urban impacts on streams
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Speaker: Sarah Barrow (subbing for Kendra Heiser)
Date & Time: February 18, 2026 @ 7pm Location: Zoom meeting: Registration required (link to be announced) After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Abstract:
Urban development dramatically alters both the ecological health of streams and the well-being of the people who depend on them. Impervious surfaces increase stormwater runoff, erosion, and pollution, degrading water quality and aquatic habitat. These changes also affect communities—raising flood risks, reducing access to clean, safe waterways, and diminishing neighborhood greenspace. This presentation explores how urbanization impacts local streams in Summit County and highlights restoration and green infrastructure projects that improve both ecological resilience and community livability. Attendees will gain insight into how collective action can restore balance between people and their watersheds. |
Biography:
Sarah Barrow joined Summit SWCD in the fall of 2023 as the Watershed and Outreach Supervisor, bringing a wealth of experience to the role. Prior to her current position, she spent eight years as a biology department lab manager and adjunct professor at Stark State College. Sarah holds a B.A. in Biology from the University of Akron and completed her master’s degree in river conservation at Miami University of Ohio in 2022. In her day-to-day work, Sarah partners with communities and organizations across Summit County, developing and implementing watershed management solutions that protect and restore local waterways. When she isn’t coordinating river health initiatives, you’ll find her kayaking, hiking with her dog, birdwatching or enjoying reading and mindfulness activities. Sarah has a particular passion for constructed wetlands—an innovative best management practice she champions for their dual benefit of filtering stormwater and providing habitat for native plants and pollinators. Her leadership, community focus, and scientific background make her a driving force behind Summit SWCD’s watershed and outreach programs. |