Help us Steward the Lake Erie Watershed and our Drinking Water!
Recognizing the importance of clean water in our daily lives underscores the need for sustainable practices and responsible action from homeowners. A collective effort to mitigate pollutant loading in streams is essential for ensuring the long-term health of both our watersheds and the communities that depend on these vital water sources.
Why Should You Care?
Simple actions you can take around your house can . . .
- Reduce the sediment and yard chemicals that run off properties and pollute our streams and drinking water sources.
- Alleviate costly flood damage due to increased frequency and severity of storms.
- Increase the Quality of Life and economic impact of a strong and healthy urban ecosystem.
As a homeowner, you have a direct impact on our local environment which plays a crucial role in protecting and restoring healthy soil and water resources. Your efforts to protect and restore healthy soil and water resources contribute to the broader social goals of environmental sustainability, community well-being, and long-term resilience against climate change.
What is a Watershed?
A watershed is an area of land that drains or “sheds” water into a specific body of water.
Protecting the Lake Erie watershed and the more than two dozen smaller watersheds that drain into the lake is important to the environment, public health, and the economic well-being of Greater Cleveland.
Unsure which watershed you live in? Click the link below and use the tool to find your watershed.
How We Help Protect Our Watershed
Here’s How We Can Help:*
- Assess minor drainage and yard flooding issues.
- Advise on Green infrastructure projects like rain gardens, rain barrels, permeable pavement.
- Create Conservation Easements on properties with riparian corridors and wetlands.
- Advise on repairing riparian buffers and minor stream erosion.
- Recommend native plants for landscaping that benefit the local ecology.
- Educate homeowners’ associations on naturalizing common area and green spaces.
- Lead riparian cleanups– A.K.A. River Sweeps.
- Educate groups (students, families, employees) about watershed management practices.
- Create Conservation Easements on properties with riparian corridors and wetlands.
We Cannot Provide:
- Landscaping services
- Tree removal services
- Stream Bank Stabilize services
- Formal written reports, drawings, or plans of recommendations.
Visit Our Partners for Other Available Homeowner Services
NEORSD Stormwater Fee Finder
Some people say rain, other say rainwater. We say stormwater, and it’s more than just rain.
Stormwater is any rainwater or melting snow or ice that flows over the surface of the land to the nearest sewers, lake, or stream. Hard surfaces like driveways, roofs, parking lots, and even some lawns pose two stormwater problems: Pollution – like litter, debris, oils, etc. which the stormwater carries to its destination untreated – and increased flow when the water flows quickly and in larger volumes. That combination can increase flooding and erosion, the washing away of streambank soils.
Click here to visit the NEORSD Stormwater Fee Finder
NEORSD Stormwater Fee Credits
Sewer District customers can receive a reduction in their stormwater fee through credits.
For more information about the program or to view the online application, visit: Northeast Stormwater Fee Credit and Regional Stormwater Management Program.
Confluence: Stewarding Cleveland’s Water
Water is one of the world’s greatest resources – however, we have not always treated it as such. In the last century, decades of industrial activity and aging water infrastructure have led Cleveland and the region to more than one environmental precipice. Fortunately, environmental leaders in the region have worked collaboratively to face complex challenges with complex solutions. This collaborative effort has helped lead the way to water resource protection and increased watershed management.
One great example of this is the Watershed Stewardship Center in Parma: a partner effort of Cleveland Metroparks, West Creek Conservancy, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District and the City of Parma. The partnership offers a unique model that allows for educational programming, outreach, public engagement, research, watershed protection and restoration – to help protect and enhance the health of our urban watersheds and our region’s water resource for future generations.
Get Involved
Together we can improve stormwater management, wetland conservation, and ecological restoration.
Educate Yourself
Explore our resource articles and discover actionable steps you can take.
How To Fight Stream Pollution Through Effective Stormwater Management
In this guide, we’ll explore and address how pollutant loading in streams is crucial for the well-being of both watersheds and communities.
Roots of Sustainability: Understanding the Importance of Trees in Urban Living
A healthy urban tree canopy has a profound and positive impact on community quality of life in various ways. Recognizing the value of urban trees and investing in their preservation can contribute to sustainable, resilient, and vibrant urban living.
Shrink Your Lawn: A Guide to Growing More Native Plants
In this guide, we’ll explore the importance of reducing your lawn’s size and explain the many benefits it brings, both for your wallet and the environment.
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Disclaimer: The information provided by West Creek Conservancy are intended exclusively for general educational and informational purposes and are not intended to be a substitute for professional design and implementation services. Any stormwater management practice should be installed with the consultation of an experienced professional who will assess and help implement specific strategies and practices.
You acknowledge that you assume the entire risk of loss in using any information provided by West Creek Conservancy and that it cannot be held responsible for any damages arising in contract, tort or otherwise from the information provided by West Creek Conservancy.
West Creek Conservancy makes no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, and specifically disclaims all liabilities and warranties, express, implied, or statutory, regarding the accuracy, validity, reliability, availability or completeness of any information provided by West Creek Conservancy.
The information provided by West Creek Conservancy does not in any way replace or supersede any municipal, county, state, or federal requirements or regulations related to stormwater management. You should check with all appropriate regulatory authorities before relying upon information provided by West Creek Conservancy to plan or implement any and all stormwater management practices on your property.