As the year is ending we have been reflecting on what an amazing year 2022 has been. Together we have done so much to help the Lower Olentangy watershed. Over 3,384 volunteer hours have been spent cleaning up trash, planting trees, maintaining pollinator gardens, monitoring the tributaries of the Olentangy River, removing honeysuckle and other invasive plants and so much more. We couldn’t do this work without your time and financial support. Thank you!!!
Thank you for reading this special letter from FLOW Board President, Kelly Thiel:
This fall, on a beautiful afternoon, I took a walk along the Olentangy trail just south of Henderson Road. What used to be open grassy fields next to Whetstone High School is now planted with a row of native trees, ready to provide years of shade to trail users and an improved ecosystem for the area. This successful project is just one of many that FLOW made possible this year. Our grant writers are always on the lookout for opportunities to bring dollars to our communities and improve the watershed for all of its inhabitants. These trees were obtained through a grant FLOW received and planted by FLOW volunteers. Our hope is that everyone who passes by these trees benefits from their proven ability to clean the air, improve the soil, increase wildlife habitat, filter storm water and regulate the surrounding temperature.
In order to continue to make a difference we rely on the support of generous individuals and businesses in our community. If you have been to a FLOW event in the last couple of years then you are likely familiar with our fabulous event coordinator. With your support we can keep this position filled, keep our tools stored, and the lights on in our small office. We depend on our community recognizing the value of a healthy watershed to continue to fund the work we do.
In these days of increasing costs for everything from groceries to goods and services my family has been using the outdoors as free entertainment and a benefit to our mental health. It can be easy to take our green spaces for granted and ignore that Columbus is one of the fastest growing heat islands; increased development will put a strain on our streams and tributaries. FLOW remains focused on our mission to maintain the value of one of the community’s most precious assets–The Olentangy River. We need your help to continue this mission and meet the environmental challenges ahead.
If you have donated to FLOW in the past, THANK YOU! Our donors and volunteers make FLOW the great organization it is today. We hope that you’ll consider becoming a member of FLOW. You can give a one time gift or we hope you’ll consider giving as a monthly supporter. Your tax-deductible donation will help keep the Olentangy River safe, clean, and healthy for generations to enjoy in the decades to come. Visit the support page on this website for ways to donate.
Rebecca Rose is the conservation liaison for the Ohio Wildlife Center. She joined the OWC team in 2019 after retiring from the Columbus Zoo where she served as the Zoo’s field conservation officer.
Throughout her career, Rebecca has been dedicated to grassroots conservation initiatives, and currently serves on the board of directors for the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA), Friends of Bonobos (supporting the world’s only sanctuary for the endangered bonobo) and the Center for Conservation Peacebuilding based in Washington, D.C. She is a founding member and serves on the steering committee for the Zoos and Aquariums Committing to Conservation conference, an international meeting launched at the Columbus Zoo in 1995. Rebecca is a presenter and organizer for the local initiative, Finding Your Voice (FYV), a biennial meeting hosted by Otterbein University. FYV aims to provide practical information and inspiration to young people interested in careers in wildlife conservation. Rebecca recently completed the Climate Reality Project 8-day training with former Vice President Al Gore, and is certified to present on the topic of climate change.
Rebecca has traveled throughout the United States, Central and South America, Southeast Asia and Africa, in support of wildlife conservation initiatives.
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