take responsibility for coordinating these efforts with us. Adopt-an-area team leaders are invited to a volunteer training on March 5 from 6:30 to 8:30 at the FLOW office, 3528 N. High St., Suite F. Snacks and drinks provided, please RSVP to Brandi.

Picture This: Earth Day 2009

The Sierra Club is planning a project for April 18. We need volunteers to help plan as well as volunteers for the day. See the Earth Day 2009 article for more information.

FLOW Watershed Monitor Training WANTS YOU!

The watershed organization Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed (FLOW) is seeking volunteers for our new MONITOR program. MONITOR stands for Monitoring, Observing, and Naming Impacted Tributaries of the Olentangy River. The program will focus on unnamed, unstudied streams in southern Delaware County, an area that is under pressure for land development. This is an opportunity for you to learn more about the Olentangy and then give something back.

On Sundays from April 25 to June 6, volunteers will receive a total of 40 hours of hands-on training on topics that include watershed history, geology, native plants and wildlife, wetlands, stormwater, wastewater and drinking water treatment. The training will include slide shows, hand-outs, field trips, tours, and other activities. The training is free of charge. Upon completion, participants are requested to volunteer an equivalent number of hours to FLOW’s stream monitoring and naming programs.

More details can be found at www.olentangywatershed.org. If you have questions about this program or wish to register, please contact , FLOW watershed coordinator.

FSWCD Tree, Plant & Fish Sale

You can order trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and grasses from the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District (FSWCD) through March 13. Pickup for orders will be April 17 (7am-6pm) and April 18 (8am-noon) at the FSWCD office at 1328 Dublin Rd. Fish must be ordered by March 27. Visit www.franklinswcd.org or phone 614-486-9613. Orders can be accepted online or by mail.