SPRING 2012

Despite this year’s exceptionally mild winter, the arrival of spring has brought with it the usual sense of renewal and fresh energy. Whether it is the extended

hours of daylight, the warmer temperatures, or the fresh delicate scents of blossoming trees, something about this time of year makes us want to take a stab at cleaning up and improving our surroundings.

A lot of us start that process at home, with spring cleaning and the first round of gardening tasks. Perhaps your family finally cleared out all that recyclable stuff that you were accumulating in the garage or basement over the winter. Or, maybe this is the year that you will install the raised beds you’ve been considering, to be able to harvest some fresh, organic produce from your own yard.

Many people may also have the urge to go beyond the confines of their own property and want to help improve the environment in their community. If you live anywhere near the Nine Mile Run watershed, we can offer you some great opportunities to do just that. The Events section (page six) of this newsletter has details about how you can get involved.

You can help us plant trees that will beautify our community, clean the air, and intercept thousands of gallons of stormwater before it can pick up pollutants and run into the storm sewers and Nine Mile Run. (If you live in other parts of the city you can help plant trees through TreeVitalize and Tree Pittsburgh – check their websites for more information.) Or, you can come to a Stream Sweep and help us remove the trash that has found its way into Nine Mile Run. As we continue to steward the remarkable restoration that has transformed lower Frick Park, we rely heavily on volunteer help.

If you find yourself drawn to that kind of work and want to make a more significant commitment, consider the Urban EcoStewards program. These extraordinary volunteers make a long-term commitment to a specific plot of ground, and help to keep it free of trash and invasive species over time. Along with our program partners, we provide training and supplies. Individuals can become stewards, but

it’s also a great activity for a family to take on together.

Often, paying attention to the environment in your own backyard leads to greater concern for the big picture. And so it has been for the Nine Mile Run Watershed Association. After more than a decade of experience with innovative stormwater management through green infrastructure, we have found ourselves called upon more frequently to participate in the larger discussions taking place about how our region should deal with our water quality and sewer issues.

Right now, we are a partner in the Clean Rivers Campaign, which is working to make sure that the plan put forward by ALCOSAN to end sewer overflows in our region will include green infrastructure. Including green infrastructure in the plan will bring numerous environmental benefits to our communities, as well as the greatest number of good jobs at the lowest cost to rate payers. There are many ways that citizens can help move this work forward. If you are interested in learning more, come to one of the Clean Rivers Campaign’s workshops that we’re holding around the region. There’s one scheduled in our watershed on June 2nd. (See the Events section on page six of this newsletter, or visit www.cleanriverscampaign.org for more information.)

For the most up-to-date information, or to register for any of our events, please visit our website at www.ninemilerun.org. Thanks for all you do to improve our little corner of the world, and Happy Spring!

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Letter from the Executive Director Our BoardScott Rosenblum

President

Jeaneen ZappaVice President

Veronica ToranTreasurer

MaryRose WalkoSecretary

Andrew ButcherDaniel CodyZelda Curtiss

Joanna GuziewiczJason Jesso

Patrick LoughneyBob MaloneyJohn Moyer

James NesbittMisty Parshall

Jonathan SchneiderJohn SchombertMatthew Wholey

Lois WinslowMargaret Zak

StaffBrenda L. SmithExecutive Director

Kevin GiederChief Financial Officer

Luke StamperSales Manager, StormWorks

Sara MaddenDesign Manager, StormWorks

Gary N. RigdonDirector of Programs

Alicia DonnerGreenLinks Coordinator

Sara PowellEducation and Advocacy Coordinator

Judith JunglingOffice Manager

Paul YanulavichStormWorks Program Assistant

Maeve Rafferty GreenLinks Program Assistant

Kristina NikiforovaStormWorks Intern

Marlee GallagherDevelopment Consultant

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Our mission is to ensure the restoration and protection of the Nine Mile Run watershed through citizen engagement, demonstration

projects, and advocacy.

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The cover photo was taken by John Moyer, a local psychotherapist specializing in abuse and neglect issues, who has taken many wonderful photos of Nine Mile Run over the years. From John: “I recall that this photo was taken on one of the unusually warm days of early spring we had in March. I wanted to get down close to the water for a different perspective, as I have taken literally thousands of shots of the restored stream and wetland ecosystem. I find that the restoration and recovery of Nine Mile Run reflects my own healing, growth, and development, just as it mirrors the lives of my clients. It takes a lifetime of caring and nurturing, of returning again and again, to restore something closer to what it was meant to be.”

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The American Eagle Outfitters Foundation

The Edgewood Foundation

The Heinz Endowments

The Richard King Mellon Foundation

The Bessie F. Anathan Charitable Trust of The Pittsburgh

Foundation

The Rita M. McGinley Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

TreeVitalize Program

The Sprout Fund

PennVest

Summerset at Frick Park

The Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation

And our members!

Special thanks to: Betty Kindle and ALCOSAN,

Christina Kovitch and Test America, and Alexander

Denmarsh Photography for donation of professional services

The Environmental Charter School at Frick Park, Second

United Presbyterian Church of Wilkinsburg, and South Avenue

United Methodist Church for the use of their facilities for meetings

In-Kind Donations:AgRecycle, for mulch

Allegro Hearth Bakery, Squirrel Hill

Bruegger’s Bagels, Squirrel Hill

Coffee Tree Roasters, Squirrel Hill

Our Programs are made possible through the generous support of our funders.

NMRWA partners with other nonprofits, welcomes a new CFOOver the past few years, NMRWA has been regularly meeting with other local environmentally-focused groups to figure out how to partner to share services and become more

efficient. Two main goals have emerged from these collaborative meetings – sharing government relations work and financial management services.

The groups working together to explore shared government relations options have recently engaged a local firm, Cohen & Grigsby, and are currently in the process of refining a policy agenda. The groups involved are: NMRWA, Sustainable Pittsburgh, GASP,

GTECH, Riverlife, and the Port Authority of Allegheny County.

NMRWA is also involved in the Environmental Finance Collaborative (EFC) – a group comprised of NMRWA, TreePittsburgh, GTECH, and Construction Junction. They decided that given the individual challenges facing each organization, the most needed collaboration with the greatest potential impact would be to share a CFO.

By sharing a CFO, the EFC partners hope to increase their organizational efficiency, gain financial management and strategy skills, enhance their groups’ operational performance, and receive support for enhancing unique social enterprise activities.

With support from the Richard King Mellon Foundation and Dewey & Kaye Consultants, the EFC hired Kevin Gieder, former Finance Group Leader at the H.J. Heinz Company, in December 2011. Kevin has a diverse background in finance and accounting, and will be responsible for providing operational financial expertise and oversight, budgeting and business planning, and support for the Finance Committee of the Board of Directors.

Kevin is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. in Real Estate Finance. Additionally, he serves as the Vice President of the Board of Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre, where he chairs the Finance Committee.

HellosGary Rigdon joined NMRWA in January 2012 as our new Director of Programs. A Pittsburgh native, Gary worked for many years doing sales and marketing in the corporate world. More recently, he has worked as a consultant for Allegheny Land Trust and Sustainable Pittsburgh, and also volunteers for the Friends of North Park, the Pine Creek Watershed Coalition, and the North Area Environmental Council. His work at NMRWA is driven by his desire to make our urban community a healthier place for us all to live, work, and play. In his free time, Gary enjoys cross-country skiing, mountain biking, and whitewater kayaking.

Sara

Gary

Lisa

Sara Powell joined NMRWA in February 2012 as our new Education & Advocacy Coordinator. Originally from South Carolina, she holds a M.S. in Environmental Health Sciences from the University of South Carolina. Prior to moving to Pittsburgh, Sara worked as a Science Communicator for EcoCheck, a partnership group between NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. She is looking forward to becoming involved in NMRWA’s ongoing education and outreach programs, as well advocating for green infrastructure via the Clean Rivers Campaign. In her free time, Sara enjoys playing soccer, watching college football, and exploring Pittsburgh, one restaurant at a time.

GoodbyeDear friends, this past December we were faced with the difficult task of saying goodbye to our former Director of Operations and Outreach, Lisa Brown. Lisa has gone to pursue her doctoral studies at the University of Pittsburgh on a full-time basis. Lisa had been with NMRWA since 2006 and we can credit much of our organization’s visibility to her extraordinary outreach and advocacy efforts. Furthermore, her extensive knowledge, enthusiasm, sensibility, and culinary abilities inspired us all. We wish Lisa the best of luck with her studies!

Kevin

Have you heard the term “urban forestry” and wondered exactly what that was all about? Well, if you’ve noticed a number of new trees in the watershed over the past year or so, or participated in a tree planting with NMRWA – you’ve seen NMRWA’s urban forestry efforts firsthand!

Urban forestry refers to the careful care and management of urban forests – that is, all the trees, on both public and private property, within an urban area. Trees are vital members of an urban community. Among other benefits, trees absorb excess stormwater runoff, reduce air pollution, increase property values, and provide shade during hot summer days. According to StormwaterPA, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit, it is estimated that over a 50 year period, the average tree provides $30,000 worth of oxygen, $35,000 worth of clean water, and $60,000 worth of air pollution removal!

Trees have been an integral part of our region’s landscape and history for many years. That fact is even reflected in our state’s name – Pennsylvania was named after founder,

William Penn, and literally means “Penn’s Woods”.

Unfortunately, in Pittsburgh, as in many urban areas nationwide, we have experienced a substantial drop in the number of urban trees due to a variety of causes, including construction, pollution, disease, and neglect. Nationwide, there is an average of one tree per three people in urban areas. In Pittsburgh, there is only one tree per every 11 people.

NMRWA’s Wilkinsburg TreeVitalize project, which began last fall, aims to plant 500 street trees in Wilkinsburg over a two year period. These trees will help reduce stormwater runoff and non-point source pollution from entering Nine Mile Run, while also adding to and improving public green spaces within the Borough. Funding for the project was received through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PennVest), and NMRWA is working in partnership with TreeVitalize, the Borough of Wilkinsburg, and the Wilkinsburg CDC.

The Rooted in Wilkinsburg project is a part

of TreeVitalize’s larger goal of planting one million trees across Pennsylvania during the next five years – including 20,000 in the Pittsburgh region by the end of 2013.

Interested in learning more, getting a street tree, or volunteering at a tree planting? Contact Alicia at 412-371-8779 ext. 116 or alicia@ninemilerun.org.

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Urban Trees are Key Members of our Community

Trees are the ultimate multi-taskers. A healthy, thriving urban forest will be a key component of any plan to make our region more resilient in the face of climate change.

Trees improve water quality and reduce flooding. One hundred mature trees catch and filter more than 139,000 gallons of stormwater per year. – USDA Forest Service

Trees save us money. 20,000 new trees = $800,000 worth of utility savings to our region annually. – City of Pittsburgh Shade Tree Commission

Trees help keep people healthy. Trees outside hospital windows = almost one full day less recovery time and fewer pain killers for patients. – Center for Health Systems and Design, Texas A&M University

Trees help build strong communities.Planting a tree within 50 feet of a house = increased property value of about 9%. –Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania

Trees are good for business. Shaded business district = 11% increase in business. – Center for Urban Horticulture, University of Washington

Trees clean the air.One hundred trees remove 53 tons of carbon dioxide and 430 pounds of other air pollutants per year. – USDA Forest Service

How valuable are your trees?Casey Trees of Washington, D.C., in conjunction with Davey Tree Expert Company of Kent, OH, developed the National Tree Benefits Calculator: www.treebenefits.com/calculator. This easy to use tool can show you just how valuable your tree is!

Trees Benefit us in Many Ways

These before and after photos show what the Penn Avenue business district in Wilkinsburg could look like after tree planting. Studies have shown that consumers respond positively in many ways to business districts with a healthy urban forest.

Volunteers Jeanne Drennan and Harry Winslow (foreground) and Marsha Robinson and Kate Borger (background) plant trees on April 14th during a Rooted in Wilkinsburg event.

Before BeforeAfter After

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Tree Do’s & Don’ts

Volcano mulch can be damaging to trees.

good

bad

Gator bags are often used to slowly supply a tree with water during the growing season.

Vines like the English Ivy shown here can cause damage to your tree if not removed properly.

Don’t – Volcano MulchIncorrectly applied mulch can be harmful to a tree, so make sure mulch doesn’t pile up around the tree and touch the bark. Volcano mulch (so named because of the shape!) can rob the tree of oxygen and lead to insect and disease problems.

Do – Mulch correctlyWhen applied properly, mulch can improve tree health by helping maintain soil moisture, minimizing weed growth, and improving soil structure. Mulch widely, but not deeply, and pull the mulch back several inches from the base of the tree – this allows the tree’s roots to breathe!

Don’t – Allow vines to grow on treesIt is generally not a good idea to allow vines to grow on your tree – they may not kill it immediately, but the vines can block sunlight from the tree’s leaves and their weight may weaken and damage the tree’s limbs. When removing vines, cut them from the bottom and wait until they have died before pulling them off the tree. Be careful not to damage the tree’s bark!

Do – Supply adequate waterTrees should be slowly watered to a depth of about 12 inches below the soil surface, making sure to saturate the soil under the tree out to the edges of the tree’s branches to ensure water is dispersed to all of the tree’s roots. A young tree (in the ground for less than three years) will need approximately 20 gallons per week during the growing season (mid-April through October).

If you have any questions about any of these tree tips, please contact Alicia at 412-371-8779 ext. 116 or Alicia@ninemilerun.org.

Are you interested in helping increase the number of trees in the watershed and connect with members of the community? Then we have an opportunity for you!

NMRWA is looking for volunteers to help with the Wilkinsburg TreeVitalize Project by speaking up for trees this summer. We need you to share your enthusiasm for street trees with property owners and help get approval for new trees throughout the months of June and July. Volunteers need to be 18 years or older, and will ideally live in Wilkinsburg. Training will be provided, and a 2-4 hours/week minimum commitment for the campaign period is required. Interested? If so, please email Alicia Donner at alicia@ninemilerun.org by Monday, May 21st with your contact information and a short letter explaining why you would like to participate.

GreenLinks Summer Outreach Volunteers Needed!

Join NMRWA at the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden’s 22nd annual Plant Sale & Celebration on Saturday, May 12th at the Green Tree Fire Hall and Community Center. There will be a variety of trees, shrubs, and perennials for sale,

as well as interactive children’s activities and free classes and workshops. For more information, please visit: www.pittsburghbotanicgarden.org.

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Get Outside!Please check our website, www.ninemilerun.org under “Get Involved” for a complete list of upcoming events, cancellations and last minute changes. We will post any changes the night before an event. Unless otherwise specified, all events are free and open to the public. Families are welcome!

Rooted in WilkinsburgThe Wilkinsburg TreeVitalize Project – 500 Trees Initiative

Saturday, May 5, 2012 9:00am-2:00pm

Meet at the Borough Municipal Parking Lot in the 700 block of Ross Avenue (behind the South Avenue United Methodist Church, 733 South Avenue).

Join NMRWA & help plant 500 trees as a part of the Wilkinsburg TreeVitalize Project-500 Tree Initiative! This project will ensure tree-lined streets for Wilkinsburg’s future, provide many economic & social benefits, & help reduce the volume of stormwater runoff & non-point source pollution entering Nine Mile Run. We will provide refreshments & all the tools & supplies! For more information, contact Alicia at 412-371-8779 ext. 116 or alicia@ninemilerun.org.

Nine Mile Run Stream Sweep

Saturday, May 12, 2012 9:30am-12:00pm

Meet at the Fern Hollow parking lot, at the bottom of Lancaster Avenue.

Every time it rains or snows, trash & debris from the upper watershed communities of Pittsburgh, Edgewood, Wilkinsburg, & Swissvale washes into Nine Mile Run. Help NMRWA keep the stream clean & beautiful by helping pick up trash. We provide gloves, safety vest, & trash bags. Please wear long pants & sturdy boots or closed-toe shoes. If you have hip boots or waders, please bring them! For more information, contact Gary at 412-371-8779 ext. 115 or gary@ninemilerun.org.

Clean Rivers Campaign Workshop

Saturday, June 2, 2012 9:30am-10:30am

Construction Junction – 214 N. Lexington Street

Did you know that the largest public works expenditure in our region’s history is about to begin, and that you’re expected to help pay for it? Do you know the difference between gray and green infrastructure? Did you know that nearly every time it rains in Allegheny County, raw sewage and other pollutants flow into our rivers and streams? Come learn the answers to these questions and more, as we explore how you can make a difference in your community, by helping us advocate for clean, green, and sustainable solutions to our region’s sewer problems. For more information, contact Sara at 412-371-8779 ext. 123 or sarap@ninemilerun.org.

Breakfast& Bird Walk

Sunday, June 3, 2012 7:30am-12:00pm

Meet at the Fern Hollow parking lot, at the bottom of Lancaster Avenue.

Non-members: $25 / Members: Free!

Not sure if your membership is current? Email judi@ninemilerun.org to find out.

Join us as we bird the Nine Mile Run Valley & explore the seasonal changes in the restoration area on a tour led by Jack Solomon. In the past, we have been delighted to see some unusual winged visitors – come see if we get any pleasant surprises this year. Carolina Chickadees, Carolina Wrens, Baltimore Orioles, Yellow Warblers, Scarlet Tanagers, Indigo Buntings… they’re all possible to see in the watershed on an early June morning! A late breakfast will be provided, but this is one of our most popular events, so be sure to pre-register. For more information, contact Gary at 412-371-8779 ext. 115 or gary@ninemilerun.org.

Photography Walkwith John Moyer

Saturday, June 16, 2012 9:30am

Meet at the Fern Hollow parking lot, at the bottom of Lancaster Avenue.

Non-members: $10 / Members: Free!

Not sure if your membership is current? Email judi@ninemilerun.org to find out.

You’ve seen his work in the NMRWA newsletters, email blasts, and calendars, now grab your camera and join John Moyer on a tour of his favorite spots to photograph along Nine Mile Run. He will offer helpful tips for improving your nature photography, no matter the type of camera you use. His photographic documentation of the Nine Mile Run restoration has been published in Civil Engineering Magazine, Western Pennsylvania History Magazine, and Landscape Architecture, and has also appeared in the PBS documentary Liquid Assets. This is a popular event, so you must preregister! For more information, contact Sara at 412-371-8779 ext. 123 or sarap@ninemilerun.org.

Duck Hollow Tireless Project

Friday, August 17, 2012 5:00pm – 8:00pm

Meet at the parking lot located at the bottom of Old Browns Hill Road. (from Browns Hill Rd, take Parkview Blvd to Old Browns Hill Rd)

Join NMRWA & Allegheny CleanWays for our annual clean up of the Duck Hollow area, located at the mouth of Nine Mile Run on the Monongahela River. Last year we removed most of the tires from this site, and this year will be concentrating on the riverfront trails and the Mon River waterfront. All supplies and equipment will be provided. Please wear long pants & sturdy boots or closed-toe shoes, & plan to stick around after for music & pizza. For more information, contact Myrna Newman at 412-874-9711 or myrna.newman@alleghenycleanways.org.

NMRWA History Hike

Sunday, August 19, 2012 9:00am – 12:00pm

Meet at the parking lot on Commercial Avenue.

Non-members: $10 / Members: Free!

Not sure if your membership is current? Email judi@ninemilerun.org to find out.

Join us for an educational hike in the lower section of Nine Mile Run to learn about the fascinating environmental history of this area & the ecological restoration project that was completed in 2006. This hike will be led by local historian, Zach Falck. This will be a 3+ mile hike with some steep climbs, so please wear sturdy shoes or boots & bring some water with you. For more information, contact Gary at 412-371-8779 ext. 115 or gary@ninemilerun.org.

Tree & Meadow Walk Thursday, August 30, 2012 5:30pm-7:30pm

Meet at the Fern Hollow parking lot, at the bottom of Lancaster Avenue.

Non-members: $10/ Members: Free!

Not sure if your membership is current? Email judi@ninemilerun.org to find out.

Join us for an evening stroll through beautiful Frick Park to see some of Western Pennsylvania’s late season beauties. We will be identifying wildflowers – the hidden gems of the meadow – late summer blooming shrubs, & the stately trees that make Frick Park such a joy to be in. Refreshing, cold drinks will be available. For more information, contact Paul at 412-371-8779 ext. 114 or paul@ninemilerun.org.

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Older houses our specialtyConsulting and Remodeling

What more do you want

from your house?

Improve comfort and efficiency. Create more living space.

aj stones.com412-241-6042

$20 basic membership

$50 supporter level receive a NMRWA logo Hat

$100 steward level receive a NMRWA logo T-Shirt

$250 restorer level receive An autographed Poster-sized photo of Nine Mile Run by John Moyer

$500 protector level receive a NMRWA Rain Barrel, with delivery and installation included

$1,000 visionary level receive All of the above, or NMRWA logo jacket.

Please Join Us!

The Nine Mile Run Watershed Association is a legally incorporated 501 (c)3 charitable organization. Official registration and financial information may be obtained by calling 1.800.732.0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.

Your membership contributions are a vital source of support for our programs. Our members’ voices lend strength to ours as we advocate for green approaches to our urban challenges. Please choose a level of support that works for you:

Urban EcoSteward EventsTo register for an Urban EcoSteward event, visit www.pittsburghparks.org/uestrainings or call 412-682-7275 x232.

Wildflower Walk & Campfire Tuesday, May 1, 2012 6:00pm-8:00pm

Frick Environmental Center, 2005 Beechwood Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15217

Learn to identify our region’s spring wildflowers & enjoy a campfire & marshmallow roast.

Shrub & Tree Identification Tuesday, June 12, 2012 6:00pm-8:00pm

Emerald View Park, Grandview Park entrance, 499 Bailey Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15211

Be a scientist for the day & learn to identify native & non-native trees & shrubs using their leaves, bark, & branches.

Invasive Plant ID/Control Thursday, July 19, 2012 6:00pm-8:00pm

Wingfield Pines, Royce Road, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241

Find out how to properly identify & remove invasive plants at this golf course turned nature preserve.

Would you like to encourage the development of green wind power and help NMRWA at the same time?

Switch to Viridian Energy as your electricity supplier today!

For more information, go to:www.viridian.com/NineMileRun

or call Judi at 412-371-8779, ext. 119.

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702 South Trenton Ave.Pittsburgh, PA 15221