Newletters Recent Issues:

 Lowhead Dam Special Newsletter:

• Special Edition FACT Newsletter lowhead dam feature Published January 2009
• Lowhead dam FACT newsletter  Published October 2007                                         
• Lowhead Dam web section - Additional FACT information  & news on lowhead dams

   Annual Meeting:                                                        

• 2007 FACT year in review presentation - November 8, 2007

• FACT Presentation, Greenways - July 26, 2007   City of Columbus, Councilmember Tyson & CRPD                    

    Action Planning:

• MORPC presentation Watersheds 101: Exploring Big Walnut Watershed (23-page PowerPoint in PDF, from December 2010).

• Lower Alum Creek Action Plan - February, 2005

• Watershed Action Plan committee annual meeting - Dec. 10, 2008 summary

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   Previous Newsletters Archives, 2002 - Present:

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FACT Media Archive

    Watershed in the News:

Yr. 2011

Yr. 2010

Yr. 2009

• Columbus Group Receives Ohio American Water Environmental Grant 8/19/2009 Columbus City Council press release - FACT news    
• FACT radio interview by City of Columbus Call The Roll 8/15/2009                         Podcast Aug. 2009
• FACT to receive only Ohio grant from American Water                                Aug. 13, 2009 FACT press release
• Ohio American Water rewards grant to FACT                                          American Water press release Aug. 2009
• Alum Creek Lowhead Dam Removal Improves Environment
  FACT story on  page 6  of  state environmental bi-monthly newspaper.                             published Feb. 2009 EarthWatch Ohio
• Alum Creek Lowhead Dams’ Removal Improves Environment                       Winter 2009 edition of Buckeye Basins - web news produced by the Ohio State University Extension, Watershed Team.
• Melting snow adds pollutants to waterways                                            published Feb.  2, 2009  The Columbus Dispatch   
• Developers allowed to build closer to streams

  Olentangy River protection reduced - from 100 feet to now 30 feet buffer by OEPA

  published Jan. 28, 2009  The Columbus Dispatch 
• Bexley sells old nursery site for $350,000                                                    published Jan. 14, 2009 The Columbus Dispatch                                                                            FACT's Margaret Ann Samuel's statement to Bexley City Council is quoted.
• Free water plant tour scheduled

  published Jan. 8, 2009 This Week -Westerville community newspaper  (Front page).                     "The public is invited to see how the Alum Creek river water is processed for public consumption in the second annual Friends of Alum Creek and Tributaries (FACT) tour of the Westerville water treatment plant." 
• Lowhead Dam Removal to Improve Envrionment                                     published winter 2009 'The Ohio Water Table' newsletter (pg. 4-5 of PDF)                                 by Water Management Association of Ohio
• Alum Creek lowhead dam removal to improve envrionment                     published Jan.-Feb. 2009 in the 'Sierran' newsletter, by Central Ohio Sierra Club Group.
• Greener Times on the Horizon in Columbus  or

  http://www.ohio.sierraclub.org/central/2009_01_CleanWater.asp   FACT mentioned.         published Jan.-Feb. 2009 in the 'Sierran' newsletter, by Central Ohio Sierra Club Group.

   

Yr. 2008

• FACT work to remove low-head dams nears completion                              published Nov. 24, 2008 Bexley News - Suburban News Publications

• Columbus utility rate hike coming                                                                    published Nov. 15, 2008 Eastside Messenger                                                                                   Columbus Councilmember Andrew Ginther and Columbus Dept Public Utlities Directer Tatanya Arsh cite needed upgrades, rising prices to run treatment plants as reasons for planned hike. Sierra Club & FACT Board members provide public comments during Nov. 11 committee meeting.

• Help the fish: Don't rake leaves into street                                                   published Nov. 13, 2008 The Columbus Dispatch                                                                                 Foliage that ends up in waterways feeds algae that hog the oxygen.  When the algae die they are decomposed by bacteria which in turn deplete the dissolved oxygen in the water.                       Story includes quotes from FACT's Joe Bonnell.

• Invasive bushes removed from Jeffrey Park                                                       published Nov. 10, 2008 Eastside Messenger
• Columbus City Council honors FACT  - Nov. 10 City Council meeting Resolution doc; photo of FACT's Board representatives, Priscilla Tyson &  Joe Bonnell photo
• Celebrating Conservation Efforts                                                                      Nov. 10, 2008 Columbus City Council - Meeting Highlights  Resolution 0199X-2008,  sponsored by Recreation and Parks Committee Chair Priscilla R. Tyson, recognizes the countless hours FACT members have volunteered to preserve Columbus’ waterways.
• FACT press release re Nelson Park lowhead dam removal underway           Nov. 10, 2008
• FACT annual meeting planned                                                                                            published Nov. 5, 2008 Bexley News; and Westerville News & Public Opinion (SNP)
• Columbus City Councilmember Priscilla Tyson's Corner Newsletter             Oct.  31, 2008 Autumn edition (page 3) recognizes FACT lowhead dam celebration event
• Corrections (credit to FACT for Oct.  20 Metro section photo story)                       published Oct. 21, 2008 The Columbus Dispatch
• Letting the creek run free (photo of lowhead dam demolition Wolfe Park-Academy Park) published Oct. 20, 2008 The Columbus Dispatch
• River restoration is goal of dam removal (lowhead at Wolfe Park-Academy Park)        published Oct. 16, 2008  Bexley News edition - Suburban News Publications
• EPA stormwater rules are 'failure'
  National Academy of Sciences report urges overhaul to curb pollution
  published Oct. 16, 2008 by The Associated Press
• Stream corridor ordinance questioned  Various concerns expressed by Reynoldsburg City Council on Oct. 13 over Planning Commission's proposed 25 foot protection buffer.           published October 15, 2008 ThisWeek News
• FACT Celebrates Removal of Low-head Dam                                                  Oct. 14, 2008  4:30 PM   Televised news broadcast by NBC-WCMH 4 Marcus Thorpe
• Blacklick Creek gets protection from erosion
  published September 27, 2008 Columbus Messenger-Eastside.
  Reynoldsburg ordinance would prohibit new development alteration of open channels... within a minimum of 25 feet back from each side of the stream bank, though depending on the type of development and stream corridor, it could be a maximum of 250 feet.

• Pickerington must clean up water                                                        City must reduce amount of particles plant releases into Sycamore Creek.
  published Sept. 27, 2008 The Columbus Messenger

• F aster fix urged for sewer system - 40 years to clean up rivers 'not typical'    $2.5 billion in upgrades.  OEPA public hearing                                                                                     published Sept. 23, 2008 The Columbus Dispatch

• U.S. House approves Great Lakes compact The U.S. House has ratified a compact to prevent the diversion of water from the Great Lakes, adding protections for one of the world's largest sources of fresh water.                                                                            published Sept. 23, 2008 by The Associated Press

• Park Clean Up   (FACT clearing Honeysuckle at Cooper Park,  follow-up photo)           photo published Sept. 18, 2008 This Week News- Northland

• Ditch? Stream? Name matters.  Proposed Environmental Safeguards               published Sept. 15, 2008 The Columbus Dispatch
• Wrap-Up the Summer Benefit                                                                                                       
• Park, Trail work set for Sept. 13                                                                                                 published Sept. 11, 2008 This Week News-Westerville 

• Volunteers needed for park, road cleanups                      http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/northland/stories/2008/09/10/0911nocleanup_ln.html?sid=104      Northland ThisWeek - Sept.10, 2008 weekly publication
• Two low-head dams to be removed FACT Board okays design plans.                    published August 14, 2008 ThisWeek Bexley.
• NBC WCMH TV Channel 10 News                                                                  Paul Stelzer aired evening Aug 7, 2008 (text)
• Two Alum Creek Dams to be Removed                                                                        published August 7, 2008, The Columbus Dispatch.
• "City Was Ill Prepared for Alum Creek Spill"                                                              Letter to the Editor published Aug. 3, 2008, The Columbus Dispatch.
• "Governor, Lawmakers promote Clean Ohio"                                    published Aug. 1, 2008, The Columbus Dispatch."
• "City Clean-up Tab in Fuel Depot Leak Hits $1.6 million work continues after three-month spill of biodiesel polluted Alum Creek"                                                      published July 6, 2008, The Columbus Dispatch.
• "Dam removal high priority, Corps says" Olentangy River                  published June 16, 2008, The Columbus Dispatch.
• Warning signs sought after drowning at dam  Olentangy River               published June 10, 2008, The Columbus Dispatch.
• "An 'Invasive Meltdown' "   -Emerald Ash Borer & three invasive plants are profiled - published June 3, 2008, The Columbus Dispatch.
• "Lures of the City - Fishing in Urban Areas can be both Relaxing & Productive   published June 3, 2008, The Columbus Dispatch.

• City sees jump in overflow of sewers                                                   published April 27, 2008  The Columbus Dispatch

• Capital students lend a hand in Bexley"   greenways planting                                   published April 17, 2008, ThisWeek Bexley

• Outdoors: Rain or Shine activities  Alum Creek  tree planting                        published April 17, 2008, The Columbus Dispatch-Weekender
• "Loss of earmark stymies 5th Avenue dam removal"                      published April 12, 2008, The Columbus Dispatch
• "Greenways Plantings"                                                                                              published April 10, 2008, ThisWeek Westerville
• Tainted Medicine Waters                                                                                        published March 10, 2008, The Columbus Dispatch.
• "Plan Cuts No-build Zone Along Tributaries"                                        published March 8, 2008, The Columbus Dispatch.
• "Begley promotes 'green' living"  (Otterbein College)   published February 21, 2008,  ThisWeek Community Newspapers-Westerville
• "Clean Up of Ohio Streams Lagging"                                                       published Feb. 2, 2008,  The Columbus Dispatch.
• "Westerville Main Street Bridge Plans"                                                          published Jan. 24, 2008,  ThisWeek Community Newspaper Westerville.
• "Corn is Golden, So Conservation Takes a Hit"                                       published Jan. 14, 2008,  The Columbus Dispatch.
• "Riparian Corridors...they're for the birds And other wildlife providing a barrier to development"                                                                                    published Jan. 13, 2008, Marion Star.
• "FACT Will Host Tour of Treatment Plant"                                              published Jan. 10, 2008,  ThisWeek Community 
• "FACT Plans Water Plant Tour"                                                                    published Jan. 9, 2008,  Westerville News & Public Opinion - SNP.
• "OSU Crew Club face Olentangy River challenges with dam removal plans"  published Jan. 7, 2008,  The Columbus Dispatch.

• "3 Rivers Could Join List of Ohio's Most Scenic"                                     published Dec. 26, 2007,   The Columbus Dispatch.
• "Dam Demolition Will Leave River Smaller, Cleaner -Olentangy Work will cost City $640,000"                                                                                          published Dec. 8, 2007,  The Columbus Dispatch.
• "Westerville Adopt-a-Bikeways Program"                                                           letter to editor published SNP Westerville News & Public Opinion Dec 2007
• "Franklin County to Hook Up Residences to Sewers"                                         published November 22, 2007,  The Columbus Dispatch.
• "City Plans to Tunnel 5.4 miles - Way found to lower costs, lessen hassle of (Olentangy) sewer project"                                                                                                   published November 15, 2007,  The Columbus Dispatch.
• "Set-Aside Plan a Trickle for Scioto's Scenic Tributaries"                          published November 14, 2007,  The Columbus Dispatch.
• "Flow Gently - City should spend money on dam removal instead of fines" published  Wednesday, November 14, 2007, The Columbus Dispatch.
• "ODOT Hears Complaints, Removes Trash Dumped Near North Side Park" (Casto)  Oct. 23, 2007 The Columbus Dispatch
•  "Greenway trail signs defaced by Graffiti"                                                         published Oct 18, 2007, This WeekCommunity Newspapers-Northland.
• "City Comes Closer to Establishing Bikeways Network"                                         published October 4, 2007, ThisWeek Community Newspapers.
• "Fuel Leak Cleanup Underway",                                                     published September 28, 2007, The Columbus Dispatch.
• "Toll of Fuel Leak Grows",                                                         published September 28, 2007, The Columbus Dispatch.
• "Columbus Fuel Leak Estimate Ballons",                                      published September 27, 2007, WCMH-TV4, Columbus, Ohio.
•  "Bicyclists want more paths and parking,"                                    published September 27, 2007, The Columbus Dispatch.
• "City Fuel Seeping into Alum Creek",                                           published September 19, 2007, The Columbus Dispatch 
• "Sewage Blamed For Stench Along Bike Path",                                          published September 4, 2007, WCMH.

• "Odor Complaints to OEPA",                                                                                                published September 3, 2007, The Columbus Dispatch.

• "Alum Creek Bike Trail to Begin in Columbus",                                                       published August 17, 2007, The Columbus Messenger.

• "Olentangy River Low-Head Dam Removal Plans",                                                         published August 17, 2007, The Columbus Dispatch.

• "Group Plans to Remove 2 Dams. Safer, More Healthy Stream is their Goal",  Published August 4, 2007, The Columbus Dispatch

• More Patrols Sought for Area Trails, (Cols Rec & Parks - Alum Creek path)             published August 8, 2007, The Columbus Dispatch.

Yr. 2006

• Free Cycling Event to Highlight Trail,                                                   published September 4, 2006, Suburban News Publications.

• "City, FACT join to preserve wetlands"                                               published March 23, 2006, ThisWeek Newspapers

• "No-egg nest for Westerville eagles?"                                                   published March 22-29, 2006
• "Streams overlooked on map for growth plan"                                        published March 22, 2006 the Columbus Dispatch

Yr. 2005 & Earlier

• "Cool Names Might Save Anonymous Waterways",                               Published in The Columbus Dispatch, January 11, 2005 
• "Fact Focus: Protect, Preserve Creek",                                                          Published in ThisWeek Bexley, January 9, 2003

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   Press Releases, Communications, & Other Relevant News:

Yr. 2009

• Developers allowed to build closer to streams The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's plan to protect the streams from runoff pollution from construction sites, roofs and new roads used to call for a 100-foot buffer. Last year, the state cut it to 50 feet.  Now, it's 30.    published Jan. 28, 2009 The Columbus Dispatch

• Few regulations restrain tons of toxic coal sludge  Environmentalists fear a holding-pond disaster could happen here, too. published Jan. 8, 2009 The Columbus Dispatch

• Volunteers hope to name streams                                                               Conservationists plan to study and name as many as 20 small streams that feed a scenic stretch of the Olentangy River in Delaware County in hopes that the state will better protect the waterways from development. Friends of the Lower Olentangy River Watershed said the project will start in the spring. published Jan. 7, 2009 The Columbus Dispatch

Yr. 2008

• Ravine cleaning  Two Columbus neighborhoods' storm sewers being improved by Public Utilities to eliminate sanitary overflows. published Dec. 29, 2008  The Columbus Dispatch.
• OSU worries removing dam will harm campus City of Columbus plans to hire an engineering company for as much as $540,000 to assess the effects of demolishing 5th Ave lowhead dam on the Olentangy River. published Dec. 15, 2008 The Columbus Dispatch
• No-name No more. Providing identities for small streams makes them easier to protect, officials say. published Dec. 14, 2008 The Columbus Dispatch

• Many sewage treatment systems fail inspections

  Health department alarmed by number of clogs, neglect throughout Fairfield county.        Published December 14, 2008 by the The Eagle-Gazette Staff.

• Ohio EPA pushes Groveport sewer issue

  The Ohio EPA is considering its enforcement options regarding what it describes as "inadequate sewerage treatment systems" along west Groveport Road.                                                 Published December 13, 2008 by Southeast Messenger.

• http://www.minervapark.org/villager/2008-12.pdf  "Water Pollution Ravages Minerva Park Tributaries - Is it you?" see page 6 of December 2008 issue of Villager newsletter.
• Local riverbanks: A confluence of the homeless  Call it an economy-induced run on the riverbanks: More people find themselves pitching tents to survive the cold.  published November 29, 2008 The Columbus Dispatch
• Future homeowners may pay to save Darby Creek                                  

  Officials weigh taxes, surcharge to fund plan to shield Big Darby.

  published November 29, 2008 The Columbus Dispatch
• Wetland banking has fans, critics  Developers' boon called inferior by environmentalists.   published November 28, 2008 The Columbus Dispatch
• South Euclid rips our concrete, creates wetland  to help with flooding   published Oct. 20, 2008 by Cleveland.com
• 6 Foolish Ways to Go Green                                                                                                 published Jan. 11, 2008, MSN.com Money.

• Keep Columbus Beautiful thank you letter to FACT  volunteers,  December 08, 2007.
• City of Columbus, Public Utility Update, Summer 2007, page 2 -Frequently Asked Questions about sewer overflows into rivers.
• Columbus City Council Resolution - acknowledge, recognize, & thank FACT's efforts;  September 29, 2007.
• Councilmember Tyson Helps Clean Alum Creek,                                     City of Columbus announcement;  September 28, 2007.
• Greenways Publications & Educational Tools                                                         MORPC  website contains downloadable & misc. educational materials.

Some of these products or publications were financed in part or totally through a grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Environmental Protection Agency, under the provisions of Section 319 (h) of the Clean Water Act.  The contents and views, including any opinions, findings or conclusions or recommendations, contained in these publications are from those of the authors and have not been subject to any U.S. EPA or Ohio EPA peer or administrative review and may not necessarily reflect the views of either Agency, and no official endorsement should be inferred.

 2010 Annual Achievements

2010 Yr-End Letter Highlighting our Accomplishmets

2009 Annual Achievements

2008 Yr-End FACT Letter  Highlightng our Accomplishments

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