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Spring is here, and so is the Rolling Hills Meadow wetland restoration project! The Stream+Wetlands Foundation is thrilled to collaborate with Dawes Arboretum, the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER), and Microsoft’s Datacenter Community Affairs team to restore this wetland complex in Licking County, Ohio.

Wetlands play a crucial role in preserving Ohio’s incredible aquatic ecosystems by filtering pollutants, mitigating floods, and providing essential habitat for wildlife. This project applies evidence-based restoration techniques to enhance biodiversity, improve water quality, and promote long-term ecological resilience. Dawes Arboretum remains committed to connecting the public with the benefits of nature through initiatives like this.

Stay tuned for updates as we bring this restoration to life! For more information about this exciting project!#EcologicalRestoration #RestorationInAction #Microsoft #GenerationRestoration #MicrosoftDCCommunity #Dawesarboretum #RollingHillsMeadow #Ohiowildlife
The Dawes Arboretum Microsoft Society For Ecological Restoration (SER) 

USEPA has announced new rulemaking to redefine Waters of the United States. The Agency states the rulemaking will “…be guided by the Supreme Court’s decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, which stated that the Clean Water Act’s use of “waters” encompasses only those relatively permanent, standing or continuously flowing bodies of water forming streams, oceans, rivers and lakes. The Sackett decision also clarified that wetlands would only be covered when having a continuous surface connection to waterbodies that are “waters of the United States” in their own right.”

Contact Greg Snowden, MS, PWS, CERP or Vince Messerly, PE with any questions on how this may affect your project.

https://lnkd.in/ghRz9nGk

Stream + Wetlands Foundation is excited to announce the regulatory approval and initial credit release from the Elk Creek Wetlands Mitigation Bank in Lorain County, Ohio. This 215-acre site will generate forested and non-forested wetland credits in the Black-Rocky watershed (HUC 04110001) west of Cleveland. Credits from the site can be used to offset impacts to jurisdictional and isolated wetlands. Construction is underway!

Contact Kellie Griffin or Vince Messerly to inquire about wetland credits for your project.

2024 was an exciting year at Stream + Wetlands Foundation, and 2025 is on track to be equally impactful. Here’s a look back at some of the moments that defined our year. Thank you to everyone who contributed to our mission—we look forward to achieving even greater success together in 2025!

Applications will be available starting December 1st, 2024 for the Stream + Wetlands Foundation scholarships for the 2025-2026 academic year. The scholarship fund is held and 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. The preliminary deadline for applying is Friday, February 14, 2025 and the full deadline for the online application is Friday, March 7, 2025. Visit the FCF website at: https://www.fairfieldcountyfoundation.org/scholarships to apply.

The Stream and Wetlands Foundation launched this scholarship to benefit students who are residents of Ohio and are attending a school in Ohio that show an exceptional level of commitment to the restoration of aquatic resources, water quality, and/or aquatic resource policy. The scholarship is available for students studying to obtain an Associate or Bachelor of Science degree in the field of environmental science that have completed at least 1 academic year of college and maintain a 2.5 or higher cumulative GPA.

Please feel free to contact Stream + Wetlands’ Controller Megan Garber at mgarber@streamandwetlands.org with any questions about the scholarship or submittal requirements. For questions regarding the Fairfield County Foundation or the scholarship process, contact Senior Program Officer Abby King at aking@fairfieldcountyfoundation.org or Program Officer Andrea Spires at aspires@fairfieldcountyfoundation.org or call (740) 654-8451.

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 restoration. Candidates should be capable of strenuous work including lifting, digging, and sustained walking in unpredictable and adverse weather conditions. The work meeting location is the Columbus, OH area. Start and end dates are flexible based on the candidate’s availability.

• Start Date: May or June 2025
• Length of Internship: 8-12 weeks
• Schedule: 4/10 work schedule
• Work Location: Columbus, OH area
• Application deadline: Applications accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled
• Interviews start December 16, 2024

How to apply: Please submit a cover letter and CV/resume to sbailey@streamandwetlands.org. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. 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 the restoration of aquatic resources.

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 has received its final credit release from the Granger Wetlands Mitigation Bank in Medina County, Ohio! The bank’s geographic service area for jurisdictional wetlands includes the Rocky River watershed west of Cleveland and the portions of the Cuyahoga River watershed in Summit and Cuyahoga Counties.

The project restored a mosaic of forested and emergent wetlands across a former tile-drained agricultural field. S+W donated the bank to Medina County Park District (the site’s long term steward) in 2019 and it was opened to the public as a wildlife sanctuary in late 2023.

Contact Kellie Griffin or Vince Messerly regarding credit availability and to secure credits for your project.

The Stream + Wetlands Foundation is proud to announce an upcoming partnership with The Dawes Arboretum, in collaboration with the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) and Microsoft’s Datacenter Community Affairs team, to restore vital ecosystems in Licking County, Ohio. This initiative, the Rolling Hills Meadow Wetland Restoration project, will transform approximately two and a half acres of previously tile-drained agricultural land into a functional wetland habitat. 

This collaborative effort marks a significant step toward improving water quality, enriching local habitat diversity, and promoting community engagement. The Stream and Wetlands Foundation and the Arboretum have protected over six thousand acres between the two organizations, and we are very excited to be working with them on this project which will have a focus on both ecological benefits and public involvement. The project will offer volunteer events and educational opportunities for those interested in conservation and community. 

With construction slated to begin in fall 2024, the restoration project is poised to become a cornerstone of environmental preservation in the region. The combined efforts and expertise of these organizations emphasize the importance of wetland ecosystems and their role in sustaining biodiversity and supporting healthier water systems and we are excited to see the project develop into beautiful native habitat.  

 Keep an eye out for more details on this and other projects. 

#EcologicalRestoration #RestorationInAction #GenerationRestoration #Microsoft #MicrosoftDCCommunity

See below for project press releases from SER and Dawes:

https://www.ser.org/news/683399/Rolling-Hills-Meadow-Wetland-Restoration-at-The-Dawes-Arboretum.htm