Naturalists hosting speaker on wetland grants

FINDLAY — The Hancock County Naturalists will host speaker Kevin Nemer, assistant program manager for the H2Ohio Wetlands Program at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Division of Water Resources, at its next meeting April 11 at 7 p.m. at Oakwoods Nature Preserve's Doc Phillips Discovery Center, 1400 Oakwoods Lane. The meeting is free and open to the public to those 15 and older. His presentation will be on the H2Ohio Wetland Grant Program and project overview in Northwest Ohio and Western Lake Erie Basin. Nemer's responsibilities include project management, outreach and coordination for H2Ohio wetland grants in Northwest Ohio as well as tracking ODNR's H2Ohio grant performance across the state. He regularly coordinates with nine of the divisions at ODNR as well as outside government agencies, nonprofits and non-governmental organizations. He holds a bachelor's degree in biology and environmental science with a minor in chemistry from Lourdes University. Nemer has been an employee at ODNR for over five years and has worked in multiple positions within the agency. A membership organization, the group was established for the purpose of furthering the study of the fauna and flora of Hancock County and the surrounding area and to participate in selected conservation and educational projects. Membership and events are open to those ages 15 and older. Annual membership fees are $15 per adult, $20 per couple and $10 for youth. For more information, contact Jane Riker at 419-306-3697 or emaggin117@aol.com. The group's website is hancockcountynaturalists.org.