Cuyahoga American Heritage River Accomplishments 10/31/00
Navigator Selected
On November 15, 1999 the USDA Forest Service (NE Area S&PF - Morgantown Field Office) selected and filled a River Navigator position with Steve Davis, a watershed and community planner with the Forest Service. He will serve as liaison between Federal agencies and local communities in meeting local watershed needs.
Memorandum Of Understanding Signed
On January 27, 2000, in Cuyahoga Heights, Ohio, a MOU between the USDA Forest Service and the five American Heritage River Partner organizations was signed identifying the roles and actions of the navigator and signers. All parties pledged to work together to implement actions to support river restoration; historic, cultural, and resource protection; and community and economic revitalization.
Communicating On The Cuyahoga
The Cuyahoga River and the American Heritage River Program were the focus of a feature article in the New York Times promoting the new initiative and the renaissance of an Ohio river that once caught fire.
The U.S.D.A. Forest Service awarded $37,000 in funding for an interpretive plan, brochure, and displays for local counties and cities in the Cuyahoga River watershed.
In addition, two traveling interpretive exhibits were developed and are being used by the River Navigator and partners at public meetings to promote the American Heritage River Program.
Breaching The Dams
To the benefit of the Cuyahoga River and its aquatic inhabitants, the city of Akron recently removed several small six-foot dams along the Little Cuyahoga River as part of a brownfield rehabilitation of the old Continental Tire factory.
The River Navigator served on the Kent Dam Advisory Committee, which recommended the bypassing of the Cuyahoga River around the existing dam thus opening the river up for fish passage and the improvement of aquatic habitat. A similar dam study is also underway for the Munroe Falls dam a few miles downstream.
Railroad Agrees To Remove Trestle
At the request of the town of Kent, the River Navigator intervened in a long-term dispute between the town and the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad involving a railroad trestle that was catching debris, blocking navigation, and leading to undercutting of the Cuyahoga banks. After some negotiating and publicity, the railroad agreed to remove the trestle.
Public Outreach
Navigator and Partners worked together to develop relationships with local communities, governments, and civic groups and produced a list of projects to be implemented throughout the watershed. Numerous public meetings and slide show presentations promoting the watershed and focusing on developing local needs and issues were presented to local governments, organizations, and other citizen groups. Also, sponsored booths and exhibits at the Upper Cuyahoga Riverscape, Great Lakes Science Center Lake Festival, Cleveland Waterfront Coalition, Earth Day, and other local festivals.
Best Management Practices Brochure
Funding was acquired for the production of a rural runoff brochure by local counties to promote a reduction in sediment in the Cuyahoga and its tributaries though proper road maintenance techniques
Grant Applications
Numerous grant applications have been submitted and are now under review for funding for an interpretive plan for the river corridor for watershed improvement projects including wetland inventory, land use planning, wetland restoration, and economic revitalization.
Wetland Restoration
In March, 2000, the AHR program brought township of Bath and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers together to plan wetland restoration on three wetlands on the recently acquired Firestone tract.
Interpretive Display Opens
On August 26, 1999 and interpretive display on the Cuyahoga American Heritage River opened in the newly constructed Cleveland Metroparks Canal Visitor Center in Cuyahoga Heights, Ohio. The display chronicled the history of a river that was once polluted that it caught fire and the efforts of the local communities to restore its health.
Federal Pilots Meeting
The Cuyahoga River Partners and the River Navigator held two meetings with all the Federal agencies and congressional representatives involved in the watershed. American Heritage river project lists were distributed and help requested in carrying out all our proposed programs. This was one the first times many of the Federal representatives had met each other in one place and a great deal of cooperation was fostered.
Presentation At River Management Society Meeting
The River Navigator presented a program on the Cuyahoga American Heritage River and the national program at the river at the River Management Society meeting in April 2000 in Charleston, South Carolina.
Riverday 2000
The Cuyahoga American Heritage River helped sponsor Riverday 2000 on May 13, 2000, an annual river education and service-oriented event on the Cuyahoga River. Events included river clean up, hikes, canoe trips, water monitoring, concerts, and "Breakfast with the River Navigator".
Clean Up Of Tributary Watersheds
The River Navigator and Partners worked with local watershed groups in Big Creek, Mill Creek, and West Creek, Yellow Creek and the Little Cuyahoga River to offer assistance and watershed awareness to local residents.
Build-Out Study
In May 2000, the AHR program brought Geauga County and USEPA together to submit an application for a study of the impact on Geauga County under full development of their current land use plan. Results from the study, if funded, would help identify the need for protection of open space and riparian easements and could lead to changes in the current county land management plan.
Ongoing Projects
The River Navigator and Partners are working with the town of Ravena to acquire funding to cleanup several landfills along Breakneck Creek and with Geauga County, Geauga County Heath Department, and several School Districts to promote wise growth and improve water quality.
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