Kirtland gets grant for river bank stabilization

Protecting a Kirtland roadway and the environment is the two-pronged goal of a project planned along the East Branch of the Chagrin River.

The riverbank by Wisner Road was ranked a high erosion hazard, based on an assessment a year ago.

The city recently was awarded a $150,000 grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for the East Branch Chagrin River Streambank Stabilization Project.

Local match is $100,000, which will come from the city’s cost-share funds via the Lake County Stormwater Management Department.

City Council on Sept. 18 will hold second reading of a resolution authorizing Mayor Doug Davidson to enter an agreement with the Ohio EPA for the project.

“The Chagrin River is a great visual asset to the community,” Davidson said. “In some cases, we take steps to protect it, as we did recently with some timber harvesting issues.

“In this case, we are protecting Wisner Road from the river with a stabilization project. It’s important that we do the work the right way, which is why we work with the Chagrin River Watershed Partners, and the Ohio EPA on the process.”

He credited city Engineer Phil Kiefer with helping to obtain the funding.

The East Branch of the Chagrin River is designated a State Scenic River at this location, and the entire East Branch watershed is considered a coldwater habitat — a relatively rare aquatic life use designation in Ohio, according to information from Willough by based Chagrin River Watershed Partners.

The Chagrin River Watershed Action Plan identifies streambank erosion as a major problem in the East Branch subwatershed because of its highly erodible soils and steep stream grades. Siltation is a major cause of water quality impairment as well.

Streambank erosion along the East Branch is contributing sediment and nutrient pollution to the East Branch, the Chagrin River and Lake Erie. Erosion is occurring on both banks near Wisner Road north of Route 6.

The project calls for the use of bioengineering methods to stabilize 425 feet of streambank on the East Branch. Such methods involve a combination of living and nonliving materials to stabilize eroding banks.

“Bioengineering techniques require less longterm maintenance and more effectively reduce the velocity of water along stream banks than traditional hard-armoring techniques,” said CRWP Project Manager Kimberly Brewster. “Traditional non-vegetated hard-armoring such as concrete or gabion structures tend to fail because the water erodes the soils along the sides and back of the structures and destabilizes them over time.”

Bioengineering at the site may include regrading of the banks to a more gentle slope, rock protection at the toe of the river, layering brush material and the installation of “live stakes” to promote the growth of native plants. Tree revetments may also be used.

This project is located on private property and has been protected with a conservation easement by Holden Arboretum since 1997.

CRWP will provide technical assistance and help the city educate target audiences about the use of bioengineering for streambank stabilization on this project.

“The Chagrin River is a great visual asset to the community.” — Mayor Doug Davidson