The Mill Creek Alliance Green Corps is featured in Cincinnati CityBeat! Check out the corps members talk about their experiences and the restoration work they're doing all over Cincinnati! A special thanks to collaborators and supporters Cincinnati State Technical and Community College (who some Green Corps are attending), MCURC, Cincinnati Parks, Turner Farm, Little Duck Creek Trail, Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Green Umbrella, Greater Cincinnati Foundation, and Cincinnati Recreation Commission for being part of the work featured in this article!
Welcome, Micah Johnson, Green Corps Manager!
We are thrilled to welcome Micah Johnson as our new Mill Creek Alliance Green Corps Manager! Micah comes to us with a wealth of experience in ecological restoration work. He has trained with NKU's Center for Environmental Restoration and helped lead the Green Corps at the Licking River Greenway restoration site for the past year. Micah has extensive experience in stream and watershed restoration, wetland management, invasive species control, surveying, and trail maintenance. He also has a wide range of valuable machine operation, maintenance, and carpentry skills, all of which will serve the growing Green Corps. Micah holds a BA in Geology and Environmental Science from NKU. He will be leading the Green Corps in the field on their full range of restoration projects and working to secure and manage contracts. He will also be leading the team as they continue the Northside Composts and Light Up Avondale projects. We are so excited to have Micah join our team!
Mill Creek Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring wraps up its 6th Year
On November 10, 2018, a group of over 30 volunteers wrapped up the sixth year of Mill Creek Citizen Water Quality Monitoring. This dedicated team samples and analyzes water from the Mill Creek and its tributaries each month to monitor water quality. For more information check out Streambank, which has data from all four of the regional programs, and the Mill Creek Alliance website which has extensive data on Mill Creek water quality collected from this program. A big THANK YOU to the volunteers, without whom this program would never be possible and thank you to all who came to celebrate at Westside Brewing on December 9! We’ll see you next year!
If you are interested in getting involved in this program please contact us!
Evendale Commons Restoration Project Ribbon Cutting
On Thursday, November 29 Mill Creek Alliance hosted a ribbon cutting of the recently-completed Evendale Commons project at 2789 Cunningham Dr., 45241.
Thank you to all who attended the ribbon cutting for the Evendale Commons Restoration Project! This was truly a collaborative effort between Mill Creek Alliance, Village of Evendale, Anchor Properties, Sustainable Streams, Environmental Remediation Contractor, Ohio Public Works Commission, and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
The project improved nearly 2.5 acres of stream corridor. Funded through a Clean Ohio grant from the Ohio Public Works Commission and matching funds from the Village of Evendale, the project stabilized over 400 feet of actively eroding stream bank. The previously steep eroding banks were excavated and regraded to a more stable and gentle slope and secured at the base with rock. The newly-configured banks were seeded with wildflowers and planted with native shrubs and trees.
The previously over-widened main channel of the Mill Creek was reconfigured with a center channel for typical low-flow conditions and a wider floodplain to handle high-flow rain events. Additionally, a riffle, a group of large rocks was installed across a shallow part of the stream. The riffle creates a more gradual elevation change and more oxygen in the stream. The result is easier passage for fish and other aquatic species traveling up and down the Mill Creek.
Keep an eye out for informational signage that will be installed at the site soon!
If you are interested in seeing a project like this in your community contact us!
Blues, Brews, & BBQ Mill Creek Benefit Party!
A big THANK YOU to all who came out in support of Mill Creek Alliance at our Blues, Brews, and BBQ Benefit Party! Urban Artifact hosted a great celebration with delicious BBQ from Vonderhaar's Catering Inc. and tunes from Chuck Brisbin Music that got us out on the dance floor. Thank you especially to our sponsors and to all those who donated via the silent and live auctions. We couldn't do our work to engage the community and youth in the restoration of the Mill Creek without you!! Check out some photos from this wonderful night.
Dr. Mike Miller Awarded Ohio Water Hall of Fame Award
Emeritus Mill Creek Alliance Board Member, collaborator, and tireless advocate for water quality in greater Cincinnati, Dr. Michael Miller, received the prestigious Ohio Water Hall of Fame Award at the luncheon of the Annual Meeting of Water Management Association of Ohio (WMAO) at the Duke Energy Center.
From the ceremony:
Dr. Michael Miller is hereby awarded the Ohio Water Hall of Fame Award for his leadership and tireless efforts to protect and improve water quality in Southwest Ohio. As a professor for close to 5 decades at the University of Cincinnati, he has instilled a love of aquatic systems in thousands of students who have gone on to pursue careers in water management. Dr. Miller has helped ot organize hundreds of cleanups on the Mill Creek and Great Miami Rivers, has been a champion of public education and has developed and implemented many successful programs and tools. Dr. Miller's commitment and passon has made a difference in our water resources.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Miller!
Green Team Travels to The Grand Canyon
In September, members of the Green Team had an amazing experience participating in Groundwork USA’s National Youth Summit at the Grand Canyon, serving as Youth Ambassadors for their Cincinnati trust. The first day was spent traveling to Phoenix, Arizona, where Youth Leaders and Ambassadors from almost all of Groundwork’s 20 national trusts met for the first time.
The next day, they drove four hours to Kaibab National Forest, where they set up camp. Then it was straight to the park to hear from the Executive Director of Groundwork USA about the importance of the work the youth are engaged in. Then, they learned how Groundwork USA plans to survey the youth about the impact that Groundwork has had on their lives. After these discussions, the youth hiked to the rim of the canyon. This was a very special occasion, as those who had not seen the Canyon before were led, with their eyes closed, to behold its grandeur at one moment. The day finished with dinner and a campfire.
The third day was filled with educational programming for both the Ambassadors and the Leaders. The Ambassadors learned about basic construction math, writing a compelling personal narrative, and how to use fasteners in construction. The Leaders learned about basic construction, using a grid system on a construction site, and facilitating the Green Team surveys. After the hard work of learning, the groups split up to enjoy the Park’s offerings and the sunset over the Grand Canyon.
The final day was an adventure day. They split into three groups to experience the Grand Canyon in different ways: a hike, a short bike ride, or a long bike ride. Each was difficult, but offered amazing vistas as a reward. After, they were rewarded with showers, dinner, and a last campfire.
Native Mussels Return to the Mill Creek
On Saturday, September 13th, a low-head dam was removed from the Miami River in Williamsburg, and the native mussels living in the area were relocated for their safety. Many of these mussels were relocated to the Mill Creek, near Caldwell park. This marks an incredibly important milestone in the restoration of the Mill creek, as for the better part of a century the area had been too polluted and disturbed to support them. Now their presence will increase biodiversity within the watershed and help to speed the recovery of the Mill Creek.
Check out the news story published by Local 12 here!