WOOD CREEK FISH PASSAGE AND BANK STABILIZATION
Project Updates
Oct. 2026 - Work is substantially complete! Additional plantings and monitoring will continue through 2027.
About
This project helps local watershed partners achieve goals laid out in the Cuyahoga River Area of Concern management action plan, the Tinker’s Creek Watershed Plan, and the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District Stormwater Master Plan. The ford on this site was built to encase communication wires crossing the creek and is no longer needed. The ford artificially raised the elevation of the creek, which resulted in a barrier to fish being able to swim upstream and accelerated erosion downstream.
This project achieved two major goals:
- Allow more fish species to swim upstream from Tinker’s Creek, connecting an additional 2 miles of stream habitat along Wood Creek through removal of the utility ford and construction of a new rock ramp.
- Stabilize at least 181 linear feet of stream bank through removal of the gabion baskets along the stream banks and replacement with bio-engineered support.
To see a time lapse of photography at this site as it was constructed, visit our Wood Creek Fish Passage Chronolog page here.
Project Type: Ecological Restoration and Site Improvements
Project Phase: Completed
Project Completion : October 2026
Contact: Jack Caruso, PE, Planning Engineer, 440-539-2971 or [email protected]
Project Size: Approximately 181 linear feet of stream bank
Contracting Partner(s): Stantec
Consulting Partner(s): Stantec
Partners:
- Ohio Lake Erie Commission
- Cuyahoga River Area of Concern (AOC)
Funding:
- Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
- Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Pre-Construction Photo:
