The Main Branch of the Chagrin
River begins as the Upper Main Branch above Bass Lake in Munson
Township and flows 48 miles before entering Lake Erie in the City of
Eastlake. Along its path, the Main Branch is joined by the River’s
other branches - the Aurora Branch, flowing from the City of Aurora
and meeting the Main Branch in the Village of Bentleyville, and the
East Branch, beginning in Geauga County and joining the Main Branch
in the City of Willoughby.
The Chagrin River watershed has
been studied since the late 1960's with the completion of the Water
Quality of the Rocky and Chagrin Rivers by the Three Rivers
Watershed District in August, 1970. This report, prepared by Havens
and Emerson, Ltd. Engineers, presents and discusses water quality
data collected on the Chagrin and Rocky Rivers from 1969 and 1970.
Since the work of the Three River, the Chagrin River watershed
has
been the subject of numerous additional studies. Important studies
include those completed by OEPA (1987, 1991, 1997, 2003/2004),
Cuyahoga County Health Department (1998), and ODNR (2000).
Each community has completed
comprehensive plans and local zoning regulations. These plans are
based on the desired and anticipated development of each community
and incorporate land capability analyses. The regional planning
agencies such as NEFCO and NOACA also work with communities to
develop updated 208 Water Quality Improvement Plans. Specifically,
the 208 Plans focus on planned sewer expansions and management of
home sewage systems.
Beginning March 10, 2003 the US
EPA and Ohio EPA NPDES Phase II Storm Water Regulations required
designated communities of witch Chester Township is one, to develop and implement a stormwater
management plan. Chester Township is currently in its seconde five year permit as part of the National NPDES Phase II
program. The Phase II program is composed of six minimum
control measures. These include:
1. Public Education,
2. Public Involvement,
3. Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
4. Construction Site Runoff Control,
5. Post Construction Site Runoff Control, and
6. Good Housekeeping.
This information was taken from the
Chagrin River Watershed Partners INC. Action Plan, available here.
STORMWATER LINKS:
CHAGRIN RIVER WATERSHED PARTNERS INC. | OHIO DRAINAGE LAWS
RECIPES FOR A HEALTHY CHAGRIN RIVER (CRWP INC.) | GEAUGA SOIL AND WATER | WATERSHED PUBLICATIONS