East Branch Chagrin River Restoration for Water Quality and Habitat Improvement
Brett Long, PE
Doug Streaker, PE
Biohabitats, Inc.
Baltimore, MD
Authors: Long, Brett PE, Streaker, Doug PE
The Chagrin River Watershed Partners with support from the City of Willoughby, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Western Reserve Land Conservancy, and Biohabitats completed a large-scale river restoration at the confluence of the Chagrin River and the East Branch of the Chagrin River. The goals of the project were sediment and nutrient reductions in the Chagrin River and Lake Erie. Additional goals include improved aquatic passage and habitat restoration.
The erosion issues at the Chagrin River and the East Branch of the Chagrin River have been exacerbated by three human activities: watershed development, impoundment structures, and the partial breach of Daniel’s Park dam leading to a positive hydraulic feedback loop creating conditions conducive for erosion.
The selected design approach aimed to restore the functional attributes of the riparian and river corridor to the maximum extent practicable. Our restoration approach was essentially a three-part approach that involves 1) removal of Daniel’s dam remnants, 2) stabilization of the eroding banks on the Chagrin River using bendway weirs and engineered log complex and 3) stabilization of the East Branch Channel by realigning the channel confluence (w/ Chagrin) and creation of oxbow wetlands in the abandoned channel.
Our bank stabilization approach deviated from the typical rip-rap bank applications as they provide little habitat value and increase water temperatures and downriver shear stresses. A large wood complex was installed that provides bank stability, roughness, and aquatic habitat.
Below are the quantities of project elements that were constructed for this project.
Stabilized 685 linear feet of eroding riverbank on the Chagrin River, created a bankfull bench, removed the point bar on the eastern bank of the Chagrin River, re-aligned the transverse riffle, and restored 1.5 acres of riparian forest.
Removed the dam remnants and stabilized the 0.5 acre restored area to improve river hydraulics, aquatic habitat, and steelhead fishing.
Realigned 700 linear feet of the East Branch of the Chagrin River and restored 1 acre of the old channel to oxbow wetland habitat.
Invasive species management of 74.8 acres of forest.
About Brett Long, PE
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About Doug Streaker, PE
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