Habitat Restoration Database: Cuyahoga River

Cuyahoga River Habitat Restoration Database

The habitat restoration projects at Cascade Valley View Park along the Cuyahoga River in Akron, Ohio took place on a project site that was a former golf course. Summit Metro Parks completed phase I of the project which restored the upland area of the gold course. Phase II was conducted in collaboration with NOAA, GLC, and other partners and focused on restoring the floodplain and in-stream habitat of the Cuyahoga River. Phase II construction took place from 2019 – 2021.

The following metrics were collected during pre- and post-monitoring of the project sites:

Fish Community Sampling (IBI Assessment): IBI assessments were conducted at each site to determine the fish community.

Invertebrate Community (ICI Assessment): ICI assessments were conducted at each site and observations were made of taxa, relative abundances, and habitat and water quality for collected organisms.

Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index: In-stream habitat and riparian zone characteristics were evaluated using the QHEI index immediately following electrofishing.

Land Elevations/Hydrologic Reconnection: An as-built survey was conducted to evaluate morphologic cross sections following restoration.

Water Level: Water levels were monitored prior to, during, and following restoration using ISGS staff gauges to ensure hydrologic reconnection. Water level monitoring will continue for two years following restoration.  

Cuyahoga River restoration before (left) and after (right) restoration activities (Photos provided by Summit Metro Parks)