Restoring and protecting Sand Run Metro Park (conclusion)
This is the conclusion of a series of posts about significant grant-funded improvements to protect the roads, trails and wildlife of a well-loved park. Read Part I, Part II and Part III.
On July 13, 2023, crews and contractors took the final steps in a three-year effort to reduce stormwater damage, protect critical infrastructure and remove wildlife barriers within Sand Run Metro Park. Begun in summer 2020, these improvements were made possible with $4.6 million in state and federal grant funding.
“As our oldest and most-visited location, Sand Run Metro Park has faced ecological challenges due to nearly a century of human impacts,” said SMP Executive Director Lisa M. King. “Over the past three years, we have utilized innovative and conservation-forward techniques to ensure this park is here for visitors to enjoy for many years to come.”
Because Sand Run stream flows through an area that has been highly developed with homes, shopping centers and roads, stormwater runoff has created significant erosion in the park, destabilizing the stream’s banks. Additionally, infrastructure such as roads, culverts and pipelines have been built as the surrounding communities were developed, creating migration barriers that make it extremely difficult for fish to travel freely throughout the waterway. The project has been completed in three phases:
· Phase I: Summit Metro Parks utilized Clean Ohio grant funding to remove a bridge in need of repairs replace it with a culvert running under Sand Run Parkway, creating a more sustainable long-term solution while also allowing fish and other critters to travel more freely.
· Phase IIa: The park district undertook several projects to control erosion throughout the park and made additional in-stream habitat improvements.
· Phase IIb: Summit Metro Parks reinforced streambanks and removed two fish barriers.
The Sand Run Metro Park restoration project incorporated the following key elements:
· Repurposed trees: As part of the effort to remove the Gorge Dam, trees were removed from the Chuckery Area of Cascade Valley Metro Park in preparation for the future sediment disposal. Root wads, or the lower portions of trees and their roots, have been buried in the streambank, providing immediate stabilization, protection at the slope base and optimal fish habitat.
· Natural channel design: This approach involves reshaping the stream channel, utilizing rocks and logs to create meandering features, pools and shallow areas, allowing for a more diverse and dynamic habitat.
· Use of native plantings: Native vegetation plays a crucial role in the restoration process. These plantings will help stabilize the soil, prevent erosion, improve water quality and provide valuable habitat for wildlife.
· Deliberate stone placement: Fishways, also known as fish ladders or fish passes, are structures designed to help fish navigate barriers, which can obstruct migration. Incorporating stones into fishways design mimics the natural environment of the waterway, providing a more seamless passage for fish.
· Sediment trapping logs: Sediment trapping logs play a vital role in stream restoration by effectively capturing sediment and facilitating the restoration of natural stream processes.
The utilization of natural materials in the stream restoration is a sustainable practice that reduces environmental impact, enhances the ecological functions of the stream ecosystem, maintains a more natural and scenic aesthetic, and contributes to water quality improvement.
With the final stage of work completed, Sand Run Parkway is reopen daily. For more information on this project, visit our blog posts and video summary.
This article is the conclusion of a series to keep Summit County residents informed on restoring and protecting Sand Run Metro Park.