Cleveland Metroparks Euclid Creek Reservation, Wildwood Park, Cleveland, Ohio
Stream and Wetland Restoration in an important Area of Concern (AOC) within Cuyahoga County Project Fact Sheet
Before Aerial Photo
After Aerial Photo
Project Site
Concept Plan Diagram
Concept Plan with aerial overlay previous to construction
The Wildwood Lacustrine Refuge Stream and Wetland Restoration Project is located in Cleveland Metropark's Euclid Creek Reservation, Wildwood 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 received a $1,396,050 grant from US EPA through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) to fund the project. The restoration 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.
Ecological restoration of the Lower Euclid Creek has been awarded to two Northeast Ohio teams. The design-build contract was awarded to a team called RiverWorks (EnviroScience, Inc., GPD Group and RiverReach Construction) and the project oversight was awarded to Davey Resource Group.
**PLEASE HELP OUR PROJECT SUCCEED BY KEEPING OUT OF THE WETLAND AREA WHILE PLANTS ARE GROWING!** Even minor disturbance to the ground can impact sensitive plants that are getting established.
Project Benefits and Outcomes
The project’s technical advisory committee worked with RiverWorks to create the following positive changes for Euclid Creek:
- Restored 2.3 acres of important coastal and lacustrine wetlands, and 1.16 acres of floodplain;
- Restored 1,100 feet of Euclid Creek and placed the stream in its natural, historic alignment;
- Increased the overall ecological function of Lower Euclid Creek;
- Increased fish habitat and spawning of recreational species;
- Increased habitat for birds and amphibians;
- Stabilized 435 feet of eroding stream bank in three locations within the park;
- Controlled and managed 3.2 acres of pervasive invasive plant species;
- Provided opportunities for environmental education and public involvement through planting events and public meeting;
- Assisting Euclid Creek in reaching State of Ohio water quality attainment standards;
- Aided in delisting Cuyahoga River AOC (Area of Concern); and,
- Potential economic impact of $2.4 million (double the project cost).
Project Partners / Technical Committee:
- City of Cleveland: Division of Water Pollution Control & City Councilman Mike Polensek, Ward 11
- Cleveland Metroparks
- Cleveland Museum of Natural History
- 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 (CLSP),Ohio State Parks Divisions
- Ohio EPA
Project Area and Flooding: While this Great Lakes restoration project was not a flood control project, it went through an intensive review from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hydraulic division for the proposed modification to the 1980’s diversion channel that created the oxbow condition (i.e. what is considered the main channel of Euclid Creek today). Since our project is within this Army Corps regulated flood control channel, the project underwent a similar level of scrutiny and review. The Army Corps has approved the proposed changes to the area based on rigorous hydraulic studies, flood elevations and evaluation of risk. This restoration project does not increase flood elevations that exist today. The removal of a majority of the island sediment for wetlands and an increase in stream width and capacity at the mouth of the oxbow area improves current conditions, while meeting the habitat restoration goals of the project. The modified diversion channel was not removed entirely but exists as an overflow conveyance channel similar to its original intention when floodwaters reach a certain height.
Problematic invasive plants at Wildwood Park: here are the top problem plants at the park that the consultants are trying to eradicate and replant with natives:
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Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) - biennieal invasive herb; first year growth is low to the ground rosette with kidney-shaped leaves; second year growth produces a tall flowering stem with triangular-shaped leaves sharply toothed; seeds dispersed by wind (fact sheet here).
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Common Reed Grass (Phragmites australis) - tall, invasive perennial wetland grass frequent in disturbed or polluted soils, along roadsides, ditches and dredged areas (fact sheet here).
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Japanese Knotweed (Ploygonum cuspidatum) - forms thick, dense colonies and has a distinct bamboo-like hollow stem; its invasive root system is strong enough to damage building foundations, roads and retaining walls (fact sheet here)
- Lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria) - huge problem plant in Cuyahoga County - perennial, low-growing plant with attractive, bright yellow flowers that aggressively spreads if unchecked and destroys spring flora. (Interesting report on local impacts of plant on Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Reservation, click here)
Native plantings proposed: 200 trees; 650 shrubs, 6,000 plugs, 1000 live stakes - with deer/goose protection surrounding plantings until they are established. To see a list of the proposed plant species list, click here.
Land Owner: City of Cleveland
Land Management Entity: Cleveland Metroparks
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
Construction Oversight Team: Davey Resource Group and TGC Engineering, LLC
Project Funding: US EPA through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: $1,396,050
Project Costs: $1,349,112 (Design / Build: $1,310,818; Construction Oversight: $22,388)
Project Monitoring: Starting in 2014, ecological and morphological monitoring at the site will begin for five years to ensure the project is meeting intended goals. We are monitoring for fish species, macroinvertebrates (aquatic bugs), habitat, wetland delineation, vegetation (success of natives versus invasives), and channel stability. Partners from the Cuyahoga SWCD, Ohio EPA, NEORSD, Cleveland WPC, CMNH and Cleveland Metroparks are contributing to different elements of the monitoring effort.
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
History of the Wildwood Estuary site: For all you history enthusiasts, Roy Larick, PhD, Bluestone Heights and Euclid Historical Society, provided observations on the historical resources in the Euclid Creek Estuary. Click here to read his observations, and for the graphics referenced in the document, click here. Roy Larick went into detail on how our project could impact a few of these historic resources.
Public Meetings:
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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.
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Construction Open House held on August 28, 2012, 5:30-7:30pm. 72 people attended the presentation about the project construction and timeline. Click here to see presentation.
- Celebration Public Meeting held on September 21, 2013. 82 people attended brief talk and tour of completed project.
In the News:
Land Owner: City of Cleveland
Land Management Entity: Cleveland Metroparks
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
Construction Oversight Team: Davey Resource Group and TGC Engineering, LLC
Project Funding: US EPA through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: $1,396,050
Project Costs: $1,349,112 (Design / Build: $1,310,818; Construction Oversight: $22,388)
Project Monitoring: Starting in 2014, ecological and morphological monitoring at the site will begin for five years to ensure the project is meeting intended goals. We are monitoring for fish species, macroinvertebrates (aquatic bugs), habitat, wetland delineation, vegetation (success of natives versus invasives), and channel stability. Partners from the Cuyahoga SWCD, Ohio EPA, NEORSD, Cleveland WPC, CMNH and Cleveland Metroparks are contributing to different elements of the monitoring effort.
Project Fact Sheet
Concept Plan Diagram
Concept Plan with aerial overlay previous to construction
Click on the following Euclid Creek Newsletters to follow the progress on the project:
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2014 Issue 30, p. 5,
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2013 Issue 27, p. 2, Issue 28, p. 5
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2012 Issue 24, p. 3 Issue 25, p. 1, Issue 26, p. 1
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2011 Issue 21, p. 3; Issue 22, p. 3; Issue 23, p. 3
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2010 Issue 19 p. 1
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2007 Issue 10 p. 3; Issue 11 p. 3;
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)
- Committee meeting held on December 13, 2011 at Cleveland Lakefront State Park offices (16 participants) - 30% plan review
- Committee meeting held on May 2, 2012 at Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District offices (16 participants) - 90% plan review review
Literature Review / Project Area Evaluation: March-April, 2011 completed
Topographic surveying: June-July, 2011 completed
Public Kick-off Meeting (to present concept): September 8, 2011 completed
Wetland delineation survey: May 2011 completed
Morphology/Ecological survey: July 2011 completed
30% Design: June 2011 completed
Request for Qualification for Construction Oversight Services portion of project: issued April 7, 2012
Proposals Due: April 24, 2012; received proposals from six Consultants/Agencies
Selection Committee reviewed qualifications and interviewed top teams in May of 2012
Davey Resource Group and TGC Engineering selected to conduct work, Notice to Proceed: May 23, 2012; Project Manager is Ana Burns from Davey
Permitting: November 2011 - May 2012
Final Design: November 2011 - May 2012
Construction: Started August 3, 2012
Construction Public Open House: August 28, 2012 completed
Events:
- September 21, 2012 - 24 Hawken 8th graders planted 250 plants at one of the link to the lakes wetlands; and adult volunteers planted an additional 150 plants at two other wetland locations at the project site
- November 16, 2012 - 40 volunteers planted 1,336 plants in the main wetland - 130 live stakes, 80 Spadderdock/Pond Lilies from Singer Lake and 1,096 plugs (small plants)
- April 6, 2013 - 43 volunteers planted 150 trees on the wetland and stream banks and 850 live stakes and placed deer protection around trees.
- May 4, 2013 - 34 volunteers planted 100 live stakes, 606 plant plugs and 105 nuphar/spadderdock in the main wetland area.
- August 1, 2013 - 18 students from Mayor Jackson's Youth Summer Employment Program helped install protection around small trees on site from deer herbivory.
- May 17, 2014 - Wetland Planting - 36 volunteers planted 800 wetland plants
- May 22, 2014 - Wetland Planting - 10 volunteers planted 500 wetland plants
- June 4, 2014 - 12 participants from the Ohio Stormwater Conference toured the Wetland Project
- July 3, 2014 -17 members of the Upstage Players toured Wetland Project
- July 8, 2014 - 20 people toured Wetland Project for the Ohio Soil & Water Conservation Commission Conference
- Aug. 28th, 2014 - Ohio Watershed Leaders COnference - 45 Ohio Watershed Leaders Conference participants toured Wetland Project
- Sept. 20, 2014 - Wildwood Bioswale and Wetland Cleanup - 24 volunteers spread wing stem seeds, an important native wetland plant species, which were gathered on site. Invasive cattails and phragmites were also removed from Bioswale.
Project completion celebration: September 21, 2013 completed
Grant closeout date: December 31, 2013
Project Ecological and Morphological Monitoring: 2014-2018
2014 Report; 2014 appendix
2015 Report; 2015 appendix
2016 Report; 2016 appendix
2017 Report; 2017 appendix
2018 Report; 2018 appendix
- Restored 2.3 acres of important coastal and lacustrine wetlands, and 1.16 acres of floodplain;
- Restored 1,100 feet of Euclid Creek and placed the stream in its natural, historic alignment;
- Increased the overall ecological function of Lower Euclid Creek;
- Increased fish habitat and spawning of recreational species;
- Increased habitat for birds and amphibians;
- Stabilized 435 feet of eroding stream bank in three locations within the park;
- Controlled and managed 3.2 acres of pervasive invasive plant species;
- Provided opportunities for environmental education and public involvement through planting events and public meeting;
- Assisting Euclid Creek in reaching State of Ohio water quality attainment standards;
- Aided in delisting Cuyahoga River AOC (Area of Concern); and,
- Potential economic impact of $2.4 million (double the project cost).
Restoration Deliverables
- Channel Restoration - 1,100 ft
- Floodplain Restoration - 1.16 acres
- Lacustrine Wetland - 2.33 acres in 5 areas
- Bank Stabilization - 435’ in 3 areas
- Invasive Control /
- Riparian Enhancement - 3.2 acres
2018 Monitoring Update
In 2018, quantitative electrofishing surveys, using Ohio EPA boat methods, were conducted at the restoration site on June 15th and August 20thby NEORSD. These electrofishing surveys resulted in Lacustuary Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores of 27 and 26, respectively. Both scores fell into the Poor narrative rating and were like those obtained at the site in 2016. A total of 29 different fish species were collected in 2018. Five of these were species that had not been collected during 2014, 2015 or 2016 and included bowfin, golden redhorse, rosyface shiner, silver redhorse, and spotted sucker. These fish were found in low numbers during the surveys, suggesting that they have not yet established their population in the area or may just be transient. The rosyface shiner are a native fish species that are intolerant to pollution, which may show improvements to the lacustuary area in terms of water quality. The Modified Index of Well-Being (MIwb) has increased from 2016 to 2018 going from a Fair status to a Marginally Good status. This may suggest that there is a growing diversity of fish inhabiting the restoration area and the fish within that community have more biomass than years before.
