Chagrin River Watershed
Overview
The Chagrin River is a tributary of Lake Erie with a drainage area of 267 square miles that is mostly rural with a low density of residential housing.
In May 2012, the Jackson Valley Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), Quail Hollow WWTP, Creekside WWTP, and Woodland Glen WWTP in the Chagrin River watershed were decommissioned. The flows from these facilities were redirected to the NEORSD's Easterly WWTP via the SOM Relief Sewer.
Environmental monitoring on the Chagrin River and the tributaries that those WWTPs discharged to was conducted by NEORSD before and after decommissioning to determine the health of the stream and any improvements that resulted from doing so. Assessments have also been conducted as part of NEORSD's general watershed monitoring.
Study Plans
Below are study plans for each of the projects that have been completed in the Chagrin River watershed by NEORSD since 2009:
Chagrin River Map
Fish
The fish community in the Chagrin River watershed has been assessed at each site using backpack and longline electrofishing techniques. Below are data sheets for each of the electrofishing surveys that have been completed by NEORSD:
Chagrin River Map
Macroinvertebrates
For each study, benthic macroinvertebrates were sampled quantitatively using modified Hester-Dendy substrate samplers in conjunction with a qualitative sample collected using a kick net. Below are the species lists for each site that was assessed:
Hester-Dendy sampler installed in Willey Creek
Chagrin River Map
Habitat
Habitat on the Chagrin River and its tributaries was assessed using Ohio EPA's Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index, which looks at stream substrate, instream cover, channel morphology, riparian zone and bank condition, pool and riffle quality, and stream gradient. Below are the results for each of these assessments:
Chagrin River Map
Water Chemistry
During each study, water chemistry samples were generally collected once per week for five weeks and measured for a variety of parameters. Below are results for each of the parameters that was measured:
Chagrin River Map
Reports
Below are reports analyzing and discussing results from each of the studies that has been completed on the Chagrin River:
