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PROJECTS:

Cleveland WPC Green Infrastructure Project

 

East Branch Dam Removal

 

Euclid Creek Tunnel

 

Mayfield Hts Green Infrastructure Project

Wildwood Wetland  / Lacustrine Refuge Project

Wildwood Stream and Wetland Restoration Project /

Lacustrine Refuge in the Cuyahoga AOC Project

Wildwood Lakefront State Park, Cleveland, Ohio

The Lacustrine Refuge Project is located in Wildwood Lakefront State Park in the Euclid Creek Watershed on the Main Branch of Euclid Creek, a tributary to Lake Erie that is heavily urbanized and affected by urban runoff and habitat degradation in the City of Cleveland.

 

The Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District has received a $1,396,050 grant from US EPA through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) to fund the project.  The Lacustrine Refuge project provides a rare opportunity for residents of an urban area to connect with nature and to experience native plant species long displaced from our region and to enjoy wildlife species which have disappeared.

 

Project Benefits and Outcomes

Ecological restoration of the Lower Euclid Creek has been awarded to a Northeast Ohio design-build team called RiverWorks (EnviroScience, Inc., GPD Group and RiverReach Construction).  The project’s technical advisory committee will work with RiverWorks to create the following positive changes for Euclid Creek: 

  • Restore important coastal and lacustrine wetlands;

  • Restore Euclid Creek to its historic alignment;

  • Increase the overall ecological function of Lower Euclid Creek;

  • Increase fish habitat and spawning of recreational species;

  • Address bank erosion within the park;

  • Recreation trail extension with views of restored lacustrine wetland area;

  • Increased habitat for birds and amphibians;

  • Assisting Euclid Creek in reaching State of Ohio water quality attainment standards;

  • Aid in delisting Cuyahoga River AOC (Area of Concern);

  • An economic impact of $2.4 million (double the project cost);

  • Control and management of pervasive invasive plant species; and,

  • Provide opportunities for environmental education and public involvement.

Project Partners: City of Cleveland, Cleveland Metroparks, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cuyahoga County Engineer, Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District, Friends of Euclid Creek, Midwest Biodiversity Institute, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, Northeast Shores Development Corporation, Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Cleveland Lakefront State Parks and Ohio State Parks Divisions, and Ohio EPA.

Land Owner: City of Cleveland

Land Management Entity: ODNR Cleveland Lakefront State Parks

Grants Manager: Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District

Design / Build Consultant Team: RiverWorks - A partnership for Stream & Wetland Restoration made up of EnviroScience, Inc., the GPD Group, and RiverReach Construction

Project Costs: Design / Build Contract: $1,169,872

Project Funding: US EPA through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, in the amount of $1,396,050

 

Current conditions at the Lacustrine Refuge site with pervasive Japanese knotweed and other invasive plants species:

 

        Invasive Plant Species on the Oxbow / Lacustrine site          Fly fishermen enjoy fishing this section of Euclid Creek in Wildwood State Park

 

 

Fish We're Hoping to see once Wetland Restoration complete:

                    Bowfin at Arcola Creek                                                                Northern Pike at Arcola Creek

 

Project Publication, News & Resources:

 

Public Meetings:

  • 1st Public Meeting held on Thursday, September 8th, 2011, 6:00pm-7:30pm at the Euclid Hospital, Main Building - Waltz Auditorium.  30 people attended the public meeting where the Euclid Creek Watershed Coordinator and EnviroScience project manager, Joel Bingham, presented the concept plan and project timeline.  The project team heard feedback and answered questions from the community.  Click here to see presentation.

   

Project articles in the following publications:

 

Click on the following Euclid Creek Newsletters to follow the progress on the project:

Estuaries Website - information on estuaries

To see all of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funded projects through the Great Lakes Accountability System click here

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative - Lake Erie Systhesis Team website - lists Ohio/Lake Erie GLRI awardees' projects

Project Timeline:

  • Request for Proposals for Design/Build portion of project: issued October 30, 2010

    • Proposals Due: December 1, 2010; received proposals from four Design/Build Teams

    • Selection Committee reviewed proposals and brought teams in for interviews in December 2010 and January 2011

    • RiverWorks Design Build Team selected to conduct work (EnviroScience, Inc., GPD Group, & RiverReach Construction)

  • RiverWorks Contract Start Date / Notice to Proceed: March 17, 2011,

    • Project Manager is Joel Bingham of EnviroScience

  • Technical Committee Meetings:

    • Kick-Off Meeting held on March 31, 2011 at Cleveland Lakefront State Park offices (13 participants)

    • Committee meeting held on June 30 2011 at Cleveland Lakefront State Park offices (12 participants)

  • Literature Review / Project Area Evaluation: March-April, 2011

  • Topographic surveying: June-July, 2011

  • Public Kick-off Meeting (to present concept): September 8, 2011

  • Wetland delineation survey: June-July, 2011

  • Morphology/Ecological survey: June-July, 2011

  • 30% Design: Winter 2011

  • Permitting: August 2011 - March 2012

  • Final Design: Winter 2011/Spring 2012

  • Construction: Spring 2012 start

  • Public Meeting (post construction): Spring 2013

Project Background Information:

 

For more information, please contact Claire Posius, Euclid Creek Watershed Coordinator, 216-524-6580x16 or email cposius@cuyahogaswcd.org.

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