A group of about 20 volunteers joined us for our CRPD & SWAG event to attack honeysuckle along Dry Run at Westmoor Park. We tackled honeysuckle there in November 2025 and January 2026 hoping to prepare the area for planting native shrubs and trees here this fall. I came expecting a few small sprouts on bushes we had previously cut, but that we missed or regrew. Oh, what a surprise! We were “greeted” by a massive field of new honeysuckle. Perhaps I was more surprised than I should have been. I have previously cut honeysuckle with several other organizations where cut stems were immediately treated with herbicide (typically about 50%
By PS March 14, 2026 Over 20 participants including 5 kids and 3 members of the Greater Columbus Rowing association gathered today to clean up McKnight and Duranceau Parks. Since neighbors helped with litter pick up, the parks are very clean and we only collected 3 bags of trash. We also cut honeysuckle led by 3 staff members from the Columbus Recreation and Parks conservation team. Thank you to all who came out and helped.
SWAG Water Quality Team, December 2025 The SWAG team took chloride readings at different locations on Dry Run on Dec 2, 2025, the day after the first winter storm and road salt application. Chloride levels were off-the chart larger than 750ppm. The Team is currently following up to find out how quickly chloride levels decrease and trying to learn more about the dominant source: general municipal road salt, salt on I70 & I270, warehouse parking lots or residential areas.
This award given by Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District (FSWCD) recognized outstanding contributions to stream and natural resource protection. It is a great honor for SWAG to have received this prestigious award in our first year. Thank you FWSCD!
Together with CRPD Staff, the SWAG team and 2 new volunteers planted small trees at the south end of the park near Dry Run, adding to the tree seedlings that were planted there in April 2025. We also removed invasive honeysuckle. SWAG is planning to make this site a focus of our restoration efforts in the coming years.
SWAG is holding general monthly meetings every 3rd Wednesday of the month. We plan to have expert speakers to help us learn more about our watershed, and we plan activities. in October, we had OCTOBERFEST at Gemuet Biergarten instead for a fun social event of the SWAG team.