Cuyahoga River (HUC-12:041100020605) Nine-Element Nonpoint Source Implementation Strategy Plan (NPS-IS)

Home , Cuyahoga River, Port of Cleveland

Version 1.0

March 6, 2020

Approved: March 24, 2020 City of Cleveland – Cuyahoga River (HUC-12:041100020605) Nine-Element Nonpoint Source Implementation Strategy Plan (NPS-IS)

Plan developed by:

Chagrin River Watershed Partners, Inc.

P.O. Box 229

Willoughby, OH 44096-0229

Phone: 440-975-3870

This report was prepared by Chagrin River Watershed Partners, Inc. using federal funds under award NA18NOS4190096 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Office of Coastal Management. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, or the Office of Coastal Management. 1

Table of Contents

Figures ...... 4

Tables ...... 5

Acknowledgements ...... 7

Chapter 1: Introduction ...... 8

1.1 Report Background ...... 8

1.2 Watershed Profile and History ...... 9

HUC-12 Profile ...... 9

Historical Profile ...... 12

1.3 Public Participation and Involvement ...... 15

Chapter 2: HUC-12 Watershed Characterization and Assessment Summary ...... 16

2.1 Summary of HUC-12 Watershed Characterization ...... 16

2.1.1 Physical and Natural Features ...... 16

Basic Geology ...... 16

Soils ...... 18

Wetlands ...... 21

Fisheries and Wildlife ...... 24

Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species ...... 25

Invasive Nuisance Species ...... 25

Hydrological Subunits ...... 25

2.1.2 Land Use and Protection ...... 34

2.2 Summary of Biological Trends ...... 35

Aquatic Life Use Attainment ...... 35

2.3 Summary of NPS Pollution Causes and Associated Sources for City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River HUC-12 ...... 37

Beneficial Use Impairments ...... 37

2.4 Additional information for Determining Critical Areas and Developing Implementation Strategies for City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River Watershed ...... 39

2.4.1 NEORSD Green and Gray Infrastructure Projects ...... 39

2.4.2 Lower Cuyahoga River TMDL report ...... 41 2

Chapter 3: Critical Area Conditions and Restoration Strategies ...... 42

3.1 Overview of Critical Areas...... 42

3.2 Critical Area 1: Conditions, Goals, and Objectives for Buried Stream Corridors (BSC) ...... 42

3.2.1 Detailed Characterization ...... 42

3.2.2 Detailed Biological Conditions ...... 46

3.2.3 Detailed Causes and Associated Sources ...... 46

3.2.4 Goals and Objectives for Critical Area ...... 47

Goals ...... 47

Objectives ...... 48

3.3 Critical Area 2: Conditions, Goals, and Objectives for Ship Channel (SC) ...... 50

3.3.1 Detailed Characterization ...... 50

3.3.2 Detailed Biological Conditions ...... 51

3.3.3 Detailed Causes and Associated Sources ...... 52

3.3.4 Goals and Objectives for Critical Area ...... 52

Goals ...... 52

Objectives ...... 52

3.4 Critical Area 3: Conditions, Goals, and Objectives for Green Infrastructure Opportunities (GIO) .... 53

3.4.1 Detailed Characterization ...... 53

3.4.2 Detailed Biological Conditions ...... 55

3.3.3 Detailed Causes and Associated Sources ...... 55

3.4.4 Goals and Objectives for Critical Area ...... 55

Goals ...... 55

Objectives ...... 56

Chapter 4: Projects and Implementation Strategy ...... 57

4.1 Critical Area 1: Overview Table and Project Sheets ...... 57

4.1.1 Critical Area 1 (Buried Streams): Projects and Implementation Strategy Overview Table...... 57

4.1.2 Critical Area 1 (Buried Streams): Project Summary Sheets ...... 59

Coordinates: 41.463225, -81.652443 ...... 59

West of the W 55th St west border of the Morgana Bluffs Nature Preserve ...... 59

Coordinates: 41.480855, -81.644608 ...... 63

Kingsbury Run Ravine in the area of the abandoned Sidaway suspension footbridge. Bordered by Berwick Rd on the north and E 64th St and Sidaway Ave on the south...... 63

4.2 Critical Area 2 (Ship Channel): Overview Table and Project Sheets ...... 65

4.2.1 Critical Area 2 (Ship Channel): Projects and Implementation Strategy Overview Table ...... 65

4.2.2 Critical Area 2 (Ship Channel): Project Summary Sheets ...... 67

4.3 Critical Area 3 (Green Infrastructure Opportunities): Overview Table and Project Sheets ...... 70

4.3.1 Critical Area 3 (Green Infrastructure Opportunities): Projects and Implementation Strategy Overview Table ...... 70

4.3.2 Critical Area 3 (Green Infrastructure Opportunities): Project Summary Sheets ...... 73

References ...... 83

Figures

Figure 1: City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River HUC-12 watershed assessment unit location map ...... 10

Figure 2: City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River HUC-12 watershed assessment unit location map ...... 11

Figure 3: City of Cleveland-Lower Cuyahoga River watershed assessment unit (yellow) in geographic context ...... 12

Figure 4:Cle-Cuy all-purpose trails in 2020: actual (shaded, 14.1 mi) and proposed (white, 12.2 mi)...... 14

Figure 5:Core of the Cle-Cuy watershed assessment unit, with historical tributary streams and current neighborhoods ...... 17

Figure 6: Cle-Cuy geo profile facing north, showing tributary streams culverted under Cuyahoga delta sediments (exaggerated vertical scale)...... 18

Figure 7: City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River HUC-12 Soils Map ...... 19

Figure 8: Soils Drainage Class Map ...... 21

Figure 9: Damp land locales in the Cle-Cuy watershed assessment unit...... 22

Figure 10: Damp lands in south-central Cle-Cuy: green=shallow depression; tan=retention basin; blue=point bar terrace...... 24

Figure 11: NEORSD Combined Sewer Area ...... 26

Figure 12: Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail ...... 27

Figure 13: Aerial view of feasible conceptual plan locations from Walworth Run Green Infrastructure Feasibility Study ...... 28

Figure 14: Aerial view of Riverside Cemetery ...... 29

Figure 15: Aerial view of Burke Branch and Raus Field ...... 31

Figure 16: Map of Morgan culvert, Morabito Trucking Co., Morgana Run Trail, and Morgana Bluffs ...... 32

Figure 17: Map of the Forgotten Triangle and Opportunity Corridor ...... 33

Figure 18: Cle-Cuy Watershed Land Use (Source: OEPA Integrated Water Quality Report for 2018) ...... 34

Figure 19: City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River Land Use and Protection Map ...... 34

Figure 20: Aquatic Life Use Monitoring (Ohio EPA) ...... 38

Figure 21: NEORSD Service Area ...... 40

Figure 22: Map of Buried Stream Corridors (indicated in green) within the City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River assessment unit ...... 43

Figure 23: Map of Buried Stream Corridors at Brainard Run Valley...... 44

Figure 24:Map of Buried Stream Corridors at Walworth Run Valley ...... 45

Figure 25: Map of Buried Stream Corridors at Kingsbury Run Valley ...... 46

Figure 26: Image of Kingsbury Run Valley near Kinsman Rd. in Cleveland ...... 48

Figure 27: Image of Morgana Run Valley east of Morgan Bluffs Nature Preserve in the Slavic Village Neighborhood of Cleveland ...... 49

Figure 28: Image of Morgana Bluffs Nature Preserve with Mound Elementary School in the background in Cleveland’s Slavic Village Neighborhood ...... 49

Figure 29: Map of Critical Area 2: Ship Channel ...... 51

Figure 30: A large GI project (Woodland-Central GI Project) completed in the HU by Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District...... 56

Tables

Table 1: Public Input Data ...... 16

Table 2: Soil Types, Acreage and Percentage in HUC-12 (Source: USDA Web Soil Survey) ...... 20

Table 3: Biological criteria applicable to rivers and streams in the Erie-Ontario Lake Plains (EOLP) ...... 35

Table 4: HUC-12 Aquatic Life Use Monitoring (Ohio EPA) ...... 36

Table 5: Beneficial Use Impairments (BUI) Chart for the City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River HUC 12 (Source: Cuyahoga River AOC Stage 2 Delisting Implementation Plan Update and Progress Report, 2015) ...... 38

Table 6: Cle-Cuy: Significant green infrastructure installation plans. Black: built; green: unbuilt...... 40

Table 7: Causes and Sources of Impairment (Source: 2003 Lower Cuyahoga River TMDL Report, Appendix H) ... 41

Table 8: Cle-Cuy Watershed's TMDLs (Source: 2003 Lower Cuyahoga River TMDL Report, Appendix H) ...... 42

Table 9:Critical Areas for City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River assessment unit ...... 42 5

Table 10: Detailed Causes and Associated Sources for Critical Area 1 ...... 47

Table 11: Detailed Causes and Associated Sources for Critical Area 2 ...... 52

Table 12: Map of 2017 Cuyahoga County Land Cover and Vacant, Land Bank or Municipally Owned Parcels ...... 54

Table 13: Map of 2017 Cuyahoga County Land Cover and Vacant, Land Bank or Municipally Owned Parcels (Large Properties Only) ...... 54

Table 14: Detailed Causes and Associated Sources for Critical Area 3 ...... 55

Table 15:Critical Area 1 (Buried Streams) Project Overview Table ...... 58

Table 16: Morgana Bluffs Nature Preserve Habitat Extension ...... 62

Table 17: Kingsbury Run Nature Reserve (KRNR) Habitat Enhancement ...... 65

Table 18: Critical Area 2 (Ship Channel) Project Overview Table ...... 66

Table 19: Scranton Peninsula Carter Road Habitat Project ...... 68

Table 20: Scranton Peninsula Carter Road Habitat Project ...... 69

Table 21: Critical Area 3 (Green Infrastructure Opportunities) Project Overview Table...... 72

Table 22:Scranton Road/Abbey Ave Tremont Depave Project ...... 74

Table 23: Polish American Cultural Center Depave Project ...... 76

Table 24: Woodland Ave. Depave Project ...... 78

Table 25: Center St. Depave Project ...... 80

Table 26: Thea Bowman Center Depave Project ...... 82

Acknowledgements

This Nonpoint Source Implementation Strategy (NPS-IS) was developed by:

Chagrin River Watershed Partners, Inc. Bluestone Heights P.O. Box 229 Shore Cultural Centre Willoughby, Ohio 44096-0229 Euclid, Ohio 440-975-3870 216-280-7506 www.crwp.org bluestoneheights.org

Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District Cuyahoga River Restoration 3311 Perkins Ave., Suite 100 1299 Superior Ave. E Cleveland, OH 44114 Cleveland, OH 44114 216-524-6580 216-241-2414 www.cuyahogaswcd.org www.cuyahogariver.org

Chagrin River Watershed Partners (CRWP), Bluestone Heights, Cuyahoga River Restoration (CRR), and Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District (Cuyahoga SWCD) collaborated on the development of this NPS-IS plan through the organizations’ participation in the Central Lake Erie Basin Collaborative (Collaborative). The Collaborative is a network of organizations and initiatives that work collaboratively to protect and restore natural areas and promote stormwater solutions for a healthy Lake Erie and local streams. More information about the Collaborative and participating organizations can be found at centrallakeerie.org. Many stakeholders contributed to the development of this plan, including the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD), West Creek Conservancy (WCC), and the communities and their residents in this HUC-12.

This development of this plan is supported through federal funds under award NA18NOS4190096 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Office of Coastal Management. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, or the Office of Coastal Management.

The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) has also provided support for data collection and plan development through a Service Agreement to the Collaborative in 2019.

Chapter 1: Introduction

1.1 Report Background

Nonpoint Source Implementation Strategy (NPS-IS) plans meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) nine minimum elements for impaired waters to maintain eligibility for state and federal sources of funding. This NPS-IS addresses the City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River watershed assessment unit (HUC 12: 041100020605), herein known as ‘City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River,’ ‘Cle-Cuy,’ ‘the HU,’ ‘the assessment unit,’ or ‘the unit.’ This NPS-IS is the first watershed plan for this area, with no previous Watershed Action Plan developed. This plan will continue to be updated as new needs and project are identified.

Advocacy in the City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River has been strong since 1988, when the lower Cuyahoga River was first identified as a Great Lakes Area of Concern (AOC) and its Remedial Action Plan (RAP) was initiated. Since 7 then, the RAP/AOC Advisory Committee has included as many as 36 organizations and individuals representing governments, natural resource organizations and agencies, park systems, and businesses, each of whom serves as ambassadors and advocates for improving the health of the lower river and delisting the AOC.

Portions of this assessment unit have received support from watershed organizations or volunteer-based initiatives such as Bluestone Heights, Cuyahoga River Restoration, Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District, West Creek Conservancy, CRWP, and community-based organizations such as Burton-Bell-Carr Center. In assembling the Cle-Cuy plan, our organizations have worked with watershed communities, local and state agencies, and other conservation organizations to identify impairments within this watershed.

As State and Federal nonpoint source funding now relies upon the development of an NPS-IS plan, this NPS-IS plan must be accepted by both the USEPA and Ohio EPA as meeting the 9-minimum element requires as outlined in the USEPA’s Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect our Waters. Cuyahoga SWCD, CRWP, CRR, Bluestone Heights and its collaborators, including watershed members and communities, local agencies and other conservation organizations recognize the importance of strategic project implementation to address impairments within this HUC-12.

The Cle-Cuy plan will guide stakeholders to address non-point source pollution issues and aquatic life use impairment using the best available science. The more common restorative project types advocated in this plan include habitat enhancement and creation, green infrastructure, and impervious surface reduction. Future versions of this plan will integrate updates on water quality and habitat impairments based on improved watershed management and additional monitoring data.

Bluestone Heights was founded in 2009 to advocate for small watersheds and landforms in the Cleveland area. Bluestone brings long-term geo-science perspectives and a sense of place to urban environmental issues. Bluestone Heights began with on-site environmental education and stewardship advocacy. Ecological research and environmental assessments have since been added. Bluestone Heights works to illuminate buried natural features and regenerate local ecological functions.

Chagrin River Watershed Partners is a nonprofit organization that uses a regional watershed approach to enhance quality of life by preserving rivers, planning for better development, and solving natural resource management problems. Sixteen communities, counties and park districts formed the Watershed Partners in 1996 to address rising infrastructure costs because of flooding, erosion, and water pollution. Today, the Partners’ 34 members represent 91% of the land area in the watershed. CRWP member services extend to areas outside the Chagrin River Watershed within its member community boundaries. CRWP does not have any members located in this watershed.

Cuyahoga River Restoration (CRR) was founded in 1989 as Cuyahoga River Community Planning Organization, the nonprofit facilitating organization for the Cuyahoga River Remedial Action Plan, now referred to as the Cuyahoga River Area of Concern (AOC,) one of many such federally designated Great Lakes waterways. CRR also serves as lead partner in the Cuyahoga American Heritage River Initiative and, as such, works across the entire 800+-square mile watershed to restore, revitalize, and protect the Cuyahoga River watershed and nearshore Lake Erie. CRR has developed watershed and Balanced Growth Initiative plans, provided support for watershed stewardship organizations, and created award-winning watershed education programs and materials. Its programs include Habitat for Hard Places, an initiative to restore and create fish habitat in the federal navigation channel; DepaveNEO, a program that removes areas of impervious parking lot and replaces them with stormwater capturing and filtering planted rain gardens, trees, and bioswales; and Cuyahoga ReLeaf, an effort that has planted thousands of trees in urban and riparian areas to enhance and maintain essential tree canopy.

Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District is a governmental entity authorized under Chapter 1515 of the Ohio Revised Code. Cuyahoga SWCD’s mission is to advocate and implement best management practices for conservation of land and aquatic resources in a developed environment through education, stewardship, and technical assistance. Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District’s (SWCD) main program areas are: • Conservation and Stormwater Education • Natural Resources and Urban Agriculture • Stormwater Pollution Prevention Programs • Watershed Protection Programs

1.2 Watershed Profile and History

HUC-12 Profile The City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River HUC-12 (041100020605) covers 23.58 square miles (15,091.2 acres) and is surrounded by five adjacent HUC-12 units: Doan Brook-Frontal Lake Erie (east), Mill Creek (southeast), Cuyahoga Heights-Cuyahoga River (south), Big Creek (southwest), and Town of Lakewood-Frontal Lake Erie (west). The HUC- 12 lies fully within Cuyahoga County, is located in the historical industrial and commercial heart of Cleveland and includes all or parts of Cleveland, Newburgh Heights, Cuyahoga Heights, Shaker Heights, and Warrensville Heights (Figure 1 and Figure 2). The assessment unit covers the Cuyahoga River shipping channel and five small tributary streams, now culverted. The unit’s only open watercourse is the shipping channel itself.

Figure 1: City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River HUC-12 watershed assessment unit location map 9

Figure 2: City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River HUC-12 watershed assessment unit location map

At national watershed scale, the HU (hydrological unit) lies within the Lake Plain physiographic region, with eastern source areas upon the Portage Escarpment and end moraine belt that separates Lake Plain and the Allegheny Plateau physiographic zones (Figure 3). The elevation ranges from 1050 feet asl (above sea level) on the eastern border to 580 feet asl on the lowest part of the Cuyahoga floodplain, a difference of nearly 500 feet. The two major substrates are Devonian sedimentary bedrock (sandstone and shale) and the Cuyahoga delta unconsolidated sediments (gravel sand, silt, and clay). Soils, where they exist amidst the unit’s mostly impervious surface, are highly urbanized.

Figure 3: City of Cleveland-Lower Cuyahoga River watershed assessment unit (yellow) in geographic context

Historical Profile As Euro-Americans arrived in the late 1790s, the lower Cuyahoga Valley had five small tributaries. The east side held Kingsbury Run (with 22 mi of open channels), Morgan Run (>7 mi) and Burk Branch (13 mi). The west side held Walworth Run (7 mi) and ‘Brainard Run’ (3 mi). During the next two centuries, the tributaries, and the river itself were greatly transformed. Natural stream flows were culverted and/or taken into municipal storm sewer systems. Many tributary ravines, some more than 60 ft deep, were filled in to surrounding grade level. The river itself was entirely bulk headed within the assessment unit. Cle-Cuy is therefore among the more anthropogenic HUC-12s in the entire state.

The history of the unit’s hydrological transformations can be summarized in terms of change in transportation technology and associated land use. The lower Cuyahoga Valley is a natural corridor for movement between Lake Erie’s south shore and inland points farther south. In converging laterally upon the valley, the tributary ravines provide natural east-west ramps. In addition, small, final Pleistocene glacial retreat moraines and an early Holocene beach ridges present as semi-continuous ribbons of high, well-drained surface. These also provided lateral transport channels. Paleontology and archaeology indicate that prehistoric large mammals and Native Americans traversed these features since deglaciation some 14,000 years ago. Millennia of prehistoric movements changed the channels and surrounding watershed features but slightly. During the last two centuries, nevertheless, the Euro-American presence has greatly transformed the hydrological unit. The evolution of motive power in transportation reflects the basic sequence and intensity. Five stages of motive power technology and associated land use are therefore used to summarize human-induced change in the hydrological landscape.

1) Biological (1796-1850). In settling the lower Cuyahoga Valley, Euro-Americans appropriated prehistoric trails along glacial and beach ridges and stream channels. Heading northwest from Pittsburgh, Cleveland-bound settlers often arrived along the Portage Trail (current Broadway Ave). In 1827, the Ohio & Erie Canal was completed between Cleveland and Akron. Biological motive power (draft animal and human) propelled the building of the canal as well as the canal boats plying the waterway. Under a biological power regime, the basic features of the Cle-Cuy HU were not significantly altered. Two stone locks were assembled, and wooden aqueducts carried the 11 canal across the mouth areas of Kingsbury, Morgan, and Burke Runs. None of the tributaries were dammed to feed the canal with water.

2) Steam (1850-1910): By the late 1840s, steam power had arrived as a more powerful and flexible transportation technology. The significant change was that rail channels did not need to be level and water-filled along their courses. Still, very shallow slopes were needed to ease railbeds into the lower Cuyahoga Valley Flats from surrounding plateaus. In providing railroad ramps, the following tributary ravines were cut and filled with stream courses channelized:

• Walworth Run: Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati, 1849; Nickel Plate, 1881 • Morgan Run: Wheeling & Lake Erie, 1852 • Kingsbury Run: Nickel Plate, 1881

Steam power gave rise to a century of intensive industrial and residential growth at the expense of the hydrological landscape. The more significant landscape-degrading industries were petroleum refining (consolidated under J.D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil) primarily in the Kingsbury and Walworth ravines, and steelmaking and heavy manufacturing, primarily in the Morgan and Burk ravines. These industries created flat operating platforms by culverting and burying small ravines. They also polluted the tributaries and lower river with noxious effluents. Steam power was also used to reconfigure, dredge and bulkhead an ever-extending Cuyahoga River navigation channel. Beginning in the 1870s and completed by 1910, the entire five miles of navigation channel were lined primarily with steam-driven steel bulkheading. In addition, river meanders had been eliminated above the navigation channel (upstream from Burke Branch). At this time, the entire Cuyahoga estuary had lost all significant natural habitat and natural flood-slowing features.

3) Gasoline (1910-1950). By the 1910s, Clevelanders were becoming self-propelled in personal automobiles. To facilitate the greatly increased scale of movement, a local network of national, state and county roads was quickly established and much of the street storm sewer grid was put in place. The gasoline-driven period of residential expansion also produced the combined sewer system and the treatment of combined effluents at wastewater treatment plants. Early twentieth-century systems were built to overflow frequently. A century later, the complete treatment of combined sewer storm effluent remains elusive. The gasoline period also witnessed peak demand for real estate, industrial, commercial, and residential. By 1950, private interests had culverted all but a few short segments of the small streams. In the meantime, the last railroads were laid in the Kingsbury Run ravine: The Cleveland Food Terminal railyard (NYC, 1921) the Shaker Rapid (Cleveland and Youngstown, 1929) and Cleveland Union Terminal, 1929 (becoming the RTA Red Line in 1954). This last massive project eliminated all remaining open channels in Kingsbury.

4) Diesel (1950-2010). Among Second World War-era advances in motive technology, diesel engines transformed highway-building and long-distance highway transport. Herein, ‘diesel’ is synonymous with limited-access divided highway landscapes. Diesel technology has very quickly served to bury any remaining tributary ravines and thereby transform small urban watersheds into inert habitat features. For example, with diesel-powered earthmoving, culverting became efficient for traversing small streams and occupying their ravines. In 1947, Cleveland’s first limited-access highway, the Willow Freeway, was culverted across Burke and Morgan Runs. During the early 1960s, Interstate Highway System greatly accelerated the pace of construction. In 1963, the Parma Freeway (I-71) reconfigured the south branch ravine of Brainard Run. In addition, a net effect of building urban Interstates was to transfer wealth toward suburban areas. Local Interstates (I-71, I-77, I-90/490) and related freeways (OH-2, OH-176) effectively pushed wealth out of the hydrological unit to points east, west, and south.

5) Biological Redux (2010-present). The current novel motive power development involves the building of mixed-use trails upon which human energy regains foothold. Within the HU, the major trail initiators include

12 the City of Cleveland, the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA), Cuyahoga County, Cleveland Metroparks, and several nonprofits, including the Canalway Partners and the Cleveland Foundation. The anchor project is the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, conceived in 1993, and still under construction in Cleveland. Real estate constraints place this trail on the west side of the Cuyahoga, whereas the canal itself ran on the east side. Several tributary trails have added complexity and richness to the overall concept, including the Morgana Run Trail (in the Morgan Run ravine), the Cleveland Foundation Centennial Trail (along the river) and currently, the Red Line Greenway (in segments of the Walworth ravine).

Figure 4:Cle-Cuy all-purpose trails in 2020: actual (shaded, 14.1 mi) and proposed (white, 12.2 mi).

In 2007, the City of Cleveland adopted a Bikeway Master Plan for mixed-use trails in several of the assessment unit’s ravines. The Train Avenue Greenway (Walworth ravine) and the Kingsbury Run Greenway are major if unrealized components. The Slavic Village Connector Trail is planned to link the ghost ravines of Burke, Morgan, and Kingsbury. Finally, while not part of the Master Bike Plan, the Opportunity Corridor mixed-use trail will extend 2.5 mi, from E 55th to E 105th Streets. The Opportunity Corridor project also affects surface hydrology. Under construction in 2019, Opportunity Corridor is a new boulevard-type roadway to extend I-490 northeastward from E 55th to E 105th. Approximately 2/3 of this segment lies within the Cle-Cuy hydrological unit. The roadway will add a significant amount of impervious surface to the northeast quadrant of the City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River assessment unit. Bioretention is among the stipulated stormwater control measures.

1.3 Public Participation and Involvement

Two public open houses were held by CRWP and its collaborators to obtain input from residents, community officials, park districts, and other stakeholders to help inform development of this plan. The open houses were held on July 9, 2019 and July 16, 2019, each taking place from 6:30pm to 8:30pm, and held at the Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland, respectively. Direct input was also obtained through conversations with key stakeholders, such as the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA), Slavic Village Development Corp., Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland, and Burten, Bell, Carr Development Corp. (BBC). Partners, including CRWP, Bluestone Heights, Cuyahoga SWCD, and CRR, reached out to key stakeholders such as, Cleveland Metroparks, Cleveland Lakefront Green Ribbon Coalition, Doan Brook Watershed Partnership, West Creek Conservancy, Big Creek Connects, Cuyahoga County Sustainability Office, Cuyahoga County Council, Cuyahoga County Office of Emergency Management, Cuyahoga County Board of Health, Cleveland City Council (Districts 4, 5, 6, 12, 14), ODNR Office of Coastal Management, Cuyahoga County Planning Commission, Port of Cleveland, Ohio City Inc., Tremont West Development Corporation, and city representatives from Newburgh Heights, Cuyahoga Heights, Shaker Heights, Warrensville Heights, and Cleveland. We also advertised the public meetings and public survey via websites, social media, and a press release. A paper and online survey was also developed and shared with the public to obtain written input (Table 1).

Summary of Stakeholder Input Received at July 9 and July 16 Public Open Houses

• Fulton and Bush Avenues • Train Avenue is a disaster. It would be a good place for wildlife. Bike trail What are some key problems would be nice and tear down old abandoned factories affecting streams, wetlands, • To combat flooding/standing water problems, I would argue for the and natural resources in your installation of more green infrastructure like bio-swales and bio-retention area? Where are the challenges cells. Also, I would argue for the depaving of parking lots and the planting located? Examples include, of trees and plants. flooding/standing water, • My wife’s is from Cleveland. We live in Tremont. When it rains, there is erosion, lack of public large amounts of water along the curbs. Flooding doesn’t seem to be a greenspace and wildlife habitat, problem. Train Ave. is like a third-world country. There could always be etc. more green space. Thank goodness for Lincoln Park. We have a skunk family that visits our backyard regularly. • Wildlife habitat. Chemical use. • No • Along University Ave. in Tremont Do you know of any forested • The hillsides by Fruit Ave. and I490 areas or “pockets” of trees in • Street trees need to be better protected from damage and destruction your area that may not be from construction, utility line maintenance, and road salt exposure. protected or might be at risk of • Wish we had more pockets of trees. Tremont has a lot of trees. That is being cut down? why it is desirable to walk around the neighborhood. • Vacant lots in Slavic Village. • Along Train Avenue Is there an area that you would • Along Cuyahoga Riverbank near Tremont. It is a shame the tar plant was like to see protected or allowed to build there. Very bad for environment. conserved? • Cleveland has a great many vacant lots or lots with abandoned houses that could be developed into green spaces like pocket parks, community 14

gardens, food orchards, small tree stands and prairies. I would argue that these lots, when it is possible for green development, could greatly enhance the watershed’s ecological health as well as enhancing the health and well=being of the residents. • If a tree is removed, it would be nice to replace it with a tree that grows moderate in size. But the City planted all the trees, mostly Sycamore, and they get too large by the houses. Then the power company butchers them up. • Kingsbury Run – preserve the wildlife habitat. • Not in Walworth, as it is all culverted. • I think Train Ave. used to have a stream but in Tremont, I don’t think there are any streams? Factories line the river. Is there a location where you • Unaware of streams in Tremont. see streambank erosion? • Erosion – when W10 and W71 meet at University, metal railing, parts of road are caving in. • University Ave. and Literary Road – unstable land, road caving. Tar plant. • In Walworth, along Train Avenue and along Red Line Greenway • Cuyahoga River and by the old coast guard station. When I was a child Is there a park or other location you could get to it and rider to Edgewater by a dirt access road. where you would like to see • By Carter Road. It is abandoned land. more trails or waterfront • It would be nice to walk down to the Cuyahoga River near University or access? Sokolowski’s. • Millwork Falls • Need to continue identifying large parking lots, roofs in Walworth for green infrastructure by BCC, others. Also curb cuts to capture stormwater and more trees on city tree lawns. And downspout disconnects, previous Do you have any other pavement and rain gardens by residents in Cleveland. comments or feedback to • Whenever new green infrastructure is put in, it is critically important for inform development of this maintenance in the first few years. watershed plan? • Lincoln Park is the life center for Tremont. The pool areas look much improved. I wish there was more access to Lake Erie. Who even heard of placing an interstate near the lake? • I’d like to see more neighborhood forest, parks, and fruit trees. Table 1: Public Input Data

Chapter 2: HUC-12 Watershed Characterization and Assessment Summary

2.1 Summary of HUC-12 Watershed Characterization

This subwatershed includes parts of Cuyahoga County. Communities with at least part of their boundary within this HUC-12 include Newburgh Heights, Shaker Heights, Warrensville Heights, Cuyahoga Heights, and Cleveland.

2.1.1 Physical and Natural Features

Basic Geology The geology of the Cle-Cuy unit is described in plan (horizontal) and profile (vertical) perspectives. Three geomorphic features give character to the unit. First is the Portage Escarpment, the north-facing bedrock slope that joins North America’s Appalachian Highland with the Central Lowland (Brockman 1998). The escarpment relates to the uplift of the Appalachian Plateau hundreds of millions of years ago during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras. The bedrock is Devonian-era sea bottom fine sediment. Second is the Cuyahoga Valley which exits the escarpment in a fan-shaped opening. The bedrock valley was cut during the Cenozoic era, several tens of millions of years ago. The third feature is the Cuyahoga delta, the mass of unconsolidated clastic sediment that accumulated at the end of the Ice Age, fewer than 20,000 years ago. The escarpment bedrock and the unconsolidated delta sediments constitute two very different hydrological zones.

Figure 5:Core of the Cle-Cuy watershed assessment unit, with historical tributary streams and current neighborhoods

In plan or aerial perspective, Cle-Cuy is defined by the Cuyahoga Valley’s exit from the Portage Escarpment into the Erie Basin (Figure 3). North of the mouths of Mill Creek (East Side) and Big Creek (West Side), the valley widens considerably within its escarpment bedrock cradle. At the end of the Ice Age, the fan-shaped cradle accumulated several hundred feet of sand, silt, and gravel to become a classic riverine delta. Within Cle-Cuy, the Cuyahoga delta spawned five small tributary watersheds: Walworth and Brainard on the west; Burke, Morgan, and Kingsbury on the east. The streams cut ravines 60-80 ft deep into the unconsolidated deltaic sediments. In the plan view, Kingsbury and Walworth appear as east-west mirror images of each other in their pathways across the delta. Kingsbury, draining part of the East Side Portage Escarpment, is the much larger watershed. While the Cle-Cuy hydro unit is arbitrarily defined within the natural Cuyahoga watershed, its southern and some of its northern border are set on the natural ridge lines formed as ribbon-like late glacial deposits. At the south, a

16 glacial moraine (green shade, Figure 4) separates Cle-Cuy from the Mill Creek and Big Creek watersheds (east and west, respectively). At the north, the Lake Warren beach ridge (~680 ft asl) separates Cle-Cuy from the Doan- and Cahoon-Frontal Lake Erie hydrological units (east and west, respectively).

Figure 6: Cle-Cuy geo profile facing north, showing tributary streams culverted under Cuyahoga delta sediments (exaggerated vertical scale).

In profile, Cle-Cuy occupies the lower levels of the Portage Escarpment. Given the way in which the unit is defined, its east and west flanks have different geological profiles. On the east, Burke, Morgan and Kingsbury fall 550 ft through a Devonian-era bedrock sequence of shale and siltstone (Figure 5). On the west, this bedrock sequence is not present. At ~680 ft asl, all streams enter the Cuyahoga delta to descend ~100 ft to the Cuyahoga River. At unit center, the urban Cuyahoga Valley comprises a series of early Holocene meanders deeply entrenched within the delta sediments. Historically, the river meandered slightly within this sinuous ravine. At the dawn of Euro-American settlement, deep, steep ravines characterized the delta landscape. With the culverting of the tributaries during the late nineteenth century, the ravines became convenient dumping grounds. Abandoned floodplains have all been filled in significantly. For example, almost all of Burke’s delta ravine (west of I-77) has received enough fill (~60 ft) to bring it to the level of the delta summit (680 ft asl). The filling of delta ravines is the most significant Cle-Cuy geological transformation of the Anthropocene. The second significant anthropogenic delta transformation is paving and sewering. Historically, groundwater percolated down through the delta beds to stream level. With paving and sewering, the infiltration function has essentially been lost.

Soils Urbanization has diminished the distribution of the natural soil types in the assessment unit. The large majority of the soils are urban land, which the USDA’s Soil Survey of Cuyahoga County has defined as land where over 80% of the surface is covered by asphalt, concrete, buildings, or other man-made surfaces. Cle-Cuy soils are comprised 17 primarily of the following soil types: Urban land (31.7%), Urban land-Mahoning (25.6%), Urban land-Elnora (15.7%), and Urban land-Mitiwanga (10.9%) (Figure 6). Urban land-Elnora consists of areas or urban land (about 70%) and a deep, nearly level, moderately well drained Elnora soil (about 20%), with slopes ranging from 0-3%. Urban land-Mahoning soils are made up of Urban land (about 70%) and a deep, somewhat poorly drained, undulating Mahoning silt loam soil (about 20%), and are usually found on till plans and the higher parts of lake plains. Finally, Urban land-Mitiwanga is also dominant in the watershed and is described as consisting of Urban land (about 70%) and a moderately deep, somewhat poorly drained, undulating Mitiwanga silt loam (about 20%), and is usually found on till plains, with slopes ranging from 0-6%. Each of these soil types (Urban land-Elnora, Urban land-Mahoning, and Urban land-Mitiwanga) are so intricately mixed that it was not practical to map them separately.

The Cuyahoga basin is situated within the Erie/Ontario Lake Plain (EOLP) ecoregion, a glacial plain that lies between the unglaciated Western Allegheny Plateau (WAP) ecoregion to the southeast and the relatively flat Eastern Corn Belt Plains (ECBP) ecoregion to the west and southwest. The EOLP ecoregion is characterized by glacial formations that can have a significant local relief of up to 300 feet and exhibits a mosaic of cropland, pasture, woodland, and urban areas. Soils are mainly derived from glacial till and lacustrine deposits and tend to be light colored, acidic, and moderately to highly erodible. Many glacial features characteristic of the EOLP ecoregion are found in the Cuyahoga River basin. The retreating glaciers then buried the ancient river valleys with glacial outwash. The headwaters originate in northeastern Geauga County and flow southwest to Akron through relatively hilly knob and kettle topography. The river generally follows the course of the buried valleys, but does traverse a ridge of erosion resistant sandstone, resulting in the falls and cascades of Cuyahoga Falls. The river turns sharply to the northwest at the confluence with the Little Cuyahoga River in north Akron, then winds through outwash terraces, till plains, and till ridges before reaching the flat lake plain of the Cleveland area.

Figure 7: City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River HUC-12 Soils Map

Soil Type Acres in HUC-12 Percent of HUC-12 Ub: Urban land 4,776.9 31.7% UmB: Urban land-Mahoning complex, undulating 3,860.4 25.6% UeA: Urban land-Elnora complex, nearly level 2,362.7 15.7% UnB: Urban land-Mitiwanga complex, undulating 1,635.7 10.9% Ua: Udorthents, loamy 804.4 5.3% LuC: Loudonville-Urban land complex, rolling 662.7 4.4% UoB: Urban land-Oshtemo complex, undulating 323.4 2.1% W: Water 244.2 1.6% EsC: Ellsworth-Urban land complex, 6 to 18 percent slopes 196.0 1.3% MxB: Mitiwanga Urban land complex undulating 105.2 0.7% Uc: Urban land-Allis complex 24.3 0.2% Du: Dumps 34.9 0.2% MtA: Mitiwanga silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes 22.6 0.2% GeF: Geeburg-Mentor silt loams, 25 to 70 percent slopes 16.6 0.1% Totals for HUC-12 15,070.1 100.00% Table 2: Soil Types, Acreage and Percentage in HUC-12 (Source: USDA Web Soil Survey)

Soil drainage characteristics information is essential for siting Best Management Practices (BMPs) so that they will work properly. BMPs such as rain gardens and pervious pavers that are based on infiltration are best suited for well drained soils (in shades of yellow, Figure 7). There is a lack of data, so the majority of the assessment unit’s drainage class is unknown.

Figure 8: Soils Drainage Class Map

Wetlands As settlement began in 1796, Cleveland's Cuyahoga floodplain had thousands of acres of wetlands. Many smaller and more specialized marsh features were located on the Cuyahoga delta (e.g., fens at alluvial spring mouths) and in the escarpment ravines of the East Side streams. Presently, just 16 damp lands comprising 20 acres can be identified within the assessment unit (Figure 8). None are true wetlands in the sense of holding hydric soils and wetland floral communities. All damp lands are located on the urbanized Cuyahoga floodplain and lower areas of the delta flanks. None derive directly from prehistoric wetlands. Most cover less than one acre of surface area; a few are in the 2-4-acre range. Few have functional wetland buffers. Some hold toxic runoff. Several damp lands, nevertheless, could be enhanced to provide some greater amount of nutrient and sediment runoff control.

A description of Cle-Cuy damp lands begins with remotely sensed data from the US Fish and Wildlife Service national wetland survey (Wetland Mapper 2019) as updated for Ohio (Ducks Unlimited 2009) and a remote sensing survey by the Davey Resource Group for the Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District (Davey 2006). The USFWS survey involved no ground-truthing and is therefore of limited value. The Davey survey was more sensitive but evidently featured no ground truthing within the Cle-Cuy assessment unit. It is also of limited value. Upon this small base, we may identify physical types of extant damp lands and evaluate the value of enhancing each. Three physical types are apparent: shallow depressions, retention basins and point bar terraces. Cle-Cuy damp lands tend to cluster by type in locales defined by a specific activity or land use. Damp land types and locales are as follows.

Figure 9: Damp land locales in the Cle-Cuy watershed assessment unit.

Shallow Depression: 6 features in 3 locales totaling 5.18 acres A shallow depression remains where a ravine has been 'ghosted,' filled-in mostly to grade level, but not quite. Shallow, land-locked (inward-draining) depressions are the result. Historically, shallow depressions were often left upon unattractive real estate, such as that distant from local roads. Shallow depressions have also emerged between raised roadbeds (railroad or vehicular). As they usually lie upon the ghost ravines of natural watercourses, shallow depressions can attract runoff from relatively large surrounding landscapes. Nevertheless, Cle-Cuy shallow depressions are only seasonably damp, usually drying out during the summer. Forested examples may support vernal pools.

The USFWS national wetland survey identifies the Cle-Cuy shallow depressions as freshwater emergent wetlands (PGM1C). The value of this designation is limited. Of the three local damp basin types, the shallow depressions are more amenable to wetland enhancements. Some could be re-engineered to increase catchment size and ecological function could be diversified through replanting.

Shallow Depression locales 1. Burke Washington: 2 depressions (1.68 a) in low areas among golf course greens within the filled-in Burke Branch ravine 2. Steelyard north: 2 depressions (2.23 a) within an extinct stream course ghost ravine; historical freshwater ponds have been filled in and built-up 3. Kingsbury: 2 depressions (1.27 a) constrained between raised railbeds east and west; the depressions lie within the filled-in Kingsbury Run ravine

Retention Basin: 6 features in 3 locales totaling 5.39 acres All six Cle-Cuy retention basins are in areas of large impervious surfaces. The basins themselves are impermeably lined and hard buffered. Five (at the Arcelor and Turning locales) have origins in containing toxic pollutant-laden runoff from industrial refuse piles. Steelyard south is an annually inspected SCM in the Steelyard Commons mall.

The USFWS national wetland survey identifies the Cle-Cuy retention basins as freshwater ponds (PUBGx). The value of this designation is limited. Most basins retain toxic runoff from contained industrial sites. It would be difficult to increase catchment areas or enhance the ecological functions of these basically inert structures.

Retention Basin locales 1. Burke Arcelor: 4 basins (3.99 a) on the peripheries of 40+ acres of slag piles 2. Steelyard south: 1 basin (0.97 a) amidst the mall buildings (inspected SCM) 3. Turning Basin: 1 basin (0.43 a) just south of I-490 and west of Broadway

Point Bar Terrace: 4 units in 3 locales totaling 9.19 acres All of the Cuyahoga River navigation channel is bulkheaded and therefore devoid of riverine habitat. Upstream of the bulkheading, the river course is entirely channelized and generates few point bars. Those that do form are subject to dumping. As the fill contains durable construction debris, it tends to stabilize the bar. Filled-in point bar surfaces are usually not as elevated as the natural floodplain; surfaces are often subject to river flooding and also receive runoff from adjacent (higher) floodplain reaches. They are not true wetlands, but damp terraces. One set of point bar terraces lies just downstream of the confluence of Big Creek with the Cuyahoga. These have formed in a narrow strait of the Cuyahoga valley, an area that has two important bridges: the Harvard Ave low crossing and the Harvard-Denison high level bridge. The various abutments and dikes also serve to stabilize the point bars in this area.

The USFWS national wetland survey identifies the Cle-Cuy point bar terraces as riverine habitat (R2UBH). This designation has more value than those for emergent wetlands and freshwater ponds. The size and shape of the Cle-Cuy point bar terraces are constrained by local geography and infrastructure. They cannot be expanded. Nevertheless, with low level habitat maintenance regimes, the point bars could provide more ecological services including nutrient and sediment control. Key is the removal of invasive plants and replanting with native species.

Point Bar Terrace locales 1. Denison: 2 terraces (5.48 a) just downstream from the confluence of Big Creek with the Cuyahoga 2. Brainard: 1 terrace (2.39 a) upstream from the bulkheaded navigation channel 3. Old River: 1 terrace (1.32 a) formed in the dead, un-dredged west end of the Cuyahoga navigation channel

Figure 10: Damp lands in south-central Cle-Cuy: green=shallow depression; tan=retention basin; blue=point bar terrace.

Fisheries and Wildlife The lower 5.5 miles of the main shipping channel is devoid of shallow water fish habitat as it is a dredged ship channel that is maintained to a 23-foot depth by the US Army Corps of Engineers. This stretch of the river has been designated as a USEPA Area of Concern (AOC). In the Remedial Action Plan (RAP) State of the River Report for the Cuyahoga River from 2001, a study found that a fraction of the fish spawning in the Cuyahoga River were traveling and surviving a considerable distance into the Navigation Channel. However, the study also found that fish numbers drop significantly from the upper reaches to the Navigation Channel and saw significant declines in biological communities and changes in habitat at the point of transition to the Navigation Channel. Additionally, low dissolved oxygen in navigation channel remains impaired partly due to low flow conditions, steel bulkheads, and dredged depths, which in turn contributes to decreased fish communities. In the old river channel, while fish communities usually do better than in the navigation channel, these fish have a very high occurrence of tumors. Even so, this segment of the river is considered in full attainment of its use designation. The downstream half of the shipping channel is very inhospitable for fish due to almost nonexistent habitat, water temperatures affected by CSO discharge, and disruption caused by large freighters.

However, larval fish sampling between 2011 and 2014 mostly found Emerald Shiner and Gizzard Shad, two common fish species that are an important part of the forage base for other fish in the area. The study also found a small presence of larval White Bass, White Perch, Yellow Perch, suckers, and redhorses, which are positive signs. Juvenile and adult fish sampling during this same time period and mostly forage fish and rough fish were found. However, samplings also caught significant numbers of bass, sunfish, and catfish – all commercial or sport fish.

These fish had better catch rates in areas with riprap, shallow edges, and habitat improvements, as opposed to the deeper dredged depths in the river.

Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species Data from the eBird citizen science platform indicates that the Common tern (Sterna hirundo) and the American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus), both endangered birds of Ohio, were spotted within the assessment unit. Additional bird observations in the unit include sightings of the Black-crowned night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), one of Ohio’s threatened species, and the American Coot (Fulica Americana), Red-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus), Sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus), Sedge wren (Cistothorus platensis), and Great egret (Arda alba), which are all species of concern in Ohio. There were also observations of several species of special interest in Ohio, including Dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis), Gadwall (Anas strepera), Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis), Common merganser (Mergus merganser), American black duck (Anas rubripes), Golden-crowned kinglet (Regulus satrapa), Yellow-bellied sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius), Northern shoveler (Anas clypeata), Northern pintail (Anas acuta), Golden-crowned kinglet (Regulus satrapa), Nashville warbler (Oreothlypis ruficapilla), Yellow-bellied sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius), Red-breasted nuthatch (Sitta canadensis), Brown creeper (Certhia Americana), Blackburnian warbler (Setophaga fusca), and Redhead (Aythya americana).

Invasive Nuisance Species This watershed has invasive species common to Northeast Ohio such as Common Reed (Phragmites australis), Common and Glossy Buckthorns (Rhamnus cathartica and Frangula alnus), Reed Canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum), Narrow-leaved and Hybrid Cattail (Typha angustifolia, T. x glauca).

Hydrological Subunits The Cle-Cuy hydrological unit comprises six subunits: 7.2 miles of Cuyahoga River channel and five small prehistoric tributary watersheds. Most of the unit surface area belongs to the tributary watersheds. The river channel is, essentially, a hydrological island. Two centuries of Euro-American settlement have transformed the Cle-Cuy hydrological landscape. The river channel is entirely narrowed and armored along its unit length. The tributary stream channels are entirely piped and buried. Anything that was a natural watershed is now entirely an anthropogenic sewershed. As such, the Cle-Cuy subunits are profiled with a good amount of historical context.

The entire Watershed is included in the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District’s (NEORSD) Storm Water Service Area, and the majority of the Cle-Cuy Watershed is within the Combined Sewer Area (Figure 10). Communities included in the Service Area receive benefits and resources provided by the Regional Stormwater Management Program, such as maintenance to the Regional Stormwater System, participation in a community cost-share program for stormwater management projects, ability to apply for green infrastructure grant funds, and fee credit incentives for residential and commercial property owners (NEORSD 2017).

Figure 11: NEORSD Combined Sewer Area

Cuyahoga River, RM 7.2-0.0 The Cuyahoga River forms the 7.2-mi north-south spine of the HU. South to north, the unit begins at the confluence point of Big Creek with the Cuyahoga (RM 7.2), to the river’s confluence with Lake Erie (RM 0.0). The river’s reach within the unit can be divided in three segments. First is the ‘upstream’ channel, with a length of 1.65 mi from Big Creek to the beginning of the dredged navigation channel. Second is the dredged channel itself, reaching downstream 5.7 mi to Lake Erie. Third is the Old River, a dredged cutoff mouth meander west of the current mouth, at 1.17 mi in length. Several docking slips make for an additional 0.69 mi, including ~800 ft of historical slip at the mouth of Kingsbury Run. The various lengths add up to 9.2 mi of open channel. Normally, all open water lies at the level of Lake Erie (~572 ft asl) and is, technically, part of a Cuyahoga River estuary.

Figure 12: Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail

All channels are highly transformed. Between the Big Creek and Burke Branch confluences, the prehistoric Cuyahoga had three miles of meanders. The meanders were eliminated with a straighter channel (1.65 mi long) established between the two firms’ holdings. The new upstream channel is not bulkheaded or dredged, but it is confined to a width of 120-130 ft. The flow is generally fast and linear. Moreover, the fill used to relocate the channel contained demolition debris of boulder and cobble size. With the erosion of fine sediments, the coarse debris has been exposed and local subsidence has served to interlock the debris. In consequence, the channel walls are essentially armored in coarse debris. Few fluvial habitat features can develop in these conditions. Beginning at the ArcelorMittal east ore dock (Dock 1), the navigation channel is bulkheaded and is confined to a width of 130-160 ft. Fluvial habitat is yet more degraded in the navigation channel. The prop wash of bulk carriers and tugs scours the bulkheads free of habitat structure and disperses finless larval fish. As Dock 1 is a frequent destination, all 5.7 mi of navigation channel is scoured. The Old River Channel of the Cuyahoga became isolated when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers created a “short cut” from a bend in the river to Lake Erie. This segment of the river has two CSOs discharge into this river segment.

Response to the Clean Water Act of 1972 has generally improved water and renewed interest in the river among many Cleveland residents. The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail (Figure 11) is the single most important result and symbol of rebirth. Such new perspectives have led to naturalizing the navigation channel to some degree. For example, the bulkheading has deteriorated in the area of Scranton Flats (1851 Scranton Rd.). In taking a more relaxed approach to riverscapes, innovative ‘behind the bulkhead’ habitat features have been established here (described below). Other areas could see similar constructions.

Walworth Run Walworth arises upon the low West Side uplands little more than a hundred feet above the Cuyahoga River. Based on topography and historical stream records, Walworth Run had 2,125 acres of natural watershed and at least 7.4 mi of open courses. Historical records suggest that the many small headwaters took in many delta spring flows. As polluting industry arrived early in the nineteenth century, Walworth was the first Cle-Cuy tributary to be culverted by the City of Cleveland. Burial began in the 1880s; the last segment was covered in 1903. As a combined sewer, all normal stream flows are delivered to NEORSD's Westerly Treatment Plant. The culvert mouth, NEORSD's CSO-080 (encased by an impressive arched stone headwall) is now a public destination. A stub trail from the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail gives access. The locale lies just upstream from the ‘behind the bulkhead’ Cuyahoga River riparian greenspace at Scranton Flats.

Currently, the Walworth Run sewershed has 4,355 acres, making it the largest on Cleveland's West Side. The culvert discharges 320 million gallons of combined sewer overflow per year, accounting for 77% of all the untreated discharge in the Westerly Wastewater Treatment Plant Service Area. Combined sewage discharge occurs approximately 43 times per year or approximately once every nine days. (Westerly CSO Phase II Facilities Plan, NEORSD December 1999). As part of Project Clean Lake, the Westerly storage tunnel will connect directly with the CSO-080 outfall. When completed, in 2022, tunnel outfall collection should reduce Walworth discharge to about 4 times per year.

While the watershed is highly urbanized, significant greenspace and bioretention potentials exist. The Michael Zone Recreation Center (W 65th at Lorain) and at the new Max S. Hays High School (2211 W 65th St.) already have green installations. Tiny Train Avenue Park (4901 Train Ave.) lies where a small tributary once flowed into the main ravine. To the southeast, the St Mary Cemetery (7595 Walton Ave.) straddles a larger culverted north- flowing tributary. To the west, Roberto Clemente Park (3690 Seymour Ave.) lies on the south rim of the ravine. On the north flank, the Monroe St. Cemetery (3015 Monroe Ave.) has been streamside greenspace since the 1840s.

Figure 13: Aerial view of feasible conceptual plan locations from Walworth Run Green Infrastructure Feasibility Study

In 2011, as a follow-up to the City of Cleveland’s Train Avenue Greenway Plan, NEORSD completed the Walworth Run Green Infrastructure Feasibility Study. The document develops four feasible conceptual plans and suggestions for how to educate residents about GI benefits, including neighborhood enhancement (Figure 12). Three of the four feasible plans are reviewed in Chapter 3 of this document. They are SS17 Stockyards, with the greatest ability to reduce CSO overflows (55-acre catchment); SS15 Train Park which presents the opportunity for reuse of vacant urban lots (24-acre catchment); and SS29 CPP basin, which can utilize the low lying valley and sandy soils around the low point at the Cleveland Public Power (CPP) facility (20-acre catchment).

'Brainard Run' Nestled between Big Creek to the south and Walworth Run to the north, this waterway, ‘Brainard’ had just three miles of channels before being buried. In 1814, Asa Brainard, of Connecticut purchased 140 acres of the lower course from the Connecticut Land Co. The land included two converging branch streams and a ravine mouth on the Cuyahoga valley. In 1833, Sauk Chief Black Hawk arrived to Brainard's ravine bluff for a visit to his mother’s grave. ‘Brainard Run’ aptly names this watercourse. In 1875, the family sold 102 acres to a nascent cemetery association. Riverside Cemetery (3607 Pearl Rd.) (Figure 13) was the result. The north branch was dammed to create six acres of lakes amidst five miles of graded roadways. During the early 1900s, the lakes were drained, and the watercourse culverted.

Another anthropogenic change in Brainard hydrology is significant. Brainard Run had joined the river at the downstream end of a relatively large meander. As Otis Steel built on the west side of the river during the 1910s, this meander was eliminated. With the change, Brainard was culverted heading upstream within the abandoned meander channel. The Brainard culvert now meets the river, as the CSO-088 outfall, well upstream of its original mouth. The old meander scar remains as a swale on ArcelorMittal property.

During the 1960s, the building of two freeways I-71 (Medina) and OH-176 (Jennings) diminished cemetery acreage and land-locked it from the Cuyahoga valley. The north branch culvert was redirected along I-71, from Fulton Rd to the OH-176 merge. From here, the new culvert turned south and then east to arrive at the Cuyahoga River as CSO-088. The southern Steelyard Commons stormwater retention basin is built over the culvert and overflows into it. Surface runoff still flows downstream (eastward) upon the cemetery grounds. At the Jennings Freeway eastern border, runoff collects in a small ravine to flow eastward under the freeway and into the Brainard culvert. The cemetery surface has eroded channels leading into the ravine.

Figure 14: Aerial view of Riverside Cemetery

Opportunities for erosion control, stormwater infiltration and habitat development exist in the Riverside Cemetery eroded area and in the ArcelorMittal meander scar.

Brainard's south branch still has a landscape presence in Brooklyn Centre, immediately south of Riverside Cemetery. In 1852, the Denison Cemetery (2302 Garden Ave.) was established at the head of the ravine. The historical grounds comprise slightly more than one acre of greenspace. Below this cemetery, the south branch cuts a deeper ravine into the Cuyahoga delta. In the early 1900s, this void, privately owned, was turned into a landfill. In the 1930s, the City of Cleveland acquired several parcels to establish the W.C. Reed Playfield (3798 W 15th St.). In 2012, the City began renovating the 12.6-acre park, but soil testing showed dangerous levels of PAHs in the surface fill. During the following four years, the pollution was remediated, and the renovation was completed in 2016. There is no south branch culvert; any remaining natural flow has been incorporated into the local street storm sewers.

Burke Branch (aka Burke Run or Burke Brook) Burke once had 13 mi of waterways with Portage Escarpment headwaters in current Maple Heights. Just east of E 55th, three neighboring cemeteries lie at the downstream end of the upper ravine: Harvard Grove (6100 Lansing Ave.), Lansing Avenue Jewish (3933 E 57th St.) and Harvard Old Russian Jewish (5903 Harvard Ave.). Burke's lower ravine commenced just west of E 55th St. as the stream fell through the bluestone terrace. The ravine ran more than 60 ft deep to the Cuyahoga Flats. The City of Cleveland’s Raus Playfield (5200 Brow Ave., Newburgh Heights) now occupies the site.

Farther downstream, Newburgh Heights and Cuyahoga Heights sit upon the Cuyahoga delta. Burke and tributary ravines were 60-80 ft deep here. As this neighborhood grew in the 1870s, the ravines became attractive for recreation; several commercial resorts arose along the mainstem and tributaries. In the 1890s they were consolidated to create the 102-acre Washington Park, then one of the City's largest. In 1908, a 60 ft-high stone arch bridge was built to carry Washington Park Blvd across the Burke ravine. In the late 1940s, the Willow Freeway (I-77) bisected the park, rendering its east half without access. The ravine segment within the park, including the bridge traverse, was filled in. During the 1950s, much of the western half of the park, lying in the Cuyahoga Flats, was given over to industry. The lower ravine was entirely filled in at this time. Arcelor Mittal now occupies the site. In 1995, Cleveland Metroparks assumed ownership of the remaining 59 acres of the once grand park, to create the Washington Reservation (3875 Washington Park Blvd., Newburgh Hts.). Forty-nine of those acres belong to the reservation nine-hole golf course. Burke's outfall on the Cuyahoga (CSO-035) sits on ArcelorMittal property at the east end of Dock 1. The site of the infamous 1969 Cuyahoga River fire lies just upstream.

NEORSD’s Project Clean Lake green infrastructure has a small presence in the Burke Run watershed. In 2015, a 15- acre Fleet Ave demonstration project was built at 5301 Fleet Ave. The Industrial Corridor 2 project, with a 44-acre catchment, was planned for Harvard Ave in Newburgh Heights, but never came to fruition.

Possibilities for habitat enhancement exist in the Burke ravine between E 55th St and I-77. Here, centering on the Raus Playfield (Figure 14), the ravine deepens and widens. The stream is culverted, but the ravine remains deep, steep-sloped, and wooded. The highly sloped woodland habitat covers more than 20 acres.

Figure 15: Aerial view of Burke Branch and Raus Field

Morgan Run Named after the Euro-American early settler Morgan family. Locally, amenities associated with the stream refer to ‘Morgana,’ such as Morgana Park and Morgana Run Trail. The origin of this derivation is unknown. The stream name of record remains Morgan Run (USGS U.S. Board on Geographic Names). At least 7.5 miles of prehistoric channels can be identified; there must have been several more. Morgan's culverted Cuyahoga outfall (CSO-) lies on Arcelor Mittal property. A prehistoric Native American mound once stood just east of E 55th St., on the south side of the ravine. Mound Ave and Mound School roughly indicate the location. In 1850, much of the upper ravine was filled in for building the Cleveland Rolling Mill, Cleveland's first blast furnace. In 1853, the lower ravine was appropriated as the escarpment ramp for the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad, which linked Cleveland with Pittsburgh. In 1893 the Cleveland Worsted Mills built a large brick building on the north side of the ravine at 6100 Broadway and a powerhouse within the ravine. The facility closed in 1956 and burned to the ground under dubious circumstances in 1993.

The Morgan Run delta ravine has received green amenities in recent years. In 2007, the 3.5-mi Morgana Run Trail opened upon the abandoned Wheeling & Lake Erie railbed. The plan and $2.5 million funding came through local community organizations, the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, NOACA, State of Ohio, and private foundations. In 2011, the USEPA-NEORSD consent decree spawned green infrastructure demonstration projects on the trail at E 75th and E 78th Streets (3 acres) and at 6950 Union Ave. (50 acres). Also, in the Morgan sewershed, NEORSD funded an infiltration trench at the Morgana Park Athletic Complex (6619 Baxter Ave.). Slavic Village Development, the local community development corporation, has been instrumental in siting and promoting these and other green infrastructure projects. The Boys and Girls Clubs of Cleveland (BGCC) have a multi-acre campus just north of the Worsted Mills ravine powerhouse site. In 2017, BGCC planned to convert the site to an outdoor learning laboratory. The project has achieved success as the Morgana Bluffs Nature Preserve (MBNP). The West Creek Conservancy acquired the four- acre site. Funding has been generated from the Clean Ohio fund, the NEORSD Green Infrastructure Program, the Ohio & Erie Canalway Strategic Initiatives Program, and the Third Federal Foundation. AECOM provided the design with construction by Davey Resource Group and F. Buddie Construction. MBNP includes bioretention function for the BGCC Broadway campus. Public access is through the Mound School parking lot (5935 Ackley Rd.).

There are possibilities to extend the MBNP habitat element immediately, downstream, west of E 55th St, on land belonging to the Morabito Trucking Co. (Figure 15)

Figure 16: Map of Morgan culvert, Morabito Trucking Co., Morgana Run Trail, and Morgana Bluffs

Kingsbury Run Kingsbury is the largest Cle-Cuy tributary; it once had more than 22 miles of open watercourses. All are now culverted. The waterway has its source at ~1050 ft asl, near the base of the Defiance Moraine in Maple Heights. Two miles westward, the Kingsbury culvert drops through the Berea Sandstone in the vicinity of E 116th and Kinsman, and through the Euclid bluestone at E 93rd St. Abandoned bluestone quarry pits were converted to ice ponds and, later, filled in to become Standard Oil storage facilities. The stream carries the surname of Cleveland's first Euro-American settler family who, in 1797, moved to the bluestone bluffs to escape the ‘miasmic’ condition in the Cuyahoga Flats.

In Kingsbury’s lower ravine, the north flank once had at least three prehistoric mounds. During the 1840s, water cure (hydrotherapy) resorts were built above a small spring-fed north tributary ravine. The wooded site lay a distant two miles east of Public Square. One resort remained popular until the 1880s when mainstream hospitals became established. In the 1920s, the ravine was buried under 60 ft of fill upon which the now-defunct Northern Ohio Food Terminal was built. The intersection of E 40th St and Crayton Ave lies high above the buried ravine.

In 1867, John D. Rockefeller established the Excelsior Refinery near the mouth of Kingsbury Run. By the 1880s, oil refineries and storage facilities lined much of the stream from E 93rd downstream to the mouth. Kingsbury would be culverted entirely to the its river outfall except that its historical mouth was large enough to serve as a tugboat mooring slip in the Cuyahoga navigation channel. While the slip is abandoned, it provides 200 yds of open channel downstream from Kingsbury’s CSO-40 outfall. The Cuyahoga River's most photographed fire, that of October 1952, occurred in the mooring slip as it was covered in refinery wastes.

Between Kingsbury’s upper and lower ravines, a 55-acre ghost segment remains essentially undeveloped. The wooded feature begins at the west end of the Garden Valley CMHA housing facility and extends 3,000 ft 31 northwestward to RTA’s E 55th St maintenance facilities. The segment is ~700 ft wide and ~50 ft deep. The local cultural landmark, the Sidaway Bridge, crosses the northern half of the ravine. RTA owns the northern half of the segment. City of Cleveland owns the southern half which includes Marion Motley. The playfields lie above steel mill slag and ash that was dumped there during the 1940s. The City of Cleveland remediated the worst surface pollution here in 2017-19. The two primary Kingsbury Run culverts join at the segment’s south end. The pipe runs northwest to turn due west and exit the ravine under Francis and Selma Aves. A bit farther north, a minor culvert drains local flow to Kingsbury’s northern culvert which lies under the RTA rapid transit lines. This configuration renders much of the ravine without underground stream flow.

Working with local partners, NEORSD has established Project Clean Lake large bioretention facilities at two Kingsbury locales. One is the Kinsman Urban Agricultural Innovation Zone, where a 60-acre catchment has a primary retention basin at 2891 E 82nd St. The other is Woodland-Central Green Infrastructure, which has two catchments, each with its own retention basin. One centers at 6207 Kinsman Rd., the other at 7300 Dell Ave. In total, Woodland Central provides 100 acres of bioretention catchment.

Figure 17: Map of the Forgotten Triangle and Opportunity Corridor

The ghost segment constitutes a significant green refuge in an area known as the Forgotten Triangle. In 2019, Burten, Bell, Carr Development Corp (BBC) began to acquire land and seek partners to convert the area into a Kingsbury Run Nature Reserve. In addition to the 55-acre ravine segment, BBC has another 30 acres of adjacent upland parcels that could be part of the reserve. A complicating factor is the Opportunity Corridor transportation 32 project (Figure 16). Scheduled for completion in 2021, the boulevard-type roadway will cross the 680-ft-wide gap with a relatively short bridge span. Earthen abutments will serve to narrow the ravine at the crossing point. On the plus side, the roadway is scheduled to include a mixed-use trail over the ravine.

2.1.2 Land Use and Protection According to the Ohio EPA’s 2018 Integrated Water Quality Report, 97.7% of the land in this Watershed is developed and highly urbanized or industrial (Figure 17 and Figure 18). It is also among the most industrialized urban and densely populated areas in the state of Ohio. The Watershed has a few parks and open spaces including, Luke Easter Park along Martin Luther King Dr., Washington Reservation (a 59-acre park owned and operated by Cleveland Metroparks), and Riverside Cemetery on Pearl Rd. Parks and open spaces represent the primary areas of pervious cover, demonstrating the value of these spaces to the urban neighborhoods surrounding them. It also represents opportunities for green infrastructure projects and that reduce impervious surface cover and associated storm water runoff to have a significant impact on stream quality.

Figure 18: Cle-Cuy Watershed Land Use (Source: OEPA Integrated Water Quality Report for 2018)

Figure 19: City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River Land Use and Protection Map

2.2 Summary of Biological Trends

Aquatic Life Use Attainment

The Ohio EPA adopted biological criteria into the Ohio Water Quality Standards in 1990. An aquatic life use (ALU) designation is assigned to a stream or river based on the potential aquatic potential aquatic biological community that can realistically be sustained given the biological, physical, and chemical attributes of the attributes of the waterway. Specifically, two fish and one macroinvertebrate indices are used to determine if a specific stream segment is reaching aquatic life use designation (IBI, ICI, QHEI). Table 3 lists the biological criteria for applicable aquatic life use (ALU) designations in the Erie-Ontario Lake Plains ecoregion.

Biological Index Assessment Method Biological Criteria for the Applicable Aquatic Life Use Designations WWH EWH MWH IBI Headwater 40 50 24 Wading 38 50 24 Boat 40 48 24 / 30 MIwb Wading 7.9 9.4 6.2 Boat 8.7 9.6 5.8 / 6.6 ICI All 34 46 22 Table 3: Biological criteria applicable to rivers and streams in the Erie-Ontario Lake Plains (EOLP)

The Watershed was last sampled at 4 sites (Table 4) from 2008-2014 by OEPA in the main channel. Since there aren’t any other streams of sufficient size within the assessment unit, there is no current or historical data available for site outside of the main channel. There is an approved Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for the unit that was completed in 2003 (see Section 2.4.2); OEPA will complete another assessment in 2021.

Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) As indicated in the Fisheries and Wildlife section (section 2.3) the upper half of the shipping channel is very inhospitable for fish. Only a single sample station at RM 2.80, near Walworth Run, had a “Good” IBI score for its LRW classification. Another sample station at RM 7.1, had a “Fair” IBI score. The other two sample stations in the main shipping channel received “Poor” scores.

Invertebrate Community Index (ICI) The ICI standard for WWH is 34. Only one of the sample sites in the watershed, sampling site at RM 2.80, near Walworth Run, achieved that standard, and had a “Good” ICI score. The rest of the sampling sites at RM 0.29, 5.90 and 7.10 have ICI scores of “Fair.” None of the sampling sites in received a “Poor” score.

Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) Only one of the four sampling sites in the assessment unit exceed the target score of 55, with the RM 7.1 site at Lower Harvard Ave. receiving the only QHEI score. The other sites were not scored at all. This score only reflects the potential of this stream segment to support healthier biological communities and must be compared with the low ICI and IBI scores at this site.

Station Sample Station Drainage River Fish IBI IBI MIWB MIWB Bug ICI ICI QHEI ALU Type Attainment ID Name Area Mile Year Score Narrative Score Narrative Year Score Narrative Score CUYAHOGA R. AT Limited CLEVELAND @ 1ST F01A64 809.00 0.29 Resource 2016 30.00 Poor 6.29 Poor 2016 30 Fair 27.50 Full BRIDGE NEAR Water MOUTH CUYAHOGA R. AT Limited 200008 CLEVELAND, @ 806.00 2.80 Resource 2016 36.00 Fair 8.85 Good 2016 14.00 Poor 32.50 Full SCRANTON FLATS Water CUYAHOGA R. @ F01W43 788.00 5.90 WWH 2016 33.00 Fair 7.93 Fair 2016 24.00 Poor 36.50 Non LTV FOOTBRIDGE CUYAHOGA R. AT CLEVELAND @ Marginally 502130 786.00 7.10 WWH 2016 33.00 Fair 8.11 Fair 2016 32.00 63.50 Partial LOWER HARVARD Good AVE. Table 4: HUC-12 Aquatic Life Use Monitoring (Ohio EPA)

2.3 Summary of NPS Pollution Causes and Associated Sources for City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River HUC-12

There are no related records found for ALU sources or causes of impairment for the assessment unit in 2014, 2016 or 2018. However, the Cuyahoga AOC Final Report from 2015 evaluated water quality, fish habitat and biota in the Cuyahoga River in this Watershed to set baseline conditions and evaluate existing and potential habitat and fish restoration activities. The study found that thermal issues, ship channel flow regime, turbidity, suspended solids, nearshore and riverbank hardening, and the lack of shallow water habitat complexity are all issues contributing to towards habitat impairments.

Beneficial Use Impairments The Cuyahoga River is classified as one of the 43 Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOC). This river is considered to have experienced environmental degradation and does not meet the objectives of the U.S.- Canada Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA,). These waters are also impaired in their capacity to sustain aquatic life or beneficial uses. As one of the Great Lakes AOCs, a Remedial Action Plan (RAP) is required in order to identify its Beneficial Use Impairments (BUIs) and the causes for these BUIs, develop restoration criteria, apply corrective actions and monitor the effectiveness of each action in order to confirm restoration has eventually been completed.

The US EPA describes the impairment of beneficial uses (BUI) as “a change in the chemical, physical, or biological integrity of the Great Lakes system sufficient to cause significant environmental degradation.” The Cuyahoga River AOC has 7 remaining Beneficial Use Impairments. In order for this AOC to be considered restored and begin the delisting process, all 7 of these remaining BUIs must be removed for it to be considered restored and begin the delisting process. The Beneficial Use Impairments that apply to City of Cleveland- Cuyahoga River are: 1, 3a, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, and 14a (Table 5). For the purposes of this report, we would like to focus on the Degradation of Fish Populations (BUI 3a), Degradation of Benthos (BUI 6), and the Loss of Fish Habitat (BUI 14a), as we believe that these are the three BUIs to which we can tie our project goals.

With regard to BUI 3a (Degradation of Fish Populations), the 2015 AOC report found that the Limited Resource Waters (LRW) that lie within the first 5.9 miles of the assessment unit are above target for IBI and MIwb scores. However, for the lacustuary sites, both the IBI and MIwb were below the target scores, which means the entire Watershed does not meet the delisting targets for fish populations. The average score of the LRW area within the Navigation Channel is well above the target, but again the score for the Lacustuary area is about 12% below the target, meaning that this assessment unit does not meet delisting targets. Finally, concerning BUI 14a (Loss of Fish Habitat), the Lacustuary area is well above the target level, while much lower levels apply to the Navigation Channel’s Limited Resource Waters, so this BUI is meeting its targets.

The Shipping Channel in this Watershed does not have a fish habitat (QHEI) score requirements. However, in order to improve habitat for migrating fish species that are trying to travel the harsh conditions from Lake Erie to the natural river, habitat should be created or enhanced for suitable fish habitat in areas along the banks, including both the bulkheads and land-based areas along the riverbank. These projects should also improve benthic conditions in the river, which will in turn increase fish populations.

Table 5: Beneficial Use Impairments (BUI) Chart for the City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River HUC 12 (Source: Cuyahoga River AOC Stage 2 Delisting Implementation Plan Update and Progress Report, 2015)

Figure 20: Aquatic Life Use Monitoring (Ohio EPA)

The USEPA provides guidance that watersheds exceeding 10% impervious cover will generally not be able to support high quality stream systems. Subwatersheds with 10 – 25 % impervious cover are classified as degraded or impacted and subwatersheds with greater than 25 % impervious cover are classified as non-supporting streams and often have characteristics such as eroding banks, poor biological diversity, and high bacteria levels (US EPA Watershed Academy Web). All major subwatersheds in this Watershed currently exceed 10% imperviousness and several exceed 25% (Figure 7).

2.4 Additional information for Determining Critical Areas and Developing Implementation Strategies for City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River Watershed

The City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River Watershed is a highly urbanized subwatershed. The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) is in the process of completing several projects within the watershed. These projects are designed to provide storm water storage capacity, flow relief, and reduction/elimination of combined sewer overflows (CSOs) for several communities. CSOs, along with other sources of pollution such as home sewage treatment systems, storm water runoff and illicit discharges, impact the health of the watershed.

Cle-Cuy watershed impairments have also been identified through the data collected and reported for the Lower Cuyahoga TMDL, as well as, the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement which has designated the Lower Cuyahoga River as an Area of Concern (AOC) which assesses and provides beneficial uses to the Cuyahoga River watershed.

In addition, community input from local stakeholders has also provided a watershed resident perspective on the health of the watershed. The identified impairments are used to develop problem statements and corresponding solutions.

2.4.1 NEORSD Green and Gray Infrastructure Projects

The Watershed lies entirely within the NEORSD service area (Figure 20) and covers much of Cleveland’s core area of combined sewers and is thus subject to the strictures of the USEPA-NEORSD consent decree of 2011 and the District’s response in Project Clean Lake. Given the timing, the building of trails, discussed in Chapter 1.2, is happening concurrently with building the green infrastructure specified in Project Clean Lake. In 2012, NEORSD proposed 15 large green infrastructure (GI) projects, eight of which were in the Cle-Cuy Watershed. Nine projects were agreed upon by both parties and were thus built, four of which are in the Cle-Cuy Watershed (Table 6). These provide stormwater catchments totaling 214 acres. Three of the six un-built sites also lie in Cle-Cuy, with potential stormwater catchments totaling 363 acres. In addition, a Walworth Run GI Feasibility study (2011) proposed four smaller projects (catchments totaling 136 acres), none of which are now active. The HU’s larger green infrastructure initiatives are essentially linked with a partial return to human-powered transportation.

The gray component of Project Clean Lake depends upon the construction of eight large storage tunnels (tanks) to hold polluted stormwater for post-rain event treatment. Three tunnels are planned to store overflow from Cle-Cuy CSO channels. Of these, only the Westerly tunnel has been fully designed. With 36 MG capacity, 300 MG annual capture rate, Westerly is directed fully toward receiving storm overflows from the Walworth Run combined sewer, the overflow outfall of which (CSO-080) lies near Walworth’s historical mouth at the Cuyahoga River. Currently, Walworth discharges 320 million gallons of combined sewer overflow per year, accounting for 77% of all the untreated discharge in the Westerly Wastewater Treatment Plant Service Area. Combined sewage discharge occurs approximately 43 times per year. The goal of the Westerly Tunnel is to reduce discharge occurrences to 4 times per year. As the remaining two Cle-Cuy deep storage tunnels (Shoreline and Southerly) are completed by 2026, all but the heaviest tributary culvert overflows will be stored for post-event treatment. This should reduce more than 90% of the raw sewage going annually into the lower Cuyahoga.

Figure 21: NEORSD Service Area

Table 6: Cle-Cuy: Significant green infrastructure installation plans. Black: built; green: unbuilt.

2.4.2 Lower Cuyahoga River TMDL report This Watershed is listed as ‘impaired’ on the EPA’s Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) report. TMDL is the amount of pollution that a water body can received and still be able to meet water quality standards. The Lower Cuyahoga River Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) report was approved by U.S. EPA in September 26, 2003. TMDLs identify and evaluate water quality problems in impaired water bodies and propose solutions to bring those waters into attainment.

TMDL loads for nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen), habitat, bacteria and dissolved oxygen/organic enrichment were approved for the Lower Cuyahoga in the all of the communities within the Cle-Cuy sub-watershed: Cleveland, Cuyahoga Heights, Newburgh Heights, Warrensville Heights, and Shaker Heights.

The report indicates that the assessment unit is impacted by both nonpoint sources like runoff from urban areas, point sources such as municipal wastewater treatment plants, and combined sewer overflows. The causes and sources of impairment for this Watershed are described in Appendix H of the 2003 TMDL Report (Table 7). Wastewater loadings and stormwater runoff are typical impacts associated with urban land use. Also, the rates and types of nonpoint pollutants discharged within the watershed are being altered by changing land use patterns.

TMDLs for pollutants impairing designated or recommended aquatic life uses in the Lower Cuyahoga River basin (Little Cuyahoga River to Lake Erie) report is available at http://epa.ohio.gov/dsw/tmdl/CuyahogaRiver.aspx. Monitoring in support of the TMDL report was conducted in 2000. Analysis and assessment of data collected in 2000 are summarized in Chapter 2.2 and Appendix D of the TMDL report.

Segment Attainment Status (Miles) Aquatic Life Stream Listed in Use Full but Causes of Impairment Sources of Impairment Segment 1998 303 Full Partial NON Designation Threatened (d) • Combined Sewer Overflow (H) • Dredging (H) • Industrial Point Sources (M) • Organic Enrichment/D.O. (H) • Municipal Point Sources (M) Cuyahoga • Habitat Alteration (H) • Urban Runoff/Storm Sewers River (Big • Priority Organics (M) (M) Creek to YES WWH 0.0 0.0 0.0 7.2 • Metals (M) • Channelization (M) Lake Erie) • Ammonia (M) • Spills (M) [OH 89 1] • Other Inorganics (M) • Contaminated Sediments • Oil and Grease (M) (M) • Streambank Modification/ Destabilization(S) • Natural (S) Table 7: Causes and Sources of Impairment (Source: 2003 Lower Cuyahoga River TMDL Report, Appendix H)

1998 303(d) List 1 1998 303(d) List 1 Major Causes TMDL in this 2003 Report Description Cuyahoga River (Big • OrgEnrich/DO • OrgEnrich/DO Creek to Lake Erie) • Habitat Alteration • Nutrients [OH 89 1] • Priority Organics • Siltation • Metals • Habitat • Ammonia • Bacteria • Other Inorganics

• Oil and Grease • Unknown Toxicity • Siltation • Flow Alteration Table 8: Cle-Cuy Watershed's TMDLs (Source: 2003 Lower Cuyahoga River TMDL Report, Appendix H)

Chapter 3: Critical Area Conditions and Restoration Strategies

3.1 Overview of Critical Areas

Critical Areas for restoration in the Cuyahoga River - Cleveland HU are primarily associated with the Cuyahoga River Ship channel, buried tributary streams, and large, untreated impervious areas. This subwatershed is highly impacted by urban development: inadequately controlled stormwater runoff and the direct modification of stream channels including bulkheads, encasement in culverts, and valley filling.

Critical Areas include:

Critical Area Name - Restoration Nomenclature

Critical Area 1 – Buried Stream Corridors 1-BSC

Critical Area 2 – Ship Channel 2-SC

Critical Area 3 – Green Infrastructure Opportunities 3-GIO

Table 9:Critical Areas for City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River assessment unit

3.2 Critical Area 1: Conditions, Goals, and Objectives for Buried Stream Corridors (BSC)

3.2.1 Detailed Characterization Critical Area 1 – Buried Stream Corridors (BSC) addresses stream channel segments that have been modified either by direct alteration to the channel through encasement in culverts or associated valley filling. These impacts largely occurred during the early 20th century in response to public health concerns associated with the amount of raw sewage flowing through them. They have since been incorporated into the City of Cleveland (and subsequently Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District) combined sewer system, with CSO discharges at various points along the Cuyahoga River within the HU.

Figure 22: Map of Buried Stream Corridors (indicated in green) within the City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River assessment unit

The Buried Stream Corridors in this critical area include those of Walworth Run and Brainard Run on the west side of the Cuyahoga River, and Kingsbury Run, Morgana Run and Burke Branch on the river’s east side. The total length of buried stream valleys in the HU measures approximately 18 miles (94,800 feet).

These Buried Stream Corridors were identified through by analysis of geospatial data, including aerial photography, historical maps, and existing sewers.

Given the circumstances surrounding these buried streams, including surface development on the filled valleys, infrastructure conflicts, and especially their continued use as combined sewers, daylighting of these streams is not feasible, nor even desirable. However, the opportunity exists along some reaches of buried stream to mimic some of the ecological and hydrologic function that was lost when the streams themselves were buried. These opportunities include the limited creation of new surface hydrology such as wetlands that can capture localized runoff, and vegetated corridors that provide habitat while intercepting and infiltrating stormwater. An example of this type of project is the recently completed Morgana Bluffs Nature Preserve. This 4-acre park located atop the filled in Morgana Run valley includes a small wetland complex nestled among trees that line the valley, providing access to nature for a nearby elementary school and the local Boys & Girls Club, on whose property the preserve is located. Visit https://westcreek.org/west-creek-in-action/morgana-bluffs-slavic-village/ for additional info on the project.

Another example of a natural corridor situated on a buried stream valley is the 900 LF reach of the Burke Branch Valley between I-77 and E. 55th St. in Newburg Heights. It maintains a pronounced valley/ravine that is easily observable on the landscape, is completely forested, and vernal pools have been observed.

Further geospatial analysis indicates 108 vacant, land bank or municipally owned properties within the footprint of these buried stream valleys in the HU, totaling 278.7 acres. 18 of these parcels are greater than 3 acres in size, and an additional 8 parcels are between 1 and 3 acres. While potential enhancement activities are not limited to these parcels, they represent starting points for planning of potential projects.

Figure 23: Map of Buried Stream Corridors at Brainard Run Valley

Figure 24:Map of Buried Stream Corridors at Walworth Run Valley

Figure 25: Map of Buried Stream Corridors at Kingsbury Run Valley 3.2.2 Detailed Biological Conditions

Sampling by NEORSD in 2016 showed nonattainment in the Cuyahoga River at RM 5.90 (LTV Footbridge), based on an IBI (fish community) score of 33 and ICI (macroinvertebrate community) score of 24, partial attainment at RM 7.10 (Lower Harvard Ave.) based on an IBI score of 33 and an ICI score of 32, and attainment at RM 0.29 (1st Bridge Near Mouth) and RM 2.74 (Scranton Flats) based on IBI scores of 30 and 36 and ICI scores of 30 and 14, respectively. The two lower sites (RM 0.29 and RM 2.74) are designated Limited Resource Waters. The upper two sites are designated as Warmwater Habitat.

The QHEI scores at the lower 3 Cuyahoga River sites range from 27.5 to 36.5 (poor), while the uppermost site in the HU, at RM 7.10, scores 63.5.

These sampling sites are all located in the receiving waters of the discharges associated with Critical Area 1 – Buried Stream Corridors. The Critical Area itself contains no surface streams.

3.2.3 Detailed Causes and Associated Sources

Causes Sources

Dredging/Development Habitat Alteration Streambank Modification/Destabilization Flow Regime Modification Urban Runoff/Storm Sewers Toxicity Combined Sewer Overflows Pollutants in Urban Stormwater Spills

Contaminated Sediments Table 10: Detailed Causes and Associated Sources for Critical Area 1

3.2.4 Goals and Objectives for Critical Area

Goals

Critical Area 1 Goals

Goal BSC1: Maintain an IBI score of 30 or higher at RM 0.29 (1st Bridge Near Mouth) and also ensure maintenance of criteria to meet Modified WWH attainment goals due to a lack of attainment criteria for LRW. Achieved: Current score is 30

Goal BSC2: Maintain an ICI score of 30 or higher at RM 0.29 (1st Bridge Near Mouth) and also ensure maintenance of criteria to meet Modified WWH attainment goals due to a lack of attainment criteria for LRW. Achieved: Current score is 30

Goal BSC3: Maintain an IBI score of 36 or higher at RM 2.74 (Scranton Flats) and also ensure maintenance of criteria to meet Modified WWH attainment goals due to a lack of attainment criteria for LRW. Achieved: Current score is 36

Goal BSC4: Achieve an ICI score of 22 or higher at RM 2.74 (Scranton Flats) to meet criteria for Modified WWH attainments goals due to a lack of attainment criteria for LRW. Not Achieved: Current score is 14

Goal BSC5: Achieve an IBI score of 40 or higher at RM 5.90 (LTV Footbridge) Not Achieved: Current score is 33

Goal BSC6: Achieve an ICI score of 34 or higher at RM 5.90 (LTV Footbridge) Not Achieved: Current score is 24

Goal BSC7: Achieve an IBI score of 40 or higher at RM 7.10 (Lower Harvard Ave.)

Not Achieved: Current score is 33

Goal BSC8: Achieve an ICI score of 34 or higher at RM 7.10 (Lower Harvard Ave.) Not Achieved: Current score is 32

Objectives

Critical Area 1 Objectives

Objective BSC1: Mimic stream and wetland ecological function by creating vegetated wetland corridors along 10,000 feet of buried stream channel.

Figure 26: Image of Kingsbury Run Valley near Kinsman Rd. in Cleveland

Figure 27: Image of Morgana Run Valley east of Morgan Bluffs Nature Preserve in the Slavic Village Neighborhood of Cleveland

Figure 28: Image of Morgana Bluffs Nature Preserve with Mound Elementary School in the background in Cleveland’s Slavic Village Neighborhood

As these objectives are implemented, water quality monitoring (both project related and regularly scheduled monitoring) will be conducted to determine progress toward meeting the identified goals (i.e., water quality standards). These objectives will be reevaluated and modified if determined to be necessary. For instance; many agricultural BMPs can be “stacked” (a systems approach) that will also incrementally improve the quality and quantity of runoff and drainage waters and in-stream water quality. When reevaluating, the committee will 48 reference the Ohio EPA Nonpoint Source Management Plan Update (Ohio EPA, 2013), which has a complete listing of all eligible NPS management strategies to consider including:

- Urban Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Strategies; - Altered Stream and Habitat Restoration Strategies; - Nonpoint Source Reduction Strategies; and - High Quality Waters Protection Strategies

3.3 Critical Area 2: Conditions, Goals, and Objectives for Ship Channel (SC)

3.3.1 Detailed Characterization

Critical Area 2 – Ship Channel (SC) addresses the lone reach of free-flowing surface water in the HU. It measures 7.1 miles from the mouth of the Cuyahoga River at Lake Erie to Harvard Rd. at the Cleveland – Newburgh Heights border. The ship channel has a designation of Limited Resource Waters and is therefore considered to be meeting its Designated Aquatic Life Use goals despite its low fish, macroinvertebrate, and habitat scores. However, it is considered necessary to provide additional and improved habitat where possible to support the migration of fish to and from Lake Erie and the healthier, upstream portions of the river.

Habitat enhancement in the Ship Channel must both accommodate continued ship traffic and withstand the harsh conditions it brings – armored streambanks, high velocities from ship drive engines, and regular dredging operations.

Habitat enhancement strategies currently in use and under development include the attachment of habitat baskets to the bulkheads, providing structures and vegetation in shallows in low energy areas and the potential to create habitat areas behind the bulkheads that could be accessed through potential openings in the bulkhead walls.

Geospatial analysis identifies 144 vacant, park or other municipally – owned properties totaling 175.8 acres contained either partially or wholly within 500 feet of the Ship Channel. While potential enhancement activities are not limited to these parcels, they represent starting points for planning of potential projects.

Figure 29: Map of Critical Area 2: Ship Channel

3.3.2 Detailed Biological Conditions

Sampling by NEORSD in 2016 showed nonattainment in the Cuyahoga River at RM 5.90 (LTV Footbridge), based on an IBI (fish community) score of 33 and ICI (macroinvertebrate community) score of 24, partial attainment at RM 7.10 (Lower Harvard Ave.) based on an IBI score of 33 and an ICI score of 32, and attainment at RM 0.29 (1st Bridge Near Mouth) and RM 2.74 (Scranton Flats) based on IBI scores of 36 and 30 and ICI scores of 14 and 30, respectively. The two lower sites (RM 0.29 and RM 2.74) are designated Limited Resource Waters. The upper two sites are designated as Warmwater Habitat.

The QHEI scores at the lower 3 Cuyahoga River sites range from 27.5 to 36.5 (poor), while the uppermost site in the HU, at RM 7.10, scores 63.5.

3.3.3 Detailed Causes and Associated Sources

Cause Source Habitat Alteration Dredging/Development Flow Regime Modification Streambank Modification/Destabilization Toxicity Urban Runoff/Storm Sewers Pollutants in Urban Stormwater Combined Sewer Overflows Spills Contaminated Sediments

Table 11: Detailed Causes and Associated Sources for Critical Area 2

3.3.4 Goals and Objectives for Critical Area

Goals Critical Area 2 Goals

Goal SC1: Achieve an IBI score of 40 or higher at RM 7.10 (Lower Harvard Ave.) Not Achieved: Current score is 33

Goal SC2: Raise IBI by 2 points at nearest point in Upstream Hydrologic unit at RM 0.23 (Big Creek at Jennings Ave.) through increased fish migration from Lake Erie through the Ship Channel. Although the IBI criteria to meet WWH is 38, 30 is a more realistic target considering the proposed activities in the shipping channel. Not Achieved: Site currently has an IBI score of 28

Goal SC3: Maintain an IBI score of 41 at nearest point in Upstream Hydrologic unit (Cuyahoga River 1.7 Miles Downstream Cleveland Southerly WWTP) through increased fish migration from Lake Erie through the Ship Channel Achieved: Site currently has an IBI score of 41

Objectives

Critical Area 2 Objectives Objective SC1: Create at least 20 acres of improved fish habitat behind bulkheads in the shipping channel using structures that accumulate organic matter and woody debris to protect small fish from predators.

Objective SC2: Create at least 2,000 linear feet of habitat baskets or similar habitat attached to bulkheads.

51 agricultural BMPs can be “stacked” (a systems approach) that will also incrementally improve the quality and quantity of runoff and drainage waters and in-stream water quality. When reevaluating, the committee will reference the Ohio EPA Nonpoint Source Management Plan Update (Ohio EPA, 2013), which has a complete listing of all eligible NPS management strategies to consider including:

- Urban Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Strategies; - Altered Stream and Habitat Restoration Strategies; - Nonpoint Source Reduction Strategies; and - High Quality Waters Protection Strategies

3.4 Critical Area 3: Conditions, Goals, and Objectives for Green Infrastructure Opportunities (GIO)

3.4.1 Detailed Characterization

Critical Area 3 – Green Infrastructure Opportunities (GIO) addresses areas within the HU where the opportunity to install Green Infrastructure (GI) practices exists. Since the HU is heavily urbanized and has no above-ground streams except for the Cuyahoga River, GI is the primary means through which the built environment can be retrofit to mimic the hydrology of a more natural environment, treating stormwater at its source. For the purposes of this plan, green infrastructure includes a range of practices that includes, but is not limited to the following: soil quality restoration, reforestation, stormwater wetlands, permeable pavements, bioretention cells and rain gardens.

Opportunities for GI practices in the HU were identified through geospatial analysis and field investigations. This analysis indicates that there are over 10,000 vacant, land bank or municipally owned parcels totaling 2529 acres in the HU. Of these, 217 parcels totaling 1314 acres are greater than 1 acre in size. While these larger parcels are ideal initial targets for GI projects, even the smaller parcels are appropriate for projects such as soil quality restoration and reforestation.

In the following maps (Table 12 and Table 13), 2017 land cover from Cuyahoga County shows of grass/shrubs and bare soil. This data can be used to further refine priority properties for GI installation.

Table 12: Map of 2017 Cuyahoga County Land Cover and Vacant, Land Bank or Municipally Owned Parcels

Table 13: Map of 2017 Cuyahoga County Land Cover and Vacant, Land Bank or Municipally Owned Parcels (Large Properties Only)

3.4.2 Detailed Biological Conditions

Sampling by NEORSD in 2016 showed nonattainment in the Cuyahoga River at RM 5.90 (LTV Footbridge), based on an IBI (fish community) score of 33 and ICI (macroinvertebrate community) score of 24, partial attainment at RM 7.10 (Lower Harvard Ave.) based on an IBI score of 33 and an ICI score of 32, and attainment at RM 0.29 (1st Bridge Near Mouth) and RM 2.74 (Scranton Flats) based on IBI scores of 36 and 30 and ICI scores of 14 and 30, respectively. The two lower sites (RM 0.29 and RM 2.74) are designated Limited Resource Waters. The upper two sites are designated as Warmwater Habitat.

The QHEI scores at the lower 3 Cuyahoga River sites range from 27.5 to 36.5 (poor), while the uppermost site in the HU, at RM 7.10, scores 63.5.

These sampling sites are all located in the receiving waters of the discharges associated with Critical Area 3 – Green Infrastructure Opportunities. The Critical Area itself contains no surface streams.

3.3.3 Detailed Causes and Associated Sources

3.4.4 Goals and Objectives for Critical Area

Goals Critical Area 3 Goals

Goal GIO1: Maintain an IBI score of 30 or higher at RM 0.29 (1st Bridge Near Mouth) and also ensure maintenance of criteria to meet Modified WWH attainment goals due to a lack of attainment criteria for LRW. Achieved: Current score is 30

Goal GIO2: Maintain an ICI score of 30 or higher at RM 0.29 (1st Bridge Near Mouth) and also ensure maintenance of criteria to meet Modified WWH attainment goals due to a lack of attainment criteria for LRW. Achieved: Current score is 30

Goal GIO3: Maintain an IBI score of 36 or higher at RM 2.74 (Scranton Flats) and also ensure maintenance of criteria to meet Modified WWH attainment goals due to a lack of attainment criteria for LRW. Achieved: Current score is 36

Goal GIO4: Achieve an ICI score of 22 or higher at RM 2.74 (Scranton Flats) to meet criteria for Modified WWH attainments goals due to a lack of attainment criteria for LRW. Not Achieved: Current score is 14

Goal GIO5: Achieve an IBI score of 40 or higher at RM 5.90 (LTV Footbridge) Not Achieved: Current score is 33

Goal GIO6: Achieve an ICI score of 34 or higher at RM 5.90 (LTV Footbridge) Not Achieved: Current score is 24

Goal GIO7: Achieve an IBI score of 40 or higher at RM 7.10 (Lower Harvard Ave.) Not Achieved: Current score is 33

Goal GIO8: Achieve an ICI score of 34 or higher at RM 7.10 (Lower Harvard Ave.) Not Achieved: Current score is 32

Objectives Critical Area 3 Objectives

Objective GIO1: Remove impervious surface from strategically located sources of runoff and mimic natural landscape hydrologic functions by installing Green Infrastructure practices on 10% (250 acres) of the vacant, land bank or municipally owned properties in the HU.

Figure 30: A large GI project (Woodland-Central GI Project) completed in the HU by Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District.

As these objectives are implemented, water quality monitoring (both project related and regularly scheduled monitoring) will be conducted to determine progress toward meeting the identified goals (i.e., water quality standards). These objectives will be reevaluated and modified if determined to be necessary. For instance; many agricultural BMPs can be “stacked” (a systems approach) that will also incrementally improve the quality and quantity of runoff and drainage waters and in-stream water quality. When reevaluating, the committee will reference the Ohio EPA Nonpoint Source Management Plan Update (Ohio EPA, 2013), which has a complete listing of all eligible NPS management strategies to consider including:

- Urban Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Strategies; - Altered Stream and Habitat Restoration Strategies; - Nonpoint Source Reduction Strategies; and - High Quality Waters Protection Strategies

Chapter 4: Projects and Implementation Strategy

This section outlines projects and evaluations that are believed to be necessary to remove the impairments to the City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River HUC-12 as a result of the identified cause and associated sources of nonpoint source pollution.

Project Summary Sheets (PSS) are in subsections 4.1.2, 4.2.2, and 4.3.2. These PSS provide the essential nine elements for short-term and/or next step projects that are in development and/or in need of funding. As projects are implemented and new projects developed these sheets will be updated. Any new PPS created will be submitted to the state of Ohio for funding eligibility verification (i.e., all nine elements are included).

4.1 Critical Area 1: Overview Table and Project Sheets

The information included in Table 15 is a condensed overview of all identified projects needed for nonpoint source restoration of Critical Area 1 (Buried Streams). Project Summary Sheets are included for short term projects or any project that is considering seeking funding in the near future. Only those projects with complete Project Summary Sheets will be considered for state and federal NPS program funding.

4.1.1 Critical Area 1 (Buried Streams): Projects and Implementation Strategy Overview Table

Critical Area 1 (Buried Streams) addresses stream channel segments that have been modified either by direct alteration to the channel through encasement in culverts and associated valley filling. The Critical Area 1 Overview Table provides a quick summary of what needs to be done, where, and what problem (cause/source) will be addressed and includes projects at all levels of development (i.e. concept, need funding, in progress). This Overview Table is intended to show a prioritized path toward the restoration of the Buried Streams Critical Area.

For City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River HUC-12 (041100020605) —Critical Area 1 (Buried Stream Corridors)

Lead Applicable Project Title Time Frame Estimated Cost Potential/Actual Funding Source Goal Objective Project # Organization Critical Area (EPA Criteria g) (EPA Criteria f) (EPA Criteria d) (EPA Criteria d) (criteria d) Urban Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Strategies

Altered Stream and Habitat Restoration Strategies

Agricultural Nonpoint Source Reduction Strategies

High Quality Waters Protection Strategies

Other NPS Causes and Associated Sources of Impairment

Ohio EPA Section 319 Grant Boys and Girls Short-Term Program; Clean Ohio Fund; Great 1, 2, 3, Morgana Bluffs Nature 1 1 1 Clubs of (Priority) $105,800 Lakes Restoration Initiative; 4 Preserve habitat extension Cleveland (1-3 yr.) Sustain Our Great Lakes program; private foundations

Burten, Bell, Ohio EPA Section 319; Clean Kingsbury Run Nature Carr Short-Term Ohio Fund; Great Lakes 1, 2, 3, 1 1 2 Reserve (KRNR) habitat Community (Priority) $300,000 Restoration Initiative; Sustain 4 enhancement Development (1-3 yr.) Our Great Lakes program; Corporation private foundations

Table 15:Critical Area 1 (Buried Streams) Project Overview Table

4.1.2 Critical Area 1 (Buried Streams): Project Summary Sheets

Nine Element Information needed Explanation Criteria

n/a Title Morgana Bluffs Nature Preserve Habitat Extension

criteria Project Lead Boys and Girls Clubs of Cleveland, City of Cleveland, Slavic Village d Organization & Development, private landowner Partners

criteria HUC-12 and Critical City of Cleveland-Lower Cuyahoga River (HUC-12: 04110002 06 05); c Area Critical Area 1

criteria Coordinates: 41.463225, -81.652443 Location of Project c West of the W 55th St west border of the Morgana Bluffs Nature Preserve Which strategy is n/a being addressed by Reduce stormwater runoff, extend wetland habitat this project?

criteria f Time Frame Short-Term (Priority) (1-3 yr.)

Acquire a conservation easement and restore 1,100 linear feet/6-acres of a dry inline basin immediately west of the Morgana Bluffs engineered criteria Short Description wetland. Install habitat enhancements along the western basin slopes and g bottom lands. Sets the stage for expanding the Morgana Bluffs engineered wetland westward.

Opened in October 2019, the Morgana Bluff Nature Preserve is a learning resource for the children from the adjacent BGCC campus and Mound Elementary school. The site is open to the public and features trails, learning classrooms, and interactive learning areas. The preserve is the result of collaboration by City of Cleveland, West Creek Conservancy, Cleveland Municipal School District, Slavic Village Development, and BGCC The completed project has expanded a low-quality 0.63-acre damp brownfield to create a unique urban stormwater treatment wetland system with zero discharge. Wetland enlargement is driven by additional water diverted to the site from the Boys & Girls Club facility. These additional areas include approximately 1.98 acres of drainage from the athletic fields and lawns and .54 acres from impermeable surfaces (roof, parking lot) piped from existing catch basins on the BGCC property. The extension project will reproduce some of the Morgana Bluffs habitat westward, past E 55th St to another basin of approximately 6 acres. The western basin, lying between E 52nd St on the west and E 55th St on the east, holds two essentially vacant parcels. The larger property (131-24- criteria Project Narrative 004, 3.6 acres) is owned by the City of Cleveland and empty. The smaller g parcel (131-24-007, 2.43 acres) is owned by a construction services firm which is transitioning to a new business plan requiring less storage space.

Approximately 4 acres of the western basin are steep slopes regrown in shrubs and small trees after being essentially de-vegetated some 20 years ago. The current scrubby stand would be enhanced for stormwater absorption. The remaining 2 acres of bottom lands lie about 15 ft above the Morgan Run culvert. These would be restored with native reeds, grasses, and shrubs. The diversity of vegetation and habitat structure will enhance pollutant breakdown and water transpiration processes. The project will set the stage for the westward expansion of the Morgana Bluffs Nature Preserve wetland. The westward, downstream basin will serve as an overflow for the extant outlet-less stormwater fed wetland of Morgana Bluffs. In large storm events, water is anticipated to overflow temporarily into the adjacent wet meadow environment. Together, the two basins should be able to maintain the delicate balance between water inflow and evaporation/evapotranspiration in any rainfall event.

Total estimated project cost: $105,800 criteria Estimated Total cost d Costs may need to be updated at time of grant application. criteria Possible Funding Clean Ohio Fund; Great Lakes Restoration Initiative; Sustain Our Great d Source Lakes program; private foundations

Causes of impairment for Buried Stream Corridors include: • Habitat Alteration • Flow Regime Modification • Toxicity • Pollutants in Urban Stormwater criteria Identified Causes and Sources of impairment for Buried Stream Corridors include: a Sources • Dredging/Development • Streambank Modification/Destabilization • Urban Runoff/Storm Sewers • Combined Sewer Overflows • Spills • Contaminated Sediments With a goal being to maintain an IBI score of 30 or higher and an ICI score Part 1: How much of 30 or higher at RM 0.29 (1st Bridge Near Mouth), and a goal being to improvement is maintain an IBI score of 36 or higher and achieve an ICI score of 22 or needed to remove the higher at RM 2.74 (Scranton Flats). NPS impairment for the whole Critical A reasonable objective to reach these goals of Critical Area 1 is to mimic Area? stream and wetland ecological function by creating vegetated wetland corridors along 10,000 feet of buried stream channel (Objective 1). Part 2: How much of criteria the needed It is anticipated that upon completion, this project will help maintain b & h improvement for the achievement of Goals 1, 2, and 3 and help achieve Goal 4 by meeting 11% whole Critical Area is of the vegetated wetland corridor creation in buried stream channels estimated to be target (Objective 1) for Critical Area 1. We anticipate this project may accomplished by this increase the ICI score at RM 2.74 (Scranton Flats) by up to 1 point. project? Total Nitrogen Reduction: 439 (lb/yr) Total Phosphorus Reduction: 149 (lb/yr) Total Sediment Reduction: 62 (tons/yr) Part 3: Load Reduced?

Load reduction estimates developed through USEPA’s Region 5 STEPL Tool Project partners will evaluate the success of this project as follows: How will the • Effective reduction of stormwater inputs to local storm sewer effectiveness of this system. criteria i project in addressing • Proper establishment of bioretention vegetation. the NPS impairment • Collaborator feedback regarding attainment of project be measured? goals/objectives.

Interpretive signs will highlight the project as the logical westward extension of the Morgana Run Nature Preserve. Content will call out Morabito Trucking and the City of Cleveland as grantors of conservation easements. Signs will be located on the Morgana Run Trail, as it passes above the north flank of the project basin. The latest trail user counts from 2011 show an annual usage of 14,341. criteria Information and BGCC will provide environmental programming for students using its main e Education (Broadway) location as well as for members transported in from other clubs. Four schools: Mound Elementary, Central Catholic High School, Regent High School, and Broadway Academy are within ½ mile walking distance of the site. Environmental curricula established for the completed wetland can be expanded to accommodate the new project. The educational activities will benefit more than 2,000 children annually from elementary to high school age. Table 16: Morgana Bluffs Nature Preserve Habitat Extension

Nine Element Information needed Explanation Criteria n/a Title Kingsbury Run Nature Reserve (KRNR) Habitat Enhancement criteria Project Lead Burten, Bell, Carr CDC; Regional Transit Authority; City of Cleveland; d Organization & Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District Partners criteria HUC-12 and Critical City of Cleveland-Lower Cuyahoga River (HUC-12: 04110002 06 05); c Area Critical Area 1 Coordinates: 41.480855, -81.644608 criteria Kingsbury Run Ravine in the area of the abandoned Sidaway suspension Location of Project c footbridge. Bordered by Berwick Rd on the north and E 64th St and Sidaway Ave on the south. Which strategy is n/a being addressed by Reduce stormwater runoff, extend wetland habitat this project? criteria f Time Frame Short-Term (Priority) (1-3 year)

Improve the ability of compromised wetlands to capture, store and treat stormwater runoff and reduce flow to the Kingsbury Run culverts. Restore approximately 400 linear feet/2 acres of wetlands that have been filled in criteria Short Description with miscellaneous debris. Remove fill materials and reshape impacted g areas to create structural habitat features. Treat/remove invasive plant species and replace with native wetland plants. Install wetland buffer areas to help treat stormwater flowing into the wetland. Cleveland’s ‘Forgotten Triangle’ lies west of E 55th St, south of Woodland Ave and north of Kinsman Rd. The area has one of the City’s highest rates of property foreclosure and lowest rates of family income. It also has few parks or other publicly accessible greenspace. One unrealized green asset is 90 acres of the Kingsbury Run ravine just south of Kinsman Rd. The segments extend 3,000 ft in length and is ~700 ft wide and ~50 ft deep. The local cultural landmark, the Sidaway Bridge, crosses the northern half of the ravine. criteria Project Narrative Burten, Bell, Carr Development Corp (BBC) is acquiring land and seeking g partners to convert the ravine segment into a Kingsbury Run Nature Reserve. KRNR would provide a direct link to nature for the Kinsman and Slavic Village communities and link them to the region’s other greenspace and trail assets. The two majority landowners are the City of Cleveland (amenable to the project) and RTA (not currently amenable). BBC is a significant but minority landowner at this point. Another minority landowner is ODOT which is building Opportunity Corridor road project. Scheduled for completion in 2021, the boulevard-type roadway will cross the 680-ft-wide gap with a relatively short bridge span.

The KRNR habitat enhancement project would develop and execute a plan for creating natural habitat and revegetating the areas currently controlled by the City of Cleveland and BBC. The areas total approximately 60 acres. About half of the total is in scrub forest with significant invasive plants. The other half is the currently unused and occasionally mowed expanse of the Marion Motley Playfield.

This project will restore approximately 400 linear feet/2 acres of wetlands that have been filled in with miscellaneous debris. Restoration will include removal of fill materials, reshaping impacted areas to create structural habitat features. Invasive species would be treated and/or removed and replaced with native wetland plant species. Buffer areas will be installed around the restored wetlands to help treat stormwater flowing into the wetland. This project will improve the ability of the compromised wetlands to capture, store and treat stormwater runoff and reduce flow to the Kingsbury Run culverts.

Total estimated project cost: $300,000 criteria Estimated Total cost d Costs may need to be updated at time of grant application. criteria Possible Funding Ohio EPA Section 319; Clean Ohio Fund; Great Lakes Restoration Initiative; d Source Sustain Our Great Lakes program; private foundations Causes of impairment for Buried Stream Corridors include: • Habitat Alteration • Flow Regime Modification • Toxicity • Pollutants in Urban Stormwater criteria Identified Causes and Sources of impairment for Buried Stream Corridors include: a Sources • Dredging/Development • Streambank Modification/Destabilization • Urban Runoff/Storm Sewers • Combined Sewer Overflows • Spills • Contaminated Sediments With a goal being to maintain an IBI score of 30 or higher and an ICI score Part 1: How much of 30 or higher at RM 0.29 (1st Bridge Near Mouth), and a goal being to improvement is maintain an IBI score of 36 or higher and achieve an ICI score of 22 or criteria needed to remove the higher at RM 2.74 (Scranton Flats). b & h NPS impairment for

the whole Critical A reasonable objective to reach these goals of Critical Area 1 is to mimic Area? stream and wetland ecological function by creating vegetated wetland corridors along 10,000 feet of buried stream channel (Objective 1).

Part 2: How much of the needed It is anticipated that upon completion, this project will help maintain improvement for the achievement of Goals 1, 2, and 3 and help achieve Goal 4 by meeting 4% whole Critical Area is of the vegetated wetland corridor creation in buried stream channels estimated to be target (Objective 1) for Critical Area 1. We anticipate this project may accomplished by this increase the ICI score at RM 2.74 (Scranton Flats) by up to 1 point. project? Total Nitrogen Reduction: 1,371 (lb/yr) Total Phosphorus Reduction: 464 (lb/yr) Part 3: Load Reduced? Total Sediment Reduction: 194 (tons/yr)

1) One permanent, educational sign displayed at the project site. 2) One project site tour for landowner representatives, elected officials, and the public. criteria Information and 3) The project will be highlighted on Bluestone and BBC websites and e Education social media outlets. 4) BBC, with assistance from Bluestone, will create a news release for publishing in local newspapers highlighting the restoration project.

Table 17: Kingsbury Run Nature Reserve (KRNR) Habitat Enhancement

4.2 Critical Area 2 (Ship Channel): Overview Table and Project Sheets

The information included in Table 18 is a condensed overview of all identified projects needed for nonpoint source restoration of Critical Area 1 (Ship Channel). Project Summary Sheets are included for short term projects or any project that is considering seeking funding in the near future. Only those projects with complete Project Summary Sheets will be considered for state and federal NPS program funding.

4.2.1 Critical Area 2 (Ship Channel): Projects and Implementation Strategy Overview Table

Critical Area 2 (Ship Channel) addresses the lone reach of free-flowing surface water in the HU. The Critical Area 2 Overview Table provides a quick summary of what needs to be done, where, and what problem (cause/source) will be addressed and includes projects at all levels of development (i.e. concept, need funding, in progress). This Overview Table is intended to show a prioritized path toward the restoration of the Ship Channel Critical Area.

For City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River HUC-12 (041100020605) —Critical Area 2 (Ship Channel)

Altered Stream and Habitat Restoration Strategies

Agricultural Nonpoint Source Reduction Strategies

High Quality Waters Protection Strategies

Other NPS Causes and Associated Sources of Impairment

GLRI, EWAT Holdings, Cuyahoga Scranton Peninsula Carter Cuyahoga River Short term County Department of 2 1, 2 1 1 $2,000,000 Road Habitat Project Restoration (1-3 years) Development, Great Lakes Brewing, ArcelorMittal Steel

GLRI, City of Cleveland, Scranton Peninsula Carter Cuyahoga River Short term 2 1, 2 1 2 $350,000 Cuyahoga County, Port of Road Habitat Project Restoration (1-3 years) Cleveland

Table 18: Critical Area 2 (Ship Channel) Project Overview Table

4.2.2 Critical Area 2 (Ship Channel): Project Summary Sheets

Nine Element Information Explanation Criteria n/a Title Scranton Peninsula Carter Road Habitat Project

criteria Project Lead Organization Cuyahoga River Restoration, Cuyahoga SWCD, Fish biologists from d & Partners NEORSD, Cleveland Metroparks, ODNR, and US Fish & Wildlife criteria City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River (HUC12: 041100020605), Critical HUC-12 and Critical Area c Area 2 – Ship Channel criteria Carter Road, west edge of Scranton Peninsula., Cleveland, OH Location of project c 41° 29.411'N, 81° 41.896’W

n/a Strategy being addressed Restore Streams using Natural Channel Design Methods (Create fish habitat along the Cuyahoga River navigation channel) criteria f Time frame Short term (1-3 years)

This project will create approximately 1.5 acres of new fish habitat criteria Short Description along 2,000 feet of the western edge of the Scranton Peninsula on g the Cuyahoga River ship channel.

Cuyahoga River Restoration, organization partners, and contractors will install shallow fish habitat and natural areas behind the criteria Project Narrative bulkheads of the channel to provide habitat and shallow breeding g ground, and protection from passing freighters, for resident and migratory fish. criteria Estimated Total cost $2,000,000 d criteria GLRI, EWAT Holdings, Cuyahoga County Department of Development, Possible funding source d Great Lakes Brewing, ArcelorMittal Steel Steel-walled bulkheads and passing freighters using the navigation channel create inhospitable conditions for larval and juvenile resident fish and those seeking to traverse the six miles between the natural river and Lake Erie, and provide no spawning ground for fish that would otherwise use the mouth of the Cuyahoga as a breeding area.

Causes of impairment for the Ship Channel include: criteria Identified Causes and • Habitat Alteration a Sources • Flow Regime Modification • Toxicity • Pollutants in Urban Stormwater

Sources of impairment for Buried Stream Corridors include: • Dredging/Development • Streambank Modification/Destabilization • Urban Runoff/Storm Sewers

• Combined Sewer Overflows • Spills • Contaminated Sediments

Goals for this Critical Area are to create new habitat areas for aquatic life and achieve an IBI score of 40 or higher at RM 7.10 (Lower Harvard Ave.) and maintain the current IBI score of 41 at nearest Part 1: How much point in Upstream Hydrologic unit at RM 0.23 (Big Creek at Jennings improvement is needed to criteria Ave.) through increased fish migration from Lake Erie through the remove the NPS b & h Ship Channel. impairment for the whole

Critical Area? A reasonable objective is to create approximately 20 acres of habitat to support fish populations that could fill the gap and increase the river and lake fisheries. It is anticipated that upon completion, this project will help achieve Part 2: How much of the Goals 1 and 2 by providing approximately 7.5% of the needed habitat needed improvement for area (Objective 1). We anticipate this project may increase the IBI the whole Critical Area is score at RM 7.10 (Lower Harvard Ave.) by up to 2 points and increase estimated to be the IBI at the nearest point in Upstream Hydrologic unit at RM 0.23 accomplished by this (Big Creek at Jennings Ave.) by up to 2 points. project?

Part 3: Load Reduced? n/a How will the effectiveness Effectiveness will be gauged through regular sampling of fish of this project in criteria i population, diversity (age and species,) and health of fish using the addressing the NPS habitat and, in the channel, and observation of spawning areas. impairment be measured? criteria The site will have signage explaining the project and the benefits to Information and Education e the river that the installation provides. Table 19: Scranton Peninsula Carter Road Habitat Project

Nine Element Information Explanation Criteria n/a Title Scranton Peninsula Carter Road Habitat Project

Cuyahoga River Restoration, Cuyahoga SWCD, City of Cleveland, Port criteria Project Lead Organization of Cleveland, Fish biologists from NEORSD, Cleveland Metroparks, d & Partners ODNR, and US Fish & Wildlife criteria City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River (HUC12: 041100020605), Critical HUC-12 and Critical Area c Area 2 – Habitat Creation and Enhancement criteria Center St. and Riverbed St., Cleveland, OH Location of project c 41° 29.668'N, 81° 42.220'W Restore Streams using Natural Channel Design Methods (Create fish n/a Strategy being addressed habitat along the Cuyahoga River navigation channel) criteria f Time frame Short term (1-3 years)

This project will create approximately .5 acre of new fish habitat along criteria Short Description west bank of the Cuyahoga River ship channel where the Center St. g bridge swings open.

Cuyahoga River Restoration, organization partners, and contractors will install shallow fish habitat, stream, and wetland behind the criteria Project Narrative bulkheads of the channel to provide habitat and shallow breeding g ground, and protection from passing freighters, for resident and migratory fish. criteria Estimated Total cost $350,000 d criteria Possible funding source GLRI, City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Port of Cleveland d Steel-walled bulkheads and passing freighters using the navigation channel create inhospitable conditions for larval and juvenile resident fish and those seeking to traverse the six miles between the natural river and Lake Erie, and provide no spawning ground for fish that would otherwise use the mouth of the Cuyahoga as a breeding area.

Causes of impairment for the Ship Channel include: • Habitat Alteration • Flow Regime Modification criteria Identified Causes and • Toxicity a Sources • Pollutants in Urban Stormwater

Goals for this Critical Area are to create new habitat areas for aquatic life and achieve an IBI score of 40 or higher at RM 7.10 (Lower Harvard Ave.) and maintain the current IBI score of 41 at nearest point in Part 1: How much Upstream Hydrologic unit at RM 0.23 (Big Creek at Jennings Ave.) improvement is needed to criteria through increased fish migration from Lake Erie through the Ship remove the NPS b & h Channel. impairment for the whole

estimated to be depth of the site and its ability to accommodate ample room for accomplished by this multiple habitat types. We anticipate this project may increase the IBI project? score at RM 7.10 (Lower Harvard Ave.) by up to 1 point and increase

the IBI at the nearest point in Upstream Hydrologic unit at RM 0.23 (Big Creek at Jennings Ave.) by up to 1 point.

Part 3: Load Reduced? n/a How will the effectiveness Effectiveness will be gauged through regular sampling of fish of this project in criteria i population, diversity (age and species,) and health of fish using the addressing the NPS habitat and in the channel, and observation of spawning areas. impairment be measured? criteria The site will have signage explaining the project and the benefits to Information and Education e the river that the installation provides. Table 20: Scranton Peninsula Carter Road Habitat Project

4.3 Critical Area 3 (Green Infrastructure Opportunities): Overview Table and Project Sheets

The information included in Table 21 is a condensed overview of all identified projects needed for nonpoint source restoration of Critical Area 3 (Green Infrastructure Opportunities). Project Summary Sheets are included for short term projects or any project that is considering seeking funding in the near future. Only those projects with complete Project Summary Sheets will be considered for state and federal NPS program funding.

4.3.1 Critical Area 3 (Green Infrastructure Opportunities): Projects and Implementation Strategy Overview Table

Critical Area 3 (Green Infrastructure Opportunities) addresses areas within the HU where the opportunity to install Green Infrastructure (GI) practices exists in the HU. The Critical Area 3 Overview Table provides a quick summary of what needs to be done, where, and what problem (cause/source) will be addressed and includes projects at all levels of development (i.e. concept, need funding, in progress). This Overview Table is intended to show a prioritized path toward the restoration of the Green Infrastructure Opportunities Critical Area.

For City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River HUC-12 (041100020605) —Critical Area 3 (Green Infrastructure Opportunities)

Altered Stream and Habitat Restoration Strategies

Agricultural Nonpoint Source Reduction Strategies

High Quality Waters Protection Strategies

Other NPS Causes and Associated Sources of Impairment

Ohio EPA Section 319, GLRI, 1, 2, Scranton Road/Abbey Ave Cuyahoga River Short term 3 1 1 $40,000 Arbor Day Foundation Corporate 3, 4 Tremont Depave Project Restoration (1-3 years) sponsorship program

1, 2, Ohio EPA Section 319, GLRI, Polish American Cultural Cuyahoga River Short term 3 3, 4, 1 2 $20,000 Arbor Day Foundation Corporate Center Depave Project Restoration (1-3 years) 5, 6 sponsorship program

1, 2, Woodland Ave. Depave Cuyahoga River Short term Ohio EPA Section 319, GLRI, 3 1 3 $60,000 3, 4 Project Restoration (1-3 years) NEORSD

Cuyahoga River Short term Ohio EPA Section 319, GLRI, 3 1, 2 1 4 Center St. Depave Project $45,000 Restoration (1-3 years) NEORSD

Ohio EPA Section 319, GLRI, 1, 2, Thea Bowman Center Cuyahoga River Short term 3 1 5 $30,000 Arbor Day Foundation Corporate 3, 4 Depave Project Restoration (1-3 years) sponsorship program

Table 21: Critical Area 3 (Green Infrastructure Opportunities) Project Overview Table

4.3.2 Critical Area 3 (Green Infrastructure Opportunities): Project Summary Sheets

Nine Element Information Explanation Criteria n/a Title Scranton Road/Abbey Ave Tremont Depave Project

Project Lead criteria Organization & Cuyahoga River Restoration, Cuyahoga SWCD, NEORSD d Partners

criteria HUC-12 and Critical City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River (HUC12: 041100020605), Critical Area 1 c Area – Imperviousness Mitigation

criteria 2200 Scranton Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113 Location of project c 41°29’01.4” N, 81°41’42.8” W

Strategy being n/a Reduce stormwater runoff (reduce amount of impervious surface) addressed

criteria f Time frame Short term (1-3 years)

This project will remove approximately 5,000 square feet of impervious criteria parking lot and replace with rain garden, native trees and plants to Short Description g reduce the amount of runoff in the Walworth Run drainage area approximately 1,000 feet uphill from the Cuyahoga River mainstem.

Cuyahoga River Restoration, organization partners, contractors, and volunteers will remove degraded asphalt paving along edges of the parking lot, fill the excavated areas with engineered soil, and plant native criteria Project Narrative trees and shrubs to capture and filter contaminated runoff. The site is g along the route of the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District’s Walworth Run combined sewer overflow mitigation project and would assist in reducing the volume of stormwater entering the system. criteria Estimated Total cost $40,000 d 319, GLRI, Arbor Day Foundation Corporate sponsorship program criteria Possible funding d source *This project is not tied to any MS4 permitting requirements

Excessive runoff of from impervious pavement increasing sewer overflow into river, carrying contaminants that reduce water quality and degrade conditions for fish in the navigation channel.

criteria Identified Causes and Causes of impairment for Buried Stream Corridors include: a Sources • Habitat Alteration • Flow Regime Modification • Toxicity • Pollutants in Urban Stormwater

Sources of impairment for Buried Stream Corridors include: • Dredging/Development • Streambank Modification/Destabilization • Urban Runoff/Storm Sewers • Combined Sewer Overflows • Spills • Contaminated Sediments Goals for this Critical Area are to maintain an IBI score of 30 or higher and an ICI score of 30 or higher at RM 0.29 (1st Bridge Near Mouth), and to maintain an IBI score of 36 or higher and achieve an ICI score of 22 or Part 1: How much higher at RM 2.74 (Scranton Flats). improvement is criteria needed to remove the One objective to reach these goals of Critical Area 3 is to remove b & h NPS impairment for impervious surface from strategically located sources of runoff and mimic the whole Critical natural landscape hydrologic functions by installing Green Infrastructure Area? practices on 10% (250 acres) of the vacant, land bank or municipally owned properties in the HU. (Objective 1).

Part 2: How much of the needed It is anticipated that upon completion, this project will help maintain improvement for the Goals 1, 2, and 3 by meeting 0.05% of the impervious surface reduction whole Critical Area is target (Objective 1) for Critical Area 3. We anticipate this project may estimated to be increase the ICI score at RM 2.74 (Scranton Flats) by up to 1 point. accomplished by this project? Total Nitrogen Reduction: 151 (lb/yr) Total Phosphorus Reduction: 39 (lb/yr) Part 3: Load Reduced? Total Sediment Reduction: ND

Load reduction estimates developed through USEPA’s Region 5 STEPL Tool How will the effectiveness of this Effectiveness will be evaluated by monitoring the site during heavy rains criteria i project in addressing and measuring the volume and character of runoff entering the the NPS impairment be naturalized area. measured? criteria Information and The site will have signage explaining the project and the benefits to the e Education river that the installation provides. Table 22:Scranton Road/Abbey Ave Tremont Depave Project

Nine Element Information Explanation Criteria n/a Title Polish American Cultural Center Depave Project criteria Project Lead Organization Cuyahoga River Restoration, Cuyahoga SWCD, Polish American d & Partners Cultural Center, Office of Cleveland City Councilman A. Brancatelli criteria City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River (HUC12: 041100020605), Critical HUC-12 and Critical Area c Area 1 – Imperviousness Mitigation criteria 6501 Lansing Ave, Cleveland, OH Location of project c 41°27’08.9” N, 81°38’41.5” W

n/a Strategy being addressed Reduce stormwater runoff (reduce amount of impervious surface) criteria f Time frame Short term (1-3 years)

This project will remove approximately 1,000 square feet of criteria impervious parking lot and replace with rain garden, native trees and Short Description g plants to reduce the amount of runoff from Morgan Run to the Cuyahoga River mainstem.

Cuyahoga River Restoration, organization partners, contractors, and criteria volunteers will remove degraded asphalt paving in a section of the Project Narrative g parking lot, fill the excavated areas with engineered soil, and plant native trees and shrubs to capture and filter contaminated runoff. criteria Estimated Total cost $20,000 d 319, GLRI, Arbor Day Foundation Corporate sponsorship program criteria Possible funding source d *This project is not tied to any MS4 permitting requirements

Excessive runoff of from impervious pavement increasing sewer overflow into river, carrying contaminants that reduce water quality and degrade conditions for fish in the navigation channel.

Causes of impairment for Buried Stream Corridors include: criteria Identified Causes and • Habitat Alteration a Sources • Flow Regime Modification • Toxicity • Pollutants in Urban Stormwater

Sources of impairment for Buried Stream Corridors include: • Dredging/Development

• Streambank Modification/Destabilization • Urban Runoff/Storm Sewers • Combined Sewer Overflows • Spills • Contaminated Sediments

Goals for this Critical Area are to (1) maintain an IBI score of 30 or higher and an ICI score of 30 or higher at RM 0.29 (1st Bridge Near Mouth), (2) maintain an IBI score of 36 or higher and achieve an ICI score of 22 or higher at RM 2.74 (Scranton Flats), and (3) achieve an Part 1: How much IBI score of 40 or higher and an ICI score of 34 or higher at RM 5.90 improvement is needed to criteria (LTV Footbridge). remove the NPS b & h impairment for the whole One objective to reach these goals of Critical Area 3 is to remove Critical Area? impervious surface from strategically located sources of runoff and mimic natural landscape hydrologic functions by installing Green Infrastructure practices on 10% (250 acres) of the vacant, land bank or municipally owned properties in the HU. (Objective 1).

Part 2: How much of the It is anticipated that upon completion, this project will help maintain needed improvement for Goals 1, 2, and 3 by meeting 0.01% of the impervious surface the whole Critical Area is reduction target (Objective 1) for Critical Area 3. We anticipate this

estimated to be project may increase the ICI score at RM 2.74 (Scranton Flats) by up accomplished by this to 1 point and increase the IBI and ICI score at RM 5.90 (LTV project? Footbridge) by up to 1 point. Total Nitrogen Reduction: 118 (lb/yr) Total Phosphorus Reduction: 31 (lb/yr) Total Sediment Reduction: ND Part 3: Load Reduced?

Load reduction estimates developed through USEPA’s Region 5 STEPL Tool How will the effectiveness Effectiveness will be evaluated by monitoring the site during heavy of this project in criteria i rains and measuring the volume and character of runoff entering the addressing the NPS naturalized area. impairment be measured? criteria The site will have signage explaining the project and the benefits to Information and Education e the river that the installation provides. Table 23: Polish American Cultural Center Depave Project

Nine Element Information Explanation Criteria n/a Title Woodland Ave. Depave Project criteria Project Lead Organization Cuyahoga River Restoration, Cuyahoga SWCD, d & Partners criteria City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River (HUC12: 041100020605), Critical HUC-12 and Critical Area c Area 1 – Imperviousness Mitigation criteria 5303-5307 Woodland Ave., Cleveland, OH Location of project c 41°29’19.6” N, 81°39’10.0” W

n/a Strategy being addressed Reduce stormwater runoff (reduce amount of impervious surface) criteria f Time frame Short-term (1-3 years)

This project will remove approximately 7,000 square feet of criteria impervious parking lot and replace with rain garden, native trees and Short Description g plants to reduce the amount of runoff into the Cuyahoga River mainstem.

Cuyahoga River Restoration, organization partners, contractors, and criteria volunteers will remove degraded asphalt paving in a section of the Project Narrative g parking lot, fill the excavated areas with engineered soil, and plant native trees and shrubs to capture and filter contaminated runoff. criteria Estimated Total cost $60,000 d 319, GLRI, NEORSD criteria Possible funding source d *This project is not tied to any MS4 permitting requirements Excessive runoff of from impervious pavement increasing sewer overflow into river, carrying contaminants that reduce water quality and degrade conditions for fish in the navigation channel.

Causes of impairment for Buried Stream Corridors include: • Habitat Alteration • Flow Regime Modification criteria Identified Causes and • Toxicity a Sources • Pollutants in Urban Stormwater

• Contaminated Sediments

Goals for this Critical Area are to maintain an IBI score of 30 or higher and an ICI score of 30 or higher at RM 0.29 (1st Bridge Near Mouth), and to maintain an IBI score of 36 or higher and achieve an ICI score Part 1: How much of 22 or higher at RM 2.74 (Scranton Flats). improvement is needed to criteria remove the NPS b & h One objective to reach these goals of Critical Area 3 is to remove impairment for the whole impervious surface from strategically located sources of runoff and Critical Area? mimic natural landscape hydrologic functions by installing Green Infrastructure practices on 10% (250 acres) of the vacant, land bank or municipally owned properties in the HU. (Objective 1).

Part 2: How much of the It is anticipated that upon completion, this project will help maintain needed improvement for Goals 1, 2, and 3 by meeting 0.08% of the impervious surface the whole Critical Area is reduction target (Objective 1) for Critical Area 3. We anticipate this estimated to be project may increase the ICI score at RM 2.74 (Scranton Flats) by up accomplished by this to 1 point. project? Total Nitrogen Reduction: 97 (lb/yr) Total Phosphorus Reduction: 24 (lb/yr) Total Sediment Reduction: ND Part 3: Load Reduced?

Nine Element Information Explanation Criteria n/a Title Center St. Depave Project criteria Project Lead Organization Cuyahoga River Restoration, Cuyahoga SWCD, Flats Forward, West d & Partners Creek Conservancy criteria City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River (HUC12: 041100020605), Critical HUC-12 and Critical Area c Area 1 – Imperviousness Mitigation criteria 1245 Hemlock Ave., Cleveland, OH Location of project c 41°29’45.5” N, 81°42’31.2” W

n/a Strategy being addressed Reduce stormwater runoff (reduce amount of impervious surface) criteria f Time frame Short term (1-3 years)

This project will remove approximately 6,000 square feet of criteria impervious parking lot and replace with rain garden, native trees and Short Description g plants to reduce the amount of runoff draining directly into the Cuyahoga River mainstem.

Cuyahoga River Restoration, organization partners, contractors, and criteria volunteers will remove degraded asphalt paving in a section of the Project Narrative g parking lot, fill the excavated areas with engineered soil, and plant native trees and shrubs to capture and filter contaminated runoff. criteria Estimated Total cost $45,000 d 319, GLRI, NEORSD criteria Possible funding source d *This project is not tied to any MS4 permitting requirements

Excessive runoff of from impervious pavement increasing sewer overflow into river, carrying contaminants that reduce water quality and degrade conditions for fish in the navigation channel.

Causes of impairment for Buried Stream Corridors include: • Habitat Alteration • Flow Regime Modification criteria Identified Causes and • Toxicity a Sources • Pollutants in Urban Stormwater

Sources of impairment for Buried Stream Corridors include: • Dredging/Development • Streambank Modification/Destabilization • Urban Runoff/Storm Sewers • Combined Sewer Overflows • Spills

• Contaminated Sediments

Goals for this Critical Area are to maintain an IBI score of 30 or higher and an ICI score of 30 or higher at RM 0.29 (1st Bridge Near Mouth). Part 1: How much

improvement is needed to criteria One objective to reach these goals of Critical Area 3 is to remove remove the NPS b & h impervious surface from strategically located sources of runoff and impairment for the whole mimic natural landscape hydrologic functions by installing Green Critical Area? Infrastructure practices on 10% (250 acres) of the vacant, land bank or municipally owned properties in the HU. (Objective 1).

Part 2: How much of the needed improvement for It is anticipated that upon completion, this project will help maintain the whole Critical Area is Goals 1 and 2 by meeting 0.06% of the impervious surface reduction estimated to be target (Objective 1) for Critical Area 3. accomplished by this project? Total Nitrogen Reduction: 254 (lb/yr) Total Phosphorus Reduction: 66 (lb/yr) Total Sediment Reduction: ND Part 3: Load Reduced?

Nine Element Information Explanation Criteria n/a Title Thea Bowman Center Depave Project criteria Project Lead Organization Cuyahoga River Restoration, Cuyahoga SWCD, LAND studio, Mt. d & Partners Pleasant NOW criteria City of Cleveland-Cuyahoga River (HUC12: 041100020605), Critical HUC-12 and Critical Area c Area 1 – Imperviousness Mitigation criteria Union Ave. at E. 120th St., Cleveland, OH Location of project c 41°27’48.8” N, 81°36’00.1” W

n/a Strategy being addressed Reduce stormwater runoff (reduce amount of impervious surface) criteria f Time frame Short term (1-3 years)

This project will remove approximately 3,000 square feet of criteria impervious parking lot and replace with rain garden, native trees and Short Description g plants to reduce the amount of runoff into the Cuyahoga River mainstem.

Cuyahoga River Restoration, organization partners, contractors, and criteria volunteers will remove degraded asphalt paving in a section of the Project Narrative g parking lot, fill the excavated areas with engineered soil, and plant native trees and shrubs to capture and filter contaminated runoff. criteria Estimated Total cost $30,000 d 319, GLRI, Arbor Day Foundation Corporate sponsorship program criteria Possible funding source d *This project is not tied to any MS4 permitting requirements

Excessive runoff of from impervious pavement increasing sewer overflow into river, carrying contaminants that reduce water quality and degrade conditions for fish in the navigation channel.

Causes of impairment for Buried Stream Corridors include: • Habitat Alteration • Flow Regime Modification criteria Identified Causes and • Toxicity a Sources • Pollutants in Urban Stormwater

• Contaminated Sediments

Goals for this Critical Area are to maintain an IBI score of 30 or higher and an ICI score of 30 or higher at RM 0.29 (1st Bridge Near Mouth), and to maintain an IBI score of 36 or higher and achieve an ICI score of Part 1: How much 22 or higher at RM 2.74 (Scranton Flats). improvement is needed to criteria remove the NPS b & h One objective to reach these goals of Critical Area 3 is to remove impairment for the whole impervious surface from strategically located sources of runoff and Critical Area? mimic natural landscape hydrologic functions by installing Green Infrastructure practices on 10% (250 acres) of the vacant, land bank or municipally owned properties in the HU. (Objective 1).

Part 2: How much of the It is anticipated that upon completion, this project will help maintain needed improvement for Goals 1, 2, and 3 by meeting 0.03% of the impervious surface the whole Critical Area is reduction target (Objective 1) for Critical Area 3. We anticipate this estimated to be project may increase the ICI score at RM 2.74 (Scranton Flats) by up to accomplished by this 1 point. project? Total Nitrogen Reduction: 145 (lb/yr) Total Phosphorus Reduction: 39 (lb/yr) Total Sediment Reduction: ND Part 3: Load Reduced?

References

Brockman, C. Scott. 1998. Physiographic regions of Ohio. Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Columbus; Available at https://www.epa.state.oh.us/portals/27/SIP/Nonattain/F2-physiographic_regions_of_Ohio.pdf

City of Cleveland Planning Dept. 2007. Cleveland Bikeway Master Plan; Available at http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/bike/

City of Cleveland Planning Dept. 2005. Kingsbury Run Greenway; Available at http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/bike/kingsbury.html

City of Cleveland Planning Dept. 2008. Train Avenue Greenway; Available at http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/bike/assets/TrainAveReport.pdf

Cuyahoga AOC Habitat and Fish Restoration Opportunities Final Report: Kevin A. Kayle, ODNR, Division of Wildlife.

Cuyahoga River Area of Concern Stage 2 Delisting Implementation Plan Update and Progress Report. August 2015; Available at http://www.cuyahogaaoc.org/assets/aoc-draft3_stage2-2015-08-30jg.pdf

Cuyahoga River Remedial Action Plan State of the River Report & Proceedings of the October 25, 2001 Symposium. 2002; Available at https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-01/documents/cuyahoga-river-rap-report-200201.pdf

Davey 2006. GIS Wetlands Inventory and Restoration Assessment, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Prepared by Davey Resource Group for Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District.

Ducks Unlimited 2009. Updating the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) for Ohio. Final Report prepared by Ducks Unlimited for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. eBird Hotspot Map; Available at https://ebird.org/checklist/S13981785

Green Bulkheads for Cuyahoga River Navigation Channel. Biohabitats; Available at https://www.biohabitats.com/project/green-bulkheads-for-cuyahoga-river-navigation-channel/

MRLC (Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics Consortium). 2015. National Land Cover Database 2011; Available at https://www.mrlc.gov/nlcd2011.php

NEORSD (Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District). 2004. Regional Intercommunity Drainage Evaluation (RIDE) Study.

NEORSD. 2011. Walworth Run Green Infrastructure Feasibility Study; Available at https://www.neorsd.org/I_Library.php?a=download_file&LIBRARY_RECORD_ID=5344

Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife. Ohio’s Listed Species; Available at https://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/portals/wildlife/pdfs/publications/information/pub356.pdf

Ohio EPA, 2016. 2016 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report: Mill Creek. Columbus: Ohio EPA.

Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. 2018. Integrated Water Quality Report for 2018; Available at http://oepa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=5df599f41fd241be8de26576ed4d6aae

Ohio EPA (Ohio Environmental Protection Agency). 2013. Nonpoint Source Management Plan Update. Ohio EPA, Division of Surface Water, Nonpoint Source Program; Available at http://epa.ohio.gov/Portals/35/nps/NPS_Mgmt_Plan.pdf

Ohio EPA, 2003. Total Maximum Daily Loads for the Lower Cuyahoga River Watershed. Columbus: Ohio EPA; Available at https://www.epa.state.oh.us/portals/35/tmdl/Cuyahoga_lower_final_report.pdf 83

USDA NRCS (United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service). 1980. Soil Survey of Cuyahoga County; Available at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/ohio/cuyahogaOH1980/cuyahogaOH1980.pdf

USGS (United States Geological Survey). 2018. StreamStats; Available at https://water.usgs.gov/osw/streamstats/

USDA NRCS (United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service). Web Soil Survey; Available at https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/WebSoilSurvey.aspx

USGS U.S. Board on Geographic Names: Morgan Run; Available at https://geonames.usgs.gov/apex/f?p=138:2:0::NO:RP::

Wetland Mapper 2019. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Wetland Inventory (online)