Recent news events of droughts in the Southwest, and the falling water levels of the Colorado River and Lake Meade, remind us that water is a precious resource that cannot be taken for granted. We have also seen the effect that dwindling forested and open land, and increasing developed land with surfaces resistant to absorbing water, can have on storm water runoff.

We have had three “100 year and 500 year” flooding events in northeastern Ohio in the last five years. Streams collect rainwater and the snowmelt, but they need “elbow room” to do their job effectively. Concrete and paved surfaces can interfere with that job, but we as individual property owners can aid the natural process of absorbing water on its eventual path to our rivers.

Friends of Yellow Creek Speaker Series

“Clean water is the basis of life.”

The Friends of Yellow Creek sponsored a Speaker Series in the spring of 2007 addressing current issues affecting our valuable water resource.

Kelvin F. Rogers of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency

Watershed 101

Kelvin F. Rogers of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency will explain the function of a watershed, and how what we do with our property will affect stream water quality, storm water runoff, erosion and sedimentation, and the diversity of plant and wildlife species. Our watershed provides a natural system for collecting water (and what may be dissolved in it . . . pesticides, herbicides, salt, sediment), and for transporting it to larger bodies of water. What are impervious surfaces and what is their impact? How does our drinking water get “recharged” or replenished for our future needs?

Joan Hug-Anderson of the Summit County Soil and Water Conservation District

Flooding and Surface Water Quality

Joan Hug-Anderson of the Summit County Soil and Water Conservation District will discuss storm water runoff, stream dynamics and the function of a flood plain. Yes, floods are natural events, but why have we had so many “unnatural” or frequent floods? We have had three “100 year and 500 year” flooding events in northeastern Ohio in the last five years. What causes the frequency of these events? What can we do to slow the flow of surface water, preserve the function of the system that is in place, and what may this mean for our property values? Nature does the work for us at no cost; the cost of an engineered storm water drainage system would be at least $7.4 million to do the same work for our watershed.

Bob Hasenyager of the Summit County General Health District

Water Quality and Home Sewage Treatment Systems (“HSTS”)

Bob Hasenyager of the Summit County General Health District will explain how the maintenance of your HSTS affects surface and groundwater quality, and what you can do to prevent its costly replacement. In the “cost-benefit” analysis you will be the winner with the proper maintenance of your system (how often should I pump the tanks?) and with the efficient use of water in your home (do you have low-flow water valves?)