Cuyahoga River Restoration

(Cuyahoga River Community Planning)

Restoring, revitalizing and protecting the Cuyahoga River watershed

WEST CREEK is located in the middle of Cuyahoga County and flows into the Cuyahoga River from the west and south. The creek and its tributaries drain from the communities of Parma, Seven Hills, Brooklyn Heights, Independence and a small area of the City of Cleveland and Broadview Heights, Ohio.

The West Creek Watershed covers 14 square miles of primarily residential and commercial land, and although it runs through heavily urbanized areas, the creek and its tributaries have retained significant riparian habitat. A dramatic gorge near its headwaters and deeply cut walls above wide floodplains within the valley protect large areas from urban encroachment and leave habitat to support plants and animals.

Through most of West Creek's flow, however, channelization, dam-building, development and rerouting of the stream have changed the hydrology of the creek so severely that it can no longer serve as an effective storm water management asset and still retain natural ecological functions.

West Creek Conservancy, the watershed stewardship organization, has been quite successful in purchasing greenspace and obtaining land for conservation that will contribute to the health and restoration of the watershed and the creek. The new West Creek Reservation, a joint venture of Cleveland Metroparks and West Creek Conservancy, will keep 278 acres of diverse and valuable greenspace protected and further support the watershed.

Details about the watershed can be found in the West Creek Watershed Action Plan, which you can download from the West Creek Conservancy's excellent web site.

 

LOCATION:  Parma, Seven Hills, Brooklyn Heights, Independence

Drainage:  14 square miles

Length:  9 miles (main stem)

Gradient:  Drops from 1,100 feet at headwaters in Broadview Heights to 590 feet at confluence with Cuyahoga River, a total drop of over 500 feet. 120 feet of the drop comes at a gorge near its headwaters.

Land Cover:  Residential, Commercial impervious - 69%

WATERSHED-SPECIFIC CHALLENGES TO HEALTH AND FUNCTION  • Significant urbanization common to aging inner-ring suburbs;

• Proximity of vast areas of closed landfills change topography and alter hydrogolic function and soil characteristics;

• Channelization and rerouting of creek and proximity to major roadways and intense transportation routes affect flow and pollution levels

 

 

Cuyahoga River Restoration

c/o Cuyahoga River Community Planning
1299 Superior Ave. E • Cleveland, OH 44114
216-241-2414 • info@cuyahogariver.org