Fall 2007 Buckeye Basins Newsletter

Buckeye Basins is produced by the Ohio State University Extension, Watershed Team. It is compiled quarterly for Watershed Coordinators, Extension Educators and Natural Resource Professionals to include within their newsletters, programs or however they see fit. Please, feel free to ask questions, share ideas, or provide feedback.

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Welcome to our Fall 2007 issue of the Buckeye Basins newsletter. Summer has certainly flown by and the leaves are beginning to turn a variety of red, orange, and yellow hues. I hope you will enjoy reading this issue as much as we have enjoyed putting it together. It contains information on such diverse topics as Volunteer Monitoring, Land Use Planning, OWLS, and The Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist program. Thanks for subscribing to the Buckeye Basins and enjoy the fall!

J.P. Lieser and Jerry Iles
Co-Editor - Buckeye Basins Newsletter

In its sixth year, the annual Ohio Watershed Leaders (OWLS) Workshop was recently held on August 30^th and 31^st at Beulah Beach in Vermilion, Ohio on the beautiful south central shores of Lake Erie. Old Women Creek, designated as a National Estuary Research Reserve, and only a few miles west of the meeting facility, provided a wonderful outdoor setting for the nearly 60 people in attendance. As a transition zone between land and water, the estuary presented a variety of habitats to discover including marshes and swamps, upland forests, tributary streams, and a barrier beach.

OWLS 2007 opened with a leadership training targeted to watershed coordinators, along with a forum to exchange ideas amongst coordinators. Concurrently, a wetland conservation seminar was offered to explore the various research projects underway at Old Women Creek. Participants also had the opportunity that afternoon to learn about new and useful technology, or strategies and funding ideas for land preservation. The evening speaker presented on the recent creation of the Western Reserve Land Conservancy through a regional merger of several land trusts. Day two featured either a guided canoe trip of Old Women Creek estuary or a driving tour of the coast to visit unique places within the watershed.

OWLS is an informal workshop for watershed coordinators, agency professionals, watershed groups, and interested citizens. It is a collaborative event in a partnership with Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and the Ohio State University Extension's Watershed Management Team. The intent is to offer field-oriented training in a retreat setting on topics of interest pertaining to watershed protection and community involvement. The ultimate goal is to foster new relationships in a fun and relaxing atmosphere that will enhance the work efforts of participants as they return to their local watershed groups. We look forward to OWLS 2008!

Providing training opportunities for volunteers has always been a mission of OSU Extension. In an effort to enhance volunteer collected data OSU Extension has led a multiple partnership effort to provide training opportunities for potential Qualified Data Collectors (QDC's). Ohio's credible data legislation requires volunteers to apply to Ohio EPA where they will be assigned a ÒlevelÓ as a Qualified Data Collector. Level 1 & 2 trainings have been provided by OSU Extension in biological stream monitoring as well as lake monitoring techniques.

To date OSU Extension has partnered with Ohio EPA, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Geological Survey and OSU's School of Environment & Natural Resources in coordinating two workshops for volunteer monitors. On September 10^th, thirteen volunteer monitors participated in a workshop focused on collection techniques used in the Macroinvertebrate Aggregated Index for Streams (MAIS) method developed by Smith and Voshell in 1997. On September 26^th OSU Extension hosted a lake monitoring training at Hoover Reservoir near Westerville. Another level 1 & 2 macroinvertebrate workshop will be offered at the Camp Wyandotte Lodge / Clear Creek Metro Park facility on October 12^th. For more information on future workshops please contact Jerry Iles at iles.9@osu.edu.

Participants taking the Ohio EPA's level 2 macroinvertebrate identification exam.

Introduction
In past issues of Buckeye Basins we have mentioned that a Volunteer Naturalist program was being developed in Ohio by OSU Extension in partnership with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist (OCVN) program has come a long way since then and it's time to share some specifics about the program and explain how the program could benefit watershed groups and other natural resource organizations.

Background
Over the past 200 years Ohio's human population has grown exponentially, its lands have been developed extensively, and technology has changed how we interact with the natural world. The complex, rapid changes in lifestyles and the environment have made it difficult for people to maintain a connection with the natural world. As a result, people are less likely to value and therefore work to protect their local natural resources. In an effort to help address this issue, the Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist (OCVN) program was developed.

The Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist (OCVN) program is a volunteer educational program designed to meet the natural resource education needs of the citizens of Ohio. Its purpose is to train volunteers and provide them with opportunities to teach others about Ohio's natural resources and their importance to our quality of life. Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalists provide service to their local natural resource organizations so that their activities and programs can be more effectively and efficiently delivered to the general public.

The program is based upon the very successful OSU Extension Master Gardener Program and Volunteer Natural Resource programs in other states. It is administered by Ohio State University Extension in partnership with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. It has been developed by a state steering committee from the following organizations:

Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist trainees receive formal training from their local partnership covering a wide range of pertinent natural resource topics. To become an OCVN, the trainee must be accepted into the program, complete the training component, pass the required exam, and volunteer for the specified number of hours. The volunteer commitment may be fulfilled in a number of ways, depending on the opportunities identified by the local chapter. After the completion of the initial required volunteer time, volunteers are encouraged to continue to assist with natural resource program delivery as Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalists.

The state OCVN steering committee develops policies and guidelines for the operation of the program. It also provides some training and recognition materials and other resources for chapters participating in the program. On the local level, the program is coordinated by an OCVN coordinator or committee.

OCVN is affiliated with the Alliance of Natural Resource Outreach & Service Programs (ANRSOP), a national organization formed to support the development and maintenance of adult, natural resource education and stewardship programs such as Master Naturalists, Watershed Stewards, and Conservation Stewards. These programs are being coordinated by land grant universities, state natural resource agencies, local governments, and local parks and nature centers. Their website can be viewed at http://www.nralliance.org/index.php

Program Mission and Goals
The mission of the OCVN program is to promote awareness and citizen stewardship of Ohio's natural resources through science-based education and community service. The main goals of the program are: to improve public understanding of natural resources and their management, to enhance existing natural resource education and outreach activities, and to develop a volunteer naturalist network that is self-sufficient.

What is an Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist?
An Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist is an individual with a passion for the natural world who wishes to attend training and use his or her knowledge by giving back to the community through volunteer service. The program has three components: training, volunteer service hours, and advanced education.

Certification
In order to become an Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist, participants must complete 40 hours of combined classroom and field instruction and 40 hours of approved volunteer service projects during the first year. Re-certification requires 20 hours volunteer service and 8 hours advanced training annually. Local programs are being organized by chapter and are required to work with the state steering committee and local OSU Extension office. Local partner organizations and agencies are expected to provide leadership to OCVN chapters including providing and identifying opportunities for volunteers to complete service projects.

Training
The formal training program is the responsibility of the OCVN coordinator or committee managing the program. Instructors are OSU faculty, ODNR professionals, Extension Specialists, Extension Associates, experienced Volunteer Naturalists, and other local experts.

The training program provides a balanced, integrated, practical course in natural resource science. The following are the core topics:
(Other topics based on locally relevant topics may be added to the basic curriculum.)

The principle resource for the training will be the OCVN Training Manual and other materials approved by the state steering committee that include the core topics appropriate to Ohio. Core training is held during a two to three month period, with continuing education or in service training provided during the year in accordance with local needs and resources.

Opportunities
Watershed groups, local parks, nature centers and other natural resource organizations may benefit from becoming a local partner. In return for providing assistance in organizing a training program, local partners would then have trained volunteers to assist with important projects. Volunteers typically are well educated and capable of completing valuable service projects.

Local Programs
In 2007, programs were conducted in Ashland, Greene, Holmes, Licking, Mahoning, and Montgomery Counties with over 150 people completing the training. In 2008, programs are scheduled to be held in the City of Dublin and Delaware County, Hancock, Hocking, Holmes, Licking, Medina, Mahoning, Montgomery, and Tuscarawas Counties.

On March 7, 2007 Ohio State University Extension, Purdue University Extension, and the University of Minnesota hosted a video conference that showcased stories of individuals making a difference in their communities by linking land and water management.

The featured extraordinary individuals from Ohio include Don Lee of Cardington, Ohio, President of the Olentangy Watershed Alliance and Sue Skufca, Secretary and Treasurer, Friends of Conneaut Creek.

Don tells the story of how his personal relationships, farming, and work with the Village of Cardington's water and wastewater departments lead to his involvement with the Olentangy Watershed Alliance and to the creation of Maxwell Park along the banks of Whetstone Creek. When completed, Maxwell Park will help protect Whetstone Creek as well as provide space for recreation and study. To see and hear more on Don's story visit: http://ohiowatersheds.osu.edu/ep/don.html

Sue has crafted a lively story of the history of the successful Friends of Conneaut Creek, from some initial stormy meetings all the way to successful land use protection through conservation easements and land purchases. To date, 280 acres of land have been purchased by the Ashtabula County Metro Parks and 40 acres protected under conservation easement. For more on Sue's story go to: http://ohiowatersheds.osu.edu/ep/sue.html

Know some extraordinary people in your watershed? Consider inviting them to participate in the Extraordinary People project. The next video conference will be offered this winter as part of the Ohio Watershed Academy http://ohiowatersheds.osu.edu/owa/ and the Indiana Watershed Leadership program at Purdue University http://www.ces.purdue.edu/waterquality/iwlp.html We hope eventually to have profiles from at least two extraordinary people from each of the Great Lakes states.

OSU Extension Watershed Team

Buckeye Basins Newsletter: Fall 2007

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