2024 Ohio Surface Water Policy Conference Agenda, Early Bird pricing extended!!
The Stream + Wetlands (S+W) Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of six scholarships for the 2024-25 academic year. The awarded funds will be applied to the recipients’ college educational expenses.
The scholarship application process and funds are managed by the Fairfield County Foundation (FCF), a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to enhancing the quality of life and economic viability of the Fairfield County community.
Matthew Chopin A sophomore at The Ohio State University majoring in Food, Agricultural, Engineering, and Biological Engineering with a specialization in Ecological Engineering. Matthew is an Eagle Scout with a passion for nature, protecting the environment, and promoting ecosystems. He is currently working as an intern for S+W on numerous projects. His experience in leadership roles and passion to further his knowledge and understanding of the process of building wetlands makes him an excellent recipient of the S+W Foundation Scholarship.
Will Sayner Entering his junior year this fall at Miami University, Will is majoring in Botany and Environmental Science. Will is passionate about the environment and sustainability and loves spending time in nature. Will spent the last school year as an intern at the Office of Sustainability at Miami University. He feels his outdoor experiences have greatly contributed to his understanding of wetlands and knowledge of their importance.
Allie Carter
Allie is a second year scholarship recipient, who will begin her junior year at The Ohio State University this fall. She is pursuing a degree in Environment and Natural Resources, specializing in Forestry and Wildlife, and she is involved in several school organizations, including Collegiate 4-H and the H2O Community Group. Allie made the Dean’s list both semesters this past school year. In addition to her coursework, Allie plans on participating in field-research, lab work, internships, and hands on learning opportunities.
Jules Samuel
Jules will be a sophomore at The Ohio State University this fall majoring in Environmental Science with a focus on water quality and wetlands ecology. Jules was recently a project volunteer where he assisted in a weekend long reforestation effort in southern Appalachian region in Adams County, planting hundreds of tree saplings. Jules’s passion and respect for our environment makes him a great recipient to be awarded the S+W scholarship.
Evelyn Neely
Starting her sophomore year at The Ohio State University this fall, Evelyn will continue to pursue her degree in Environment, Economics, Development, and Sustainability. She is also a secondary leader for the Water and Climate Collective, run by the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, whose current project is devoted to working with an Ohio local non-profit to send water filtration systems to communities in need. Evelyn hopes to continue protecting an preserving the natural environment in her future career.
Michaela Liptak
Michaela is starting her senior year this fall at The Ohio State University majoring in Entomology. She grew up spending time learning about wetlands and the integral role they play in our environment. She is extremely passionate about the natural world and educating others about wetlands and conservation.
| Save the Date: October 30 & 31, 2024 Join us for an insightful two-day event at the Hilton Columbus at Easton, where leading voices from agencies, businesses, and the industry will delve into the latest federal and state policy issues impacting Clean Water Act permitting, water quality, habitat restoration, and land development across Ohio. Event Schedule: Wednesday, October 30: 8 am – 5 pm (Reception to follow) Thursday, October 31: 8 am – 3 pm We’re excited to feature speakers from the US Army Corps of Engineers, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and more. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain insights from consultants, attorneys, and other experts in the field. REGISTER TODAY – SPACE IS LIMITED For registration or sponsorship inquiries, please get in touch with Kellie Griffin at kgriffin@streamandwetlands.org. Stay tuned for more details on consulting education sessions and keynote speakers. Don’t forget to scan the QR code for hotel reservations! |
Mariola is the newest addition to the Stream + Wetlands Foundation, starting with us in April 2024 as a Biologist. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Biology from Beloit College and a Master’s in Environment & Natural Resources from The Ohio State University. Prior to joining the S+W team, Mariola was a Stewardship Assistant with the Ohio Natural Areas & Preserves Association (ONAPA), where she gained field experience in land management, rare plant monitoring, and plant identification.
She looks forward to being involved in all aspects post-construction monitoring, maintenance, and management of our restoration projects.
Licenses + Certifications: Commercial Pesticide Applicator, Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist
Being able to identify soils on our sites is an essential component to determining where wetlands occur. We are so grateful to have been able to host and learn from Certified Professional Soil Scientist, Frank Gibbs along with Jeff Lapp and Brian Cooley at our 2024 hydric soils training! Thank you to all our attendees for another great training!
On March 27, 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) issued three final #rules aimed to improve and strengthen implementation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Generally, these revised #regulations will affect the methods by which the Service classifies and lists species, designates critical habitat, conducts interagency coordination, evaluates reasonable and prudent measures, including third-party mitigation options, and how threatened species are treated under the ESA (blanket 4(d) rule). These new rules effectively rescind numerous regulatory changes that had been promulgated during the Trump administration.
Do not hesitate to contact Vince Messerly, PE or Greg Snowden, MS, PWS, CERP to see how these new regulations may affect your project.
More information is available from USFWS here: https://lnkd.in/gZY2ciSj
#species#endangeredspecies#conservation#nature#esa#usfws
Start Date: Summer 2024
Length of Internship: 12+/- weeks
Schedule: 4/10 work schedule
Work Location: Columbus, OH area
Compensation: $20 to $25 per hour depending on education and prior work experience
Application deadline: March 1, 2024, or until filled
Overview: Stream + Wetlands Foundation (S+W) offers paid summer internships to candidates interested in ecological restoration practices. Successful candidates must enjoy being outdoors and will work alongside experienced biologists and assist with restoration site monitoring and management activities (revegetation efforts, invasive plant management, field vegetation surveys). Occasional overnight travel will be required.
Who should apply: Applicants must have completed at least 2 years of college, or equivalent experience, with an interest in stream and wetland habitat restoration and management. Candidates should be capable of strenuous work including lifting more than 50 pounds, digging, and sustained walking in unpredictable and adverse weather conditions. The work meeting location is the Lancaster/Columbus, OH area; local candidates are preferred. Start and end dates are flexible based on the candidate’s availability.
How to apply: Please submit a cover letter and CV/resume to sbailey@streamandwetlands.org by March 1, 2024. Initial application screening will be based on the candidate’s submitted documents. Final selections will be determined by an in-person/virtual interview.
About us: S+W is a non-profit company based in Lancaster, Ohio that specializes in restoring wetlands and streams throughout Ohio. Our work also includes supporting the education, recreation, and research of aquatic resources and associated habitat and functions.
S+W is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to non-discriminatory policies. All decisions regarding recruitment, hiring, promotion and all other terms of employment will be made without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, marital status, status as a qualified handicapped or disabled individual, or any other impermissible factor in accordance with applicable laws.
Stream + Wetlands Foundation is excited to announce the regulatory approval of our Hemlock Swamp Wetland Mitigation Bank in Ashtabula County, Ohio. The 147-acre site is located in the Grand River watershed (HUC 04110004) and will generate forested and non-forested wetland mitigation credits that can be used for Section 404/401 and Ohio isolated wetland permits.
The project preserved a high-quality, groundwater fed, hemlock swamp community. This type of wetland is unique in Ohio, only occurring within the lake plain or Grand River lowlands in Ashtabula County in the far northeast corner of the State. Hemlock swamps are regularly targeted for conservation because they support impressive vegetative diversity while regularly providing habitat for rare, threatened, or endangered species.
Contact Kellie Griffin to inquire about credit availability for your project.
On August 29, 2023, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. EPA issued a final rule to amend the “Revised Definition of ‘Waters of the United States’” (2023 WOTUS) rule, published in the Federal Register on January 18, 2023.
The agencies believe the amended rule conforms the definition of “Waters of the United States” to the U.S. Supreme Court’s May 25, 2023 decision in the case of Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency. However, there remain outstanding legal challenges to the 2023 WOTUS rule that will prevent it from going into effect in 27 states (see map below and on the EPA website for information purposes only). At this time, it is unclear if legal challenges to the 2023 WOTUS rule will be dropped.
Two major changes were made under the new rule, including:
The amended rule became effective upon publication in the Federal Register on September 8, 2023. You can see the published rule here or download the entire document by clicking the image below.
In the 23 states where the January 2023 Rule is not enjoined, the agencies will implement the January 2023 Rule, as amended by the conforming rule.
Please visit the EPA’s Rule Status page for additional information about the status of the January 2023 Rule, as amended, and litigation. Learn more about the EPA’s current implementation of the definition of “Waters of the United States” here.
Contact Vince Messerly, PE or Greg Snowden, MS, PWS, CERP with questions about how this change may affect your project.
