What do we do?

The Mission

The Chagrin River Watershed Partners will strive to preserve and enhance the scenic and environmental quality of the ecosystem of the Chagrin River and its watershed in a manner that assures a sustainable future for people, plants and animals.

Who Are We?

CRWP is a collaboration of 36 cities, villages, townships, counties, and park districts working on innovative solutions to flooding, erosion, and water quality problems to minimize the impacts of development and limit local infrastructure costs. CRWP’s founding principles are:

• Natural systems provide flood control, erosion control, and water quality protection services that should be maintained as land is developed.
• It is more cost effective for local governments to take planning and development steps to maintain these services than to pay for costly, and generally less effective, remedial solutions.

Why Do Communities Join?

Communities join CRWP due to concerns over rising infrastructure costs and threats to public and private property created by the loss of natural resource functions and subsequent increases in flooding, erosion, and water quality problems. Through CRWP members share information and work together to address local and watershed concerns.

How Do We Work?

CRWP responds directly to the needs of Member communities, elected officials, engineers, planners, law directors, and other professional advisors by helping them update comprehensive plans, zoning regulations, and other programs guiding land use. CRWP has assisted communities by introducing innovative practices that maintain natural resource functions and prevent or minimize flooding, erosion, and water quality problems. These practices include CRWP’s recommended watershed management tools for riparian and wetland setbacks, conservation development, improved erosion and sediment control, and comprehensive storm water management.

CRWP also conducts watershed studies and planning efforts that support local decision makers by providing technical background. These studies have included an analysis of riparian setbacks on property values, technical support for riparian and wetland setbacks, analysis of alternative home sewage treatment systems in conservation development, and alternative parking arrangements and codes.

Please see our Annual Reports for more information.