Fish diversity resurges in restored Sand Run Stream
Mike Johnson, Chief of Conservation
In 2016, Summit Metro Parks launched an initiative, code name: Save Sand Run (you may know it as Restoring and Protecting Sand Run). The goal was to restore biological integrity and water quality to our beleaguered stream. Like most streams with urban watersheds, Sand Run Stream suffered from increased stormwater and chemical runoff from the surrounding area. Habitat in the stream, coupled with poor water quality, was severely limiting the fish communities that should be thriving there.
Working in tandem with our partners, we sought to bring life back to the namesake of our most recognizable Metro Park. As part of its ongoing water quality initiative, the City of Akron improved efforts for cleaning and inspection of sewers. Summit Soil and Water Conservation District increased its efforts to reduce the effects of stormwater, which included educating homeowners on techniques they can employ to reduce the impacts of development. In addition, our community engagement team hosted naturalist-led programs on how to make small changes at home that make a big impact for the environment as part of the park district’s popular “Wild Back Yards” program.
Thanks to generous funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Clean Ohio, the park district’s planning and conservation departments implemented numerous projects, including initiatives that improved instream habitat for fish and connecting tributaries that had been ecologically separated by culverts. We also daylighted sections of streams that had been buried under pavement. As we implemented these improvements, we monitored the responses of fish and aquatic wildlife. One of the best methods of measuring water quality is to look at the fish that live in a stream. The Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) is a monitoring tool developed by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that evaluates water quality based on the structure and function of the fish community present in the stream.
In 1996, Ohio EPA monitored the section of stream behind our Service Center located in Sand Run Metro Park. The results of their survey (and subsequent monitoring events) are shown in the table below. Only six species of fish were noted in 1996. Most were indicators of poor water quality, and the site only scored an IBI value of 26 — another indication of poor water quality. This is the baseline of impairment we had to work with. In 2018, after several years of restoration efforts, the number of fish at this monitoring site increased to nine species and included several indicators of good water quality like hog suckers and common shiners. The IBI value had also increased to 46, which is indicative of good water quality and reflects attainment of water quality standards … success! But this fish tale gets better.
In 2023, Summit Metro Parks completed restoration work on the main stream of Sand Run and park staff were able to conduct an early post-construction monitoring event. The number of fish species skyrocketed to 14 and the site was dominated by species that are considered good water quality indicators. Darter fish are often considered the pinnacle of good water quality indicators and this site now supported three darter species: rainbow darter, fantail darter and Johnny darter.
The results we are seeing in Sand Run cannot be explained solely by the recently completed restoration work. These results are the combined effects of many partners working in the stream and surrounding watershed. Summit Metro Parks is grateful to our many partners that help us keep the water clean, the air fresh and the land teeming with a diversity of life.
For more stories like this, check out Green Islands magazine, a bi-monthly publication from Summit Metro Parks. Summit County residents can sign up to receive the publication at home free of charge.
