Metro Parks Study

Metro Parks Study Toots CMS Techniques Improve Riparian Environment

The Summit County MetroParks recently completed a water quality and fish and wildlife survey on a completed CMS natural stream management project on Yellow Creek, a tributary to the Cuyahoga River. After installation and re-establishment of the streambank and stream channel, the MetroParks study showed markedly improved water quality and fish and wildlife habitat according to OEPA metrics. (see attached email and study results). This CMS project was conducted for the Summit County Engineer’s Office within O’Neil Woods Nature Preserve. At the conclusion of the installation, CMS reforested the streambanks with over 100 natural tree species to improve the park environment and further stabilize the steep streambank.

Date: Monday, August 16, 2021 at 3:17 PM
Subject: RE: Yellow creek

Mike,

Thanks for the compliment, and thanks for doing the fish survey!

It was all Channel Maintenance Systems, and we’re glad their streambank stabilization work had this great benefit!

We’ll probably develop a presentation on this, and will be in touch with you for some guidance on interpreting the fish data.

Sincerely,

David L. Koontz, PE, SI

Engineer Project Manager

Surface Water Management Coordinator

Alan Brubaker, PE, PS

Summit County Engineer

538 E. South St.

Akron, OH 44311

From: Mike Johnson

Sent: Monday, August 16, 2021 2:01 PM
To: David Koontz

Subject: RE: Yellow creek

Hi David. We got out and surveyed Yellow Creek where you did the stabilization project. Again, great work. Attached is the data and analysis for the fish communities. The technique you employed probably raised the IBI score a few points higher than it would have otherwise been and clearly put this stretch into the “good” category according to Ohio EPA protocols.

You should really promote this somehow.

Kudos again.

Mike Johnson

Chief of Conservation

Summit Metro Parks

Fish Communities: Yellow Creek at O’Neil Woods Metro Park

IBI Group                                                                  Feed Guild

N = Cyprinidae                                                         G = Generalist
S = Sunfish                                                               I = Insectivore
D = Darter                                                                 O = Omnivore
F = Sport Species                                                    H = Herbivore
R = Round Bodied Sucker                                      C = Carnivore
W = White Sucker

Breed Guild                                                             Pollution Tolerance

S = Simple Lithophil                                                T = Tolerant
C = Complex-Parental Care                                   P = Moderately Tolerant
N = Complex-No Parental Care                            M = Moderately Intolerant
M = Simple-Miscellaneous                                     I = Intolerant

Table 6. IBI Scoring: Yellow Creek  at O’Neil Woods Metro Park

Results and Discussion

The total IBI score for this site is 40 which is within the range (36-48) that is indicative of good water quality. The bank stabilization and habitat enhancement structure project completed by the Summit County Engineer was the center of the 300-meter sample zone. Several species of fish were noted exclusively from this habitat structure including bluegill, rockbass, and gizzard shad. Although weights and relative ages were not recorded, this habitat structure also yielded the largest specimens for several species including largemouth bass, hog sucker and creek chub which indicates the value of this stable habitat feature in stream that is undergoing rapid channel erosion and changing meander patterns.

The project completed by Summit County Engineer likely raised the IBI score several points and firmly placed this stretch of Yellow Creek into the narrative rating of “good’ water quality according to Ohio EPA standards[1].

[1] Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. 1987. Biological Criteria for the Protection of Aquatic Life. Volume II. Users Manual for Biological Field Assessment of Ohio Surface Waters. Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Division of Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment, Columbus.