Sediment impacts the ability for aquatic life to survive in the Chagrin River and transports phosphorous and other pollutants to Lake Erie. Sources of sediment in the Chagrin River watershed include streambank and streambed erosion, slope failure, construction, suspended solids carried from stormwater runoff, and runoff from agricultural lands in the watershed.

 

In 2017, CRWP was awarded a $198,505 grant by the Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program of the Great Lakes Commission. The funding provides technical assistance and cost-share dollars to eligible private property owners in four subwatersheds of the Chagrin River. This project will help five to seven landowners stabilize a total of 2,000 linear feet of streambank using natural channel design and will help three landowners install all-weather paddocks near stream, wetland, or drainage resources.  The project will help protect Lake Erie by reducing phosphorous runoff and sedimentation.

 

CRWP is working with the Cuyahoga, Geauga, Portage, and Lake County Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Ohio Department of Agriculture to implement this project. Eligible properties must be located in the East Branch, Beaver Creek-Chagrin River, Silver Creek, or Headwater Aurora Branches of the Chagrin River. These subwatersheds include portions of the following communities: Auburn Township, Aurora, Bainbridge Township, Bentleyville Village, Chagrin Falls Village, Chardon, Chardon Township, Kirtland, Kirtland Hills Village, Mantua Township, Mentor, Moreland Hills Village, Munson Township, Newbury Township, Russell Township, Solon, South Russell Village, Waite Hill Village, and Willoughby.

 

Upon request, site visits will be conducted for interested landowners to provide technical assistance on proper BMP selection and to evaluate sedimentation impacts related to streambank erosion, riparian corridor management, and paddock management. Project partners will work with landowners to determine whether a cost-share project may be applicable. Landowner permission and commitment of cost-share funds will be required and obtained through an approved written contract between the landowner and CRWP.

 

Funding for this program is provided by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative under a cooperative agreement between the Great Lakes Commission and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. This material is based upon work supported by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under number 69-3A75-17-224. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. https://www.usda.gov/non-discrimination-statement