In 2021, Cleveland Metroparks was awarded a grant from H2Ohio to restore Foster’s Run. H2Ohio is Governor Mike DeWine’s initiative to improve water quality in the Lake Erie basin and is partially administered by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Cleveland Metroparks Staff and Conservation Fund will support project restoration and planting efforts. The project will restore natural stream morphology, maintain the high-quality riparian wetlands, and restore forest and wetland habitat within the project area to mirror the high-quality resources found along the lower reach of Foster’s Run.
The restoration of Foster’s Run compliments two restoration efforts completed by Cleveland Metroparks and Mayfield Village. The first, in 2008, restored the lower reach of Foster’s Run by daylighting a significant portion of stream. In 2018, Cleveland Metroparks demolished three former homesteads and several outbuildings. Today, stormwater infrastructure and driveways supporting these homesteads are in poor condition and have caused severe erosion and instability throughout this reach of Foster’s Run.
Last fall, Biohabitats, Inc. and Chagrin Valley Engineering were awarded contracts to provide construction drawings and permitting for the project. Shortly after, Schirmer Construction and project partner Meadville Land Service were selected as the Construction Manager at Risk for the project. Since then, they have worked closely with the design team and Cleveland Metroparks staff to evaluate constructability, pricing, and to develop a schedule for the restoration.
Foster’s Run, which runs through a former pond, will be modified with a series of six cobble riffle-pool structures providing a diversity of aquatic habitats, naturally stabilized floodplain bench and energy dissipation. The floodplain, composed largely of wetlands, will accommodate large storm events and will be stabilized with log sills, live posts, coir matting, live stakes and native seed mixes. The existing concrete culvert will be replaced with boulder cascades to transition into the existing downstream channel. Former roadways and infrastructure will be removed adjacent to the channel and will be restored with native vegetation.
Construction will commence in May and will continue throughout the summer of 2022. A ribbon-cutting with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is scheduled for September 2022.
In order to provide safety for the public, the All-Purpose Trail leading to the project area and natural surface trails in the vicinity may need to temporarily close during construction. Signage will be placed near work areas and project updates will be posted on the website to alert park users of construction activity.