Go to the Army Corps of Engineers website and look up the different water levels for the Great Lakes. Look at the daily record of water levels for the current day of the month. Days are listed on the left hand side of the table. Compare them to the long-term average water levels (or surface levels) of the lakes in the animation, which you can see when you roll your mouse over the profile.

You can find out what watershed you live in by going to the U.S. EPA Surf Your Watershed web site.

Citizen action has formed the Rocky River Watershed Council with the mission of restoring and protecting the Rocky River. A yearly watershed festival is held in the fall and numerous stream clean-ups occur throughout the year with the support of the Council. For more information, their website is www.myrockyriver.org. 

Additional information about Headwater Streams: “Ohio Primary Headwater Habitat Streams” <http://www.epa.state.oh.us/dsw/wqs/headwaters/index.html>-Offers background information on headwater streams, as well as various fact sheets, project reports, and field evaluation methods. “The Importance & Benefits of Headwater Primary Streams”<http://www.epa.state.oh.us/dsw/wqs/headwaters/HWH_import_jan2003.pdf> -PDF file explaining specific benefits of healthy primary headwater streams American Rivers: the Importance of Healther Headwaters<http://amr.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=AMR_content_27b3> -A great listing of reasons why healthy headwaters are necessary to the functioning of life, and what can be done to help restore headwaters to their natural states.

For more information on flowing water try these sites:   River Network<http://www.rivernetwork.org/>- “Helping people understand, protect, & restore rivers and their watersheds”River & Water Information<http://www.river-management.org/index.asp> - Links to information & organizations dealing with rivers & river management.

Addtional Information on standing water:The Nature Conservancy – Vernal Pools -Information on vernal pools in OhioCedar Bog<http://www.cedarbog.org/education.htm> -Information, pictures, and links about bogs in Ohio.Swamps -from "Nature Works" - New Hampshire Public Television; great information on different types of swamps.Marshes -US EPA’s information on marshes as a type of wetland

Mark Storm DrainsStorm drains gather non point source pollution from streets and nearby yards. This rainwater is not cleaned or filtered, but drains directly to a stream or river. Work with your local county soil and water conservation district to label these drains and educate your neighbors. Clean a StreamLitter and trash along stream banks and in the stream create a hazardous habitat for the animals and plants that live there. Litter is also unsightly and spoils the natural beauty of the environment. Most litter can be recycled if disposed of correctly. Monitor a Stream Many groups in Northeast Ohio help monitor stream health.They wade into streams and collect physical data (temperature), chemical data (pH and nitrogen levels), and biological data (fish and aquatic insects). Call your local soil and water conservation district for training and equipment. For additional information and water testing "how-to" streaming videos visit the Return of the Cuyahoga River website. Reduce Stream Bank ErosionSediment is one of the leading causes of water pollution when it washes off the land and ends up in the water. The best way to prevent stream bank erosion is to plant trees and other vegetation along streams. The plants' roots will help anchor the soil on the stream’s bank. Contact your local soil and water conservation district for advice on what to plant along streams or for more information on protecting streams. Clean “Green”Many of the substances in polluted water come from household chemicals. These can be cleaners, pesticides, lawn care products or home improvement products. Identify some hazardous products in your home. What are they? How are they used? Where do they end up when you are done with them? Find out how to properly handle and dispose of household chemical. Do research to find alternative “green” products to use in their place. Backyard ConservationSome of the most common pollutants in water come from our lawn and gardens. Learn how common lawn care habits can be adjusted to be more “water friendly”. What are the alternatives? The National Wildlife Federation website is a good source of information for environmentally sensible yards. Build Rain GardensKeeping rain where it falls, by directing it to a rain garden, is a natural solution to water pollution. You not only build a garden, but also help protect our streams, rivers and lakes from pollution.

Sample Labs from Vernier: pH measurement<http://www2.vernier.com/sample_labs/WQV-02-LABQ-ph.pdf> Dissolved O2<http://www2.vernier.com/sample_labs/WQV-05-LABQ-do.pdf> Nitrate measurement<http://www2.vernier.com/sample_labs/WQV-08-LABQ-nitrate.pdf> Soil moisture<http://www2.vernier.com/sample_labs/ESI-11-soil_moisture.pdf> Carbon Dioxide Concentrations<http://www2.vernier.com/sample_labs/ESI-33-investigating_CO2.pdf>

2008 -2009 Mrs. L. M. Paul The Rocky River Watershed Water reaches the earth’s surface as rain and snow. A portion of the water falling on land seeps into the soil or flows over the surface before entering streams and lakes. The land area that supplies water to a particular river or lake is called a watershed. We manage watersheds and the water they produce to provide for agriculture, human consumption, industry, flood control and recreation.

2008 -2009 Mrs. L. M. Paul What is a watershed? A watershed is the land that water flows across or under to reach a waterway, such as a stream, river, or lake. Its boundaries are determined by the highest elevations that divide the flow of water over the land, sending it to different rivers and streams.

2008 -2009 Mrs. L. M. Paul Properties of a Watershed Our landscape is made up of many inter-connected watersheds (also called sub-basins) through which water passes as it moves to lower and lower areas.- Groundwater is the water that exists under the land. Some of it moves through gravel, sand or rocks called aquifers–the source of well water. Rain and snow, or precipitation, supplies the soil moisture necessary for trees and plants and also replenishes groundwater aquifers in the watershed. When it rains, water flows over the land surface and drains directly to streams and water bodies as storm water runoff

2008 -2009 Mrs. L. M. Paul Are all watersheds the same? Depending on its size and location, a watershed can include rivers, creeks and streams, ditches, ponds, lakes, and wetlands. It can be as big as the international basin around the Great Lakes or as small as a meadow surrounding a creek.

2008 -2009 Mrs. L. M. Paul Great Lakes Basin The animation illustrates how water flows from one Great Lake to another and eventually to the Atlantic Ocean. This profile view of the lakes demonstrates that water flows from Lake Superior to Lake Michigan and Huron. Lake Huron then empties into Lake Erie. At the end of Lake Erie the water level drops nearly 170 feet as it goes over Niagra Falls and into Lake Ontario. From here the water travels through a series of locks that bring it to sea level, out the St. Lawrence Seaway, and to the Atlantic Ocean.

2008 -2009 Mrs. L. M. Paul Ohio Drainage Basins Streams north of the drainage divide flow to the Great Lakes and ultimately through the St. Lawrence seaway to the Atlantic Ocean. Streams south of the divide flow to the Ohio River which joins the Mississippi River and flows to the Gulf of Mexico.

2008 -2009 Mrs. L. M. Paul NE Ohio’s Watersheds Each of us is a resident of a county or town in the State of Ohio. We are also residents of a watershed. For example, people living in Middleburg Heights, Ohio reside in the West Branch watershed because water falling on this city is delivered to the West Branch of the Rocky River. Watersheds can be part of other, larger watersheds: West Branch > Rocky River > Lake Erie > Great Lakes > St. Lawrence River > Atlantic Ocean

2008 -2009 Mrs. L. M. Paul The Rocky River Watershed The Rocky River flows from the highlands of northern Medina and Summit counties to its mouth at Lake Erie between the cities of Lakewood and Rocky River. Its tributaries and drainage basin covers four counties and encompasses a little bit of everything from agricultural areas to golf courses, neighborhoods and yacht clubs. The Rocky River Watershed consists of 664 stream miles and drains approximately 294 square miles of Northeast Ohio. In reality, the Rocky River Watershed is so much more than the land area it drains.

2008 -2009 Mrs. L. M. Paul Watersheds and their tributaries The geology of Northeast Ohio dictates that almost all surface water falling anywhere within the colored areas on the map will eventually make its way to the Rocky River by way of one of the innumerable brooks, creeks, streams or wetlands that weave their way throughout the Rocky River watershed. Every drop of water that doesn't evaporate into the air or get taken up by a green plant or tree will get to a river, lake or underground aquifer one way or another.

2008 -2009 Mrs. L. M. Paul TRIBUTARIES AND THEIR WATERSHEDS, continued These intermediate waterways are the tributaries that create the Rocky River Each tributary has its own watershed that collects the water that drains from its surrounding land. The Rocky River watershed is made up of 14 smaller watersheds, each with unique landforms and characteristics. We will concentrate our attention on the three main branches

2008 -2009 Mrs. L. M. Paul Explore the Rocky River Like other rivers in Northeastern Ohio, the receding glaciers shaped the Rocky River 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. The river has eroded down and exposed shale cliffs. Fossil remains of prehistoric life have been uncovered in the shale of the Rocky River valley including the ferocious-looking 360-million-year-old armored fish, Dunkleosteus terrelli.

2008 -2009 Mrs. L. M. Paul Main Branch At the confluence of the West and East branches in North Olmsted, the mainstem of the Rocky River is formed. It flows 6 more miles north to its outlet into Lake Erie between the Cities of Rocky River and Lakewood. Along its way through, it is largely protected from disturbance, as its floodplains are part of Cleveland Metroparks’ Rocky River Reservation. Tributaries flow though more urbanized areas and are thus more impacted.

2008 -2009 Mrs. L. M. Paul East Branch The East Branch of the Rocky River was named an Important Birding Area (IBA) by Audubon Ohio. IBA’s target areas for active bird population monitoring and habitat restoration efforts. This IBA includes several public parks that provide riparian corridor elements for migrant birds. The large Turkey Vulture roost at Hinckley is a major media attraction and public attraction. Also important are the large tracts of deciduous woods, which provide nesting habitat for some of Ohio's rarest nesting passerines, including the Golden-crowned Kinglet, the Red-breasted Nuthatch, the Magnolia Warbler, and the Blackburnian Warbler.

2008 -2009 Mrs. L. M. Paul West Branch The West Branch of Rocky River begins at the confluence of its north and south branches in Medina Township. It flows through the City of Medina, York, Liverpool, Columbia and Olmsted townships before its confluence with the East Branch on North Olmsted. This stretch of the river is in its natural state with access to its floodplains. Some of the West Branch’s tributaries have undergone channel modifications for agricultural purposes and urbanization. Not as many acres of public lands are protected along the West Branch of the Rocky River and its tributaries. In Medina County, parks include Plum Creek Park, Allardale Park, the Lester Rail Trail, and the Princess Ledges Nature Preserve operated by the Medina County Metroparks. Lorain County Metroparks’ Columbia Reservation borders the West Branch of the Rocky River. This park boasts 285 acres of mitigated wetlands. The man-made wetlands are flourishing with adequate soils and vegetation present in the flood plain of the West Branch of the Rocky River.

2008 -2009 Mrs. L. M. Paul What are some natural features of watersheds? Headwater Streams Flowing Water Riparian Habitat Standing Water Wetlands

2008 -2009 Mrs. L. M. Paul Headwaters of Streams A river begins at its headwaters, a network of small upstream tributaries. Headwater streams are important ecological features of watersheds because they: Protect water quality as they filter and process organic and inorganic materials and maintain downstream water quality. Maintain water supplies by recharging groundwater aquifers and ultimately returning water to streams in dry seasons. Provide natural flood control. Even in their small state, headwater streams absorb significant amounts or rainwater, runoff and snowmelt before flooding. Trap excess sediment. Intact headwater streams trap and retain significant amounts of sediment reducing the volume transported to downstream ecosystems. Sustain downstream ecosystems. Microorganisms transform everything from leaf litter, dead salamanders into food for other organisms in the aquatic food web. If all organic material went downstream without being broken down in the headwater streams, the glut of decomposing material would deplete oxygen, damaging or even killing downstream aquatic life. Maintain biological diversity. Many species that live in headwater stream habitats are specialists. These animals and plants are restricted to these habitats and could not survive in other habitats.

2008 -2009 Mrs. L. M. Paul Flowing Waters Seeps and springs are usually the smallest flowing waters where it flows out of the ground and into a channel. In springs, water flows out of cracks in underground rocks and in seeps, water trickles out of the ground. Brook, creek, and streams are common names for the middle-sized bodies of flowing waters. You can usually wade across these. A river is the largest flowing water body. Rivers are usually too deep to wade across.

2008 -2009 Mrs. L. M. Paul Riparian Habitat A Riparian habitat is the combination of trees, shrubs and grasses alongside streams and rivers. Riparian vegetation provides several important functions that support aquatic biodiversity. Riparian habitats . . . stabilize stream banks and control bank erosion and input of sediment shade waterways and help maintain low water temperatures and regulate dissolved oxygen levels contribute large woody debris to the aquatic system which provides in-stream habitat for aquatic life deposit large amounts of leaf litter, insects and other nutrients to maintain aquatic food webs. reduce damage caused during large floods by absorbing energy of floods.

2008 -2009 Mrs. L. M. Paul Standing Waters Vernal pools are ephemeral or short-lived wetlands that usually fill with water in the rainy seasons and dries up in the summer. This wet-dry cycle prevents fish from surviving in them and as a result allows for a great, temporary habitat for aquatic invertebrates and amphibians. Bogs have shallow standing water with plentiful Sphagnum mosses. The water in bogs is acidic and lacking in nutrients. Peat is formed at the bottom of bogs from decaying vegetative matter. Marshes are deeper and have more open water than bogs. Emergent vegetation like rushes, reeds and sedges line the edges and are nutrient rich. Swamps are similar to marshes although they are deeper and have more open water. Vegetation differs, too. Swamps have more trees and shrubs than marshes. Ponds and Lakes are similar. They are open water bodies contained in a basin. Vegetation usually defines the differences in the two. Ponds are shallow enough to have vegetation growing on the bottom where lakes are too deep for rooted vegetation at the bottom. Reservoirs are impounded flowing waters collected and stored for later use.

2008 -2009 Mrs. L. M. Paul Wetlands Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil, or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year or for varying periods of time during the year, including during the growing season. Water saturation largely determines how the soil develops and the types of plant and animal communities living in and on the soil. Physical and chemical features such as climate, landscape shape (topology), geology, and the movement and abundance of water help to determine the plants and animals that live in each wetland.

2008 -2009 Mrs. L. M. Paul Ideas for preserving and protecting watersheds: Mark Storm Drains Clean a Stream Monitor a Stream Reduce Stream Bank Erosion Backyard Conservation Build Rain Gardens

2008 -2009 Mrs. L. M. Paul Rain Gardens

2008 -2009 Mrs. L. M. Paul What is a Rain Garden? A rain garden is an attractive landscaping feature planted with perennial native plants. It is a bowl-shaped or saucer-shaped garden, designed to absorb stormwater run-off from impervious surfaces such as roofs and parking lots.

2008 -2009 Mrs. L. M. Paul Why Native Perennials? Extensive root systems allow for water infiltration and anchor soil inhibiting erosion

2008 -2009 Mrs. L. M. Paul Purpose of Rain Gardens Environmental Filters pollutants in runoff Discourages erosion Utilizes excess nutrients Recharges groundwater Reduces stream “flashiness” Provides habitat for wildlife Promotes ecological awareness Harbors rare species Progressive stormwater solution Social/Economical Community pride Cooperation in creation and maintenance Saves money Increases property values Attraction for tourists Creates green spaces in urban areas for people to congregate

2008 -2009 Mrs. L. M. Paul