WVP Events

(R) Work Session: Invasive Cattail Removal

Wed, Sept 3, 6 - 8 p.m. @ Lake Isaac, Big Creek Reservation in Rocky River Watershed

Help restore the native vegetation of this wetland complex. Join CMP Natural Resources Manager Val Carter-Stone to remove non-native, invasive cattail. This will release the native wetland plants within the Fowles Marsh wetland complex.

(M) Scenic Rivers Macro Monitoring

Tue, Sept 9 (Rain Date: Fri Sept 12), 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. @ Old River Farm Picnic Area, North Chagrin Reservation  in Chagrin River Watershed

Learn how to use macroinvertebrates to measure the water quality of the Chagrin River as part of the Ohio Wild and Scenic Rivers Program! Join Cleveland Metroparks Aquatic Research Coordinator, Claire Weldon, in seining (netting) and identifying biological life living in the river. 

(M) Marine Debris Monitoring

Sun, Sept 14, 9 - 11 a.m. @ Euclid Beach in Euclid Creek Watershed

Join us for monitoring Marine Debris at Euclid Creek.

(M) Certified Steward Exclusive: Cuyahoga by Boat Rescheduled

Thu, Sept 18, 5:30 - 8 p.m. @ Merwin's Warf, Lakefront Reservation

This is a special event for Watershed Stewards who've achieved their certification. We'll join Cleveland Metropark's Historical Interpreter Doug Kusak on this WVP only, 2-hour Cuyahoga River boat ride aboard the eLCee2. Enjoy a river view while we discuss famous fires on the river, bridges, cargo ships, area geography, history, watersheds, trails, industry, reclamation, and so much more. We’ll look at what was, what is, and what’s to come. 

(O) NEORSD Clean Water Fest

Sat, Sep 20, Three Shifts: 8-11 a.m., 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 2-5 p.m. @ 4747 E. 49th St., Cleveland

A day all about water with games, education, tours, and more! Help spread the word about WVP and share your knowledge of watershed health. Breakfast or lunch will be provided to WVP (O)utreach volunteers who staff our table.

(R) Work Session: European Black Alder Removal

Mon, Sep 22, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. @ Lake Isaac, Big Creek Reservation in Rocky River Watershed

Join CMP Natural Resources Manager Val Carter-Stone to remove non-native, European Black Alder. 

(M) Parks for Pollinators*

Thurs, Sep 25, 6 - 7:30 p.m. @ Johnson's Picnic Area, Hinckley Reservation in Rocky River Watershed

Gather with your fellow WVP volunteers to join in the Cleveland Metroparks monthlong monitoring celebration of our park's pollinators. 

(R) TREEmont Tree Care

Friday, Sep 26, 1 - 3 p.m. @ Along the Towpath Trail in Tremont, Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation in the Cuyahoga River Watershed

Join WVP Volunteer Leaders Chris Wolf and Dan Leamon in their project to cage and protect trees in Tremont, protecting them from beavers, deer and other threats that they face. Help safeguard these trees that will contribute to shaded areas along the Towpath Trail and lessen the Urban Heat Island effect.

(M) Parks for Pollinators*

Sun, Sep 28, 1 - 3 p.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center, West Creek Reservation

Gather with your fellow WVP volunteers to join in the Cleveland Metroparks monthlong monitoring celebration of our park's pollinators. 

(S) Restoration Site Cleanup at Morgana Bluffs

Tues, Sept 2, 1 - 3 p.m. @ Morgana Bluffs is located at 5935 Ackley Rd Cleveland, OH 44105 (park at mound)

Come to Morgana Bluffs to help with restoration site cleanup. Activities will include: trimming branches, moving brush, cleaning up the pathway, and cleaning educational signs. 

More Information and Registration Here

(S) Rain Barrel Workshop | Independence

Thurs, Sept 4, 6 - 7 p.m. @ Independence Civic Center, 6363 Selig Blvd., Independence, OH, 44131

Learn how to collect rainwater for outdoor use and help stop stormwater pollution in your community by making a rain barrel! A rain barrel is a container that collects and stores rainwater that would normally flow into a storm drain untreated. You can then use the collected water to water your lawn and garden. At this event, you’ll learn how to put together and set up your rain barrel. The $60 fee covers the cost of the workshop and all materials, including a 60-gallon barrel, drill bits, and a downspout diverter. If you want to create a two-barrel system, you can get a second barrel and linking kit for $40.

More Information and Registration Here

(S) Plant Sale Prep at Creekside Collaborative Partners

Tues Sept 9  from 9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. , Thurs Sept 11 from 1-3 p.m., Tues Sept 16 from 9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m., & Thurs Sept 18 from 9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. @ Creekside Collaborative 7000 Randolph Dr Parma, OH 44129

Drop in as your schedule allows to help us prep for the fall plant sale (labeling plants, organizing inventory, weeding). Dress for the weather, and check your email prior to the event in case any changes are made.

More Information and Registration Here

(S) Rain Barrel Workshop | Brook Park

Tues, Sept 9, 6 - 7:30 p.m. @ Brook Park Amphitheater, 6155 Engle Road, Brook Park, OH, 44142

Learn how to collect rainwater for outdoor use and help stop stormwater pollution in your community by making a rain barrel! A rain barrel is a container that collects and stores rainwater that would normally flow into a storm drain untreated. You can then use the collected water to water your lawn and garden. At this event, you’ll learn how to put together and set up your rain barrel. The $60 fee covers the cost of the workshop and all materials, including a 60-gallon barrel, drill bits, and a downspout diverter. If you want to create a two-barrel system, you can get a second barrel and linking kit for $40.

More Information and Registration Here

(S) Tree Care 101

Sat, Sept 13, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. @ Pepper Pike Service Garage, 28000 Shaker Blvd., Pepper Pike, OH, 44124

Are you interested in planting a tree at your residence, but don’t know how to get started? Come join us in Pepper Pike for Tree Care 101, a workshop where we will walk you through the process of selecting, planting, and caring for a new tree. Residents of Cuyahoga County who attend will get to select a free bareroot tree they will receive in Spring 2026. Workshop is free but registration is requested.

More Information and Registration Here

(S) The Nature Forum: Under the Surface

Sat, Sept 13, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. @ Watershed Stewardship Center, West Creek Reservation in West Creek Watershed

Stop by the Nature Forum! West Creek Reservation is hosting expert presentations on Ohio's remarkable natural features. Drop in anytime for inspiring lectures, shop a native plant sale, and enjoy farm-to-table sampling with Spicefield Kitchen. Connect with experts for a day of presentations on Ohio’s remarkable natural features.

More Information and Schedule Here

(S) Fishing Workshop w/ Cleveland Metroparks

Sat, Sept 13, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. @ Rockefeller Lagoon

Are you a long-time fishing fanatic, or would you like to try to catch your first fish? Join Doan Brook Watershed Partnership and Cleveland Metroparks at Rockefeller Lagoon on Saturday, September 13th for a free fishing workshop! The lagoon will be stocked with bluegill and catfish, and we will have free fishing rods and bait for registered participants while supplies last! Rockefeller Lagoon (7 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Cleveland, OH) is wheelchair accessible, and you do not need a fishing license to fish there!

More Information and Registration Here

(S) Free Trees for CLE!

Sat, Sept 13, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. @ Rockefeller Lagoon

DBWP will give away  native trees (3-5 gallon) to Cleveland residents who complete “Tree School 101” training at one of our 2025 Watershed Festivals or tree giveaways. Funding was provided by the Cleveland Tree Coalition (CTC) Cleveland and the goal of the Tree Giveaway Grant is to provide trees to residents at no cost to increase planting on private property, build sentiment around trees, and build community trust. Trees are FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE and feel free to have someone pick up your tree for you. Receive up to 2 trees per approved registration/residence.

More Information and Registration Here

(S) Friends of the Doan Brook Gorge Habitat Stewardship

Sat, Sept 20, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. @ Fairhill Road between E 124th and E. 127th

A few years ago, some friends got together to start removing invasive species and planting native species in the Doan Brook Gorge in the hopes of making it a more resilient and accessible spot for community members to spend time in nature. Filled with meandering trails and multiple waterfalls, the Doan Brook Gorge is a beautiful and often under-utilized natural area of the Doan Brook watershed. This year, we are hosting 6 “Habitat Stewardship Days” which will involve invasive species removal, native tree plantings, and so much more! Join us in helping to make the Doan Brook Gorge a more biodiverse and welcoming outdoor space for all!

More Information and Registration Here

(S) Bike the Watershed

Sat, Sept 20, 2 - 4 p.m. @ Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve 8701 Lakeshore Blvd. Cleveland, OH 44108

Join DBWP, Bike Cleveland, University Circle Inc, and more for a bike ride through the Rockefeller Reach of the Doan Brook Watershed! Learn about recent projects in the area, and get to know the watershed community–on wheels! The ride will be approximately 8 miles at a no-drop pace. All are welcome (you must bring your own bike).

More Information and Registration Here

(S) Creekside Collaborative Fall Plant Sale

Sun, Sept 21, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. @ Creekside Collaborative 7000 Randolph Dr, Parma, OH, OH, United States

Shop a variety of native trees and plants grown right here at our nursery! Join us Sunday, September 21st, from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM at Creekside Collaborative for our Fall Plant Sale. Drop by and take home plants that support pollinators, improve soil health, and thrive in our region.

More Information and Registration Here

(S) Grow Not Mow

Sat, Sept 27, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. @ S Park Blvd & Lee Rd, Shaker Heights

The workday celebrating National Public Lands Day will again be a collaborative event sponsored by the City of Shaker Heights, The Doan Brook Watershed Partnership and the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes. We are calling for volunteers of all ages to join us in planting more native trees and plants and removing invasives at this site adjacent to the Doan Brook. This is our third season of extending this area of woodland and underplanting it with a meadow. A planned NEORSD project will remove a concrete stepped culverted area of the Doan Brook impeding fish passage. This will enable Nature Center Natural Resource Specialists and volunteers to remove invasive vines proliferating along the banks of the Doan Brook. All volunteers should come dressed for the weather. Tools and gloves will be provided. Families and volunteers of all ages are welcome!

More Information and Registration Here

(S) Beaver Coexistence: Benefits and Techniques

Mon, Sept 29, 6 - 7 p.m. @Richfield Public Library

We are excited to announce an upcoming speaker event on beaver coexistence. Beavers can be exceptional partners for improving watershed health, however living with them can bring a unique set of challenges. Join us for a speaker event on the benefits beavers can have for ourselves and our ecosystems, as well as an overview of methods to mitigate undesirable effects of beavers. Everyone is welcome at this event, but landowners in particular may find this valuable. Event is free! No registration required.

More Information

(L) Watershed Wednesday w/Friends of Euclid* 

Wed, Oct 1, 6 - 7:30 p.m. @ Dusty Goldenrod Preserve in Euclid Creek Watershed

Our eight Watershed Wednesday event of the year. 

Join Brian Gilbert of Friends of Euclid Creek to learn about and tour the Dusty Goldenrod Preserve. We should be able to see the Dusty Goldenrod in full bloom!

(O) Sturgeon Fest 

Sat, Oct 4, 1 - 4 p.m. @ Rivergate Park, 1785 Merwin Ave., Cleveland

Cleveland Metroparks, in partnership with the Ohio Division of Wildlife, is hosting the first annual Sturgeon Fest. The event celebrates the historic stocking of 1,500 juvenile lake sturgeon into the Cuyahoga River to support the species' recovery. The event will include educational activities and volunteers will assist with the release of lake sturgeon.

(R) Work Session: European Black Alder

Tues, Oct 14, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. @ Lake Isaac, Big Creek Reservation in Rocky River Watershed

Join CMP Natural Resources Manager Val Carter-Stone to remove non-native, European Black Alder. 

(M) Marine Debris Monitoring

Sun, Oct 19, 9 - 11 a.m. @ Euclid Beach in Euclid Creek Watershed

Join us for monitoring Marine Debris at Euclid Creek.

(R) Seed Collection

TBD

Join us collecting native seeds for use in future restoration projects throughout Cleveland Metroparks. Dress in layers for wet soil and thorny vegetation; wear boots, long pants, and long sleeves. 

(S) Rain Barrel Pick-Up Event | Shaker Heights

Wed, Oct 1, 6 - 7:30 p.m. @ Shaker Heights Service Yard, 15600 Chagrin Blvd., Shaker Heights, OH, 44120

Collect rainwater for outdoor use and help stop stormwater pollution in your community by making a rain barrel! A rain barrel is a container that collects and stores rainwater that would normally flow into a storm drain untreated. You can then use the collected water to water your lawn and garden. This workshop is a rain barrel pickup. You will receive a barrel and a kit that has everything you need to make your barrel at home with a drill and a screwdriver. If you do not have these tools, please contact the organizer. The $60 fee covers all materials, including a 60-gallon barrel, drill bits, and a downspout diverter. If you want to create a two-barrel system, you can get a second barrel and linking kit for $40. You must pre-pay below and register for the workshop. Barrel dimensions are 2 feet wide by 3 feet tall.

More Information and Registration Here

(S) Cuyahoga SWCD Stormwater Run-Off 2025

Sun, Oct 5, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. @ Clark Field Park

Join Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District at our 2nd Annual Stormwater Run-Off 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk! On Sunday, October 5th, run or walk on the Towpath Trail and learn about stormwater and the different ways to slow it down, spread it out, and soak it in throughout the course. Post-race refreshments will be available to all participants, and the Smooth Rider Food Truck will be on-site, with discounts available to race participants. 

More Information and Registration Here

(S) Friends of the Doan Brook Gorge Habitat Stewardship

Sat, Oct 11, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. @ Fairhill Road between E 124th and E. 127th.

A few years ago, some friends got together to start removing invasive species and planting native species in the Doan Brook Gorge in the hopes of making it a more resilient and accessible spot for community members to spend time in nature. Filled with meandering trails and multiple waterfalls, the Doan Brook Gorge is a beautiful and often under-utilized natural area of the Doan Brook watershed. This year, we are hosting 6 “Habitat Stewardship Days” which will involve invasive species removal, native tree plantings, and so much more! Join us in helping to make the Doan Brook Gorge a more biodiverse and welcoming outdoor space for all!

More Information and Registration Here

(S) Blue Heron Homecoming 2025

Sat, Oct 11, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. @ 2460 Akron Peninsula Rd.

The Blue Heron Homecoming is an annual environmental festival that provides community members with a chance to learn about the Akron Waterways Renewed! (AWR!) program. The festival features representatives from the City of Akron, firms involved with the AWR! program, and community partners, including local non-profits and environmental groups. 

More Information and Registration Here

(S) Doan Brook Annual Watershed Symposium

Thurs, Oct 23, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. @ Nature Center at Shaker Lakes

This year, our Annual Meeting will feature a symposium of presentations about projects led by DBWP and community members across our watershed! Join us for an evening of refreshments, get to know our watershed community, and hear about our 2025 highlights!

More Information and Registration Here

(M) Marine Debris Monitoring

Monthly: Starting in May, Select Sundays - 9-11am

(L) Watershed Wednesdays

Monthly: May through October -  6-7:30pm

(M) Scenic Rivers Macro Monitoring

Seasonally: May 13, July 15, September 9 - 10am-12:30pm