This past year brought muddy boots, cold mornings, and real progress for Ohio’s streams and wetlands. We saw habitat rebound, partnerships grow, and people show up to do the hard work that actually makes a difference.
Huge thanks to our volunteers, partners, landowners, and supporters who helped turn plans into functioning ecosystems.
Here’s to another year of steady, science-based work for healthier water and stronger landscapes.
Applications will be available starting December 1st, 2025 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 Monday, February 9, 2026 and the full deadline for the online application is Friday, March 6, 2026. 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.
Start Date: May or June 2026
Length: 8-12 weeks
Schedule: 4/10 work schedule
Location: Columbus, OH area (statewide field travel)
Application Timeline:
Overview
The Stream + Wetlands Foundation (S+W) offers paid summer internships for individuals interested in ecological restoration. Interns will work outdoors alongside experienced biologists and support a variety of restoration monitoring and land management activities, including:
This position provides hands-on experience in ecological fieldwork and exposure to stream and wetland restoration practices across Ohio. The internship is designed as an 8-12 week summer position; however, for candidates with extended availability, the term may be lengthened up to six months (April – September) depending on project needs.
Who Should Apply
Ideal candidates will have:
Internship start and end dates are flexible and can be adjusted based on the selected candidate’s availability. Daily work will begin in the Columbus, OH area.
How to Apply
Please submit a cover letter and CV/resume to sbailey@streamandwetlands.org.
In your cover letter, please include:
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Initial screening will be based on submitted materials, and finalists will be selected following a virtual interview.
About Us
S+W is a non-profit organization based in Lancaster, Ohio. We specialize in restoring wetlands and streams throughout the state and support the education, research, and public appreciation of these valuable resources. To learn more about our organization and current projects, we encourage applicants to visit our website and follow us on social media.
S+W is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to maintaining non-discriminatory policies. All employment decisions- including recruitment, hiring, promotion- are made without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, marital status, disability, or any other protected characteristic in accordance with applicable laws.
USEPA and US Army Corps of Engineers have issued the 2025 proposed redefinition of Waters of the United States (WOTUS). This rule determines what waterbodies are subject to the federal Clean Water Act. The proposed definition attempts to align the rule with the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Sackett v. EPA.
Notably, the definition incorporates a new two-part test to determine what wetlands are federally regulated, which includes a requirement for the wetland to contain surface water during the wet season. Portions of wetlands that do not support inundation, including saturated soils derived from groundwater, would not be considered adjacent. This will result in a reduction in wetlands that are federally jurisdictional.
The proposed rule will be open for a 45 day public comment period.
Please feel free to contact Vince Messerly at vmesserly@streamandwetlands.org or Greg Snowden at gsnowden@streamandwetlands.org with any questions.
More information here: https://lnkd.in/gGs3JYkm
https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2025-11/updated_definition_wotus_nprm.pdf
Stream + Wetlands Foundation‘s biologists Chelsea Lamb Keefer and Joshua Anzalone presented yesterday at the 2025 Society for Ecological Restoration (SER)‘s International Conference in Denver, Colorado. Their talk focused on a wetland restoration project completed by S+W at The Dawes Arboretum in partnership with Dawes and Microsoft and was part of a larger session evaluating standards-based ecological restoration in corporate sustainability programs. Great job Chelsea and Josh! #SER2025
A big thank you to our attendees -and- to instructors Frank Gibbs, Brian Cooley, and Reed Johnson for leading an engaging and informative class. It was a great opportunity to sharpen field skills, connect with colleagues, and explore the Arboretum’s unique landscapes.
Early Bird Registration Open now! Check out registration and conference details on the below website.
Register today for the 2nd Annual Ohio Surface Water Policy Conference, Wednesday, October 29 and Thursday, October 30, Westerville Renaissance Hotel!
Hosted by the Stream + Wetlands Foundation, Davey Resource Group, Roetzel, ADS, and the Ohio Water Partnership, this two-day event will bring together thought leaders across business, industry, regulatory agencies, and the legal field to discuss:
Expect engaging panels featuring experts from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Ohio EPA, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources, Ohio Dept. of Agriculture, as well as leading consultants and environmental attorneys.
Registration is now open for Stream + Wetlands Foundation’s 2025 Hydric Soils Training Class! Join us on September 9 & 10, 2025, at The Dawes Arboretum for this hands-on, field-based training. We’re excited to welcome back Frank Gibbs, PWS, CPSS, CPSC, as our esteemed instructor.
📲 Scan the QR code to register
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.