Clean Water Works

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Mike and Donna report from the 19th annual Ohio Stormwater Conference in Sandusky, OH. The day's presentations touch on education, stormwater modeling and maintenance, and funding, and demonstrate how design choices and policy decisions can ripple across entire communities. 
Our guests include:
Erica Matheny, Tinker's Creek Watershed Partners
Refka Abroug, Tinker's Creek Watershed Partners 
Jesse Rufner, GPD Group
Jack Caruso, Cleveland Metroparks
Joey Smith, Ohio State University
Tony Burgoyne, OHM Advisors
Topics discussed:
The Tinkers Creek Watershed Partners’ new strategic plan and illustrated watershed mapping 
Water scarcity, pollution, and access to clean drinking water in Northern Africa
An East Cleveland project that ties together water lines, roadways, and sewer improvements
Antecedent moisture modeling
Extreme storms, risk tools, and what “reasonable” infrastructure can handle
Mosquito science in stormwater control measures
Stacking funding sources and building coalitions through policy roundtables
For more information on the Ohio Stormwater Conference, visit tinkerscreek.org

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April is National Native Plant Month, and in this episode we talk with Sustainability Specialist Kevin Harrison and Paul Kovalcik of our Stormwater Inspection & Maintenance (SWIM) department, unpacking what defines a "native plant" and why they matter for water quality and habitat. We talk about how native species support pollinators, and why losing host plants can impact the entire food web.

We connect native landscaping to the Sewer District's stormwater management and stream-restoration projects, and explain how invasive species can take over when nothing has co-evolved to keep them in check.

Our guests offer tips on how to choose the right tree for the right place, when to plant, and why starting small is the best advice for building a low-stress native garden. 
Other resources:
NRCS - Natural Resources Conservation Service, a U.S. Department of Agriculture agency that provides a "PLANTS" (Plant List of Attributes, Names, Taxonomy, and Symbols) database with automated tools, weblinks, and references.
https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/
Cleveland Metroparks Tree Selector Tool - Enter in various site attributes for guidance on tree species selection for any type of planting project.   
https://treeselector-clevelandmetroparks.com/tree-selector 
Rain Garden Manual for Homeowners - Courtesy of Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District, this manual outlines rain garden terms and definitions, recommendations for creating the right garden for your property, and important diagrams and planting instructions. 
https://www.neorsd.org/Stormwater%20Form/landing%20page/2007_rain_garden_manual.pdf

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A fallen log in a stream can serve as beneficial fish habitat or pose a flood hazard. Stormwater inspectors Kelsey Hickox and Andriana Hayes explain what Stormwater Inspection and Maintenance (SWIM) looks like and why the Sewer District pays so much attention to creeks, culverts, and stormwater basins.
We also discuss urgent storm response and why field verification matters for our stormwater modeling. Plus, practical tips for homeowners to help with their community's stormwater-management efforts.

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Rainfall can turn some roads into rivers. Construction Supervisor Joel Hill explains how his team keeps neighborhoods dry using basins, culverts, and stream restoration projects to manage downpours. Joel brings a rare perspective with his decade-plus working on massive tunnel projects and his pivot to the stormwater side of the Sewer District's work.

We discuss hydrologic forecasts that shape project designs and stream morphology, and spotlight some local projects in Maple Heights and Parma that have brought relief to once-flooded roadways. 
If you care about flood mitigation, resilient infrastructure, and how precise design decisions ripple into safer streets, this conversation offers practical insights and hard-won lessons from the field.

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What actually leads a policy idea into becoming a clean-water milestone? We take you behind the scenes with Danielle Giannantonio, Senior Manager of State and Federal Legislative Affairs & Grants at the NEORSD, to map the practical path from bills to budgets to better infrastructure. Danielle shares how a Statehouse page job led to legislative aide work, a crash course in clean-water issues at Ohio EPA, and ultimately a role where relationships, timing, and clarity determine whether good ideas stick.

Our conversation dives into PFAS, those "forever chemicals" that water utilities passively receive. We also dig into affordability and make the case for a permanent LIHWAP program to stabilize households and utility operations alike. Danielle's work also tracks policy that touches our utility’s daily mission: employment issues, IT, drones, AI, and more. She walks us through the playbook for proactive advocacy and how trade associations can amplify local voices in D.C.
Acronyms used in this episode:
LIHWAP - Low Income Household Water Assistance Program, provides funds to assist low-income households with water and wastewater bills.
LIHEAP - Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, provides federally funded assistance to reduce the costs associated with home energy bills, energy crises, weatherization, and minor energy-related home repairs. 
PFAS - Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
WQIS - Water Quality & Industrial Surveillance