Clover Groff Run is a Headwater Tributary to Hellbranch Run, a Major Tributary to Big Darby Creek.
The Clover Groff Run stream restoration projects constructed over 3 miles of new sinuous stream channel within 38 acres of active riparian floodplain in three central Ohio parks.
Restoration eliminated impairments caused by hydro-modification by implementing Natural Channel Design techniques within the goals of Ohio’s Clean Water Act.
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
Project are
Located in 3
City Parks
within Western
Franklin
County
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
19.2-ac Park
5-ac Lake
6 small
wetlands
Handicap
Accessible
Walking Trail
Very narrow
riparian area
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
54-ac park and Nature Area
Soccer Complex serving
Central Ohio youth sports
Storm Water Retention
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
109-ac Park
Soccer Complex serving
Central Ohio youth
sports
Storm Water Mitigation
Area
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
City Park Partners LF Ditch Funds Available
Latham Park City of Hilliard
River Institute
OEPA DSW
1,860 $ 332,400
Franks Park City of Columbus,
Recreation & Parks
Department
OEPA DEFA
5,500 $ 1,400,000
Spindler Park City of Columbus,
Recreation & Parks
Department
OEPA DEFA
5,350 $ 1,600,000
West Broad Street
Park
City of Columbus,
Recreation & Parks
Department
4,266 $ 1,700,000
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
Big Darby Creek is a State and National Scenic
River.
Hellbranch Run – a Major Tributary – is one of
the highest sources of impairment to Big Darby
Creek including Sediments and Phosphorous.
Hellbranch Run’s major sources of impairments
come from its Headwaters – Clover Groff Run
and Hamilton Run.
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
Clover Groff Run was ditched in 1900’s for
Agricultural Drainage.
Very low gradient Rosgen type “F-6” stream.
Very little biological diversity.
Very little chance of natural recovery given the
low stream energy.
Over 3.5 miles of ditch is publically owned.
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
Project Watershed Area ranges from 1.36 sq mi to 5.7 sq mi
“contains most of the impaired
waters in the lower Big Darby”
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
Hydro-modified
throughout the project
areas
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
QHEI = 35 WWH QHEI ≥ 60
IBI = 24
HMFEI Macroinvertebrate = 11
Non-Attainment of Warm Water Habitat
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
QHEI Metric Score Max Points
1. Substrate 1 20
2. In Stream Cover 13 20
3. Channel Morphology 6.5 20
4. Riparian 4.5 10
5a. Pool/Glide 6 12
5b. Riffle/Run 0 8
6. Gradient 4 10
Total 35 100 Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
Low Dissolved Oxygen
High Nutrient Levels
Unionized Ammonia
Heavy Siltation
High Sediment Metals
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
To return the Clover Groff Run ditch to a
functional stream with an accessible floodplain.
To provide an ecosystem that would meet a use
designation of WWH water quality criteria.
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
Stream Bank Stabilization?
Riparian Plantings?
Invasive Species Management?
Rock Weirs?
2-Stage Ditch?
Over Wide Ditch?
Do any of these alternatives meet the Project Goals – i.e. a WQ improvement objective?
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
Floodplain Width 5-7x Bankfull Channel Width
Ranges from 80 to 120 LF
149,000 CY of
Excavation
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
What do you with that
much Spoil Material?
Improved Soccer Fields
Mounds, Dog Park
and Sledding Area
Wetland Shelf
& Island
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
Bankfull Channel
designed for a 1.1 to
1.3-year RP storm
capacity.
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
Based on a
Reference System
Sinuosity = 1.35
Meanders in and
around Large
Trees
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
33,600 CY of
Excavation
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
Pocket Wetlands or Vernal Pools were constructed at various locations in the floodplain.
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
12,500 Tons of Coarse Sand and Gravel
Boulders
Root Wads
Woody Debris
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
70,000 Native Trees & Shrubs
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
QHEI Metric Existing Potential Future
Substrate 1 Increase 13
In Stream
Cover
13 Same/
Increase*
13
Channel
Morphology
6.5 Increase 13
Riparian 4.5 Increase* 8
Pool/Glide
Riffle/Run
6 Increase 13
Gradient 4 Same 4
Total 35 Increase 64
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
Franks Park 2009/2010
Latham Park 2010
Spindler Park 2011/2012
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
Bio-degradable hydraulic
oils
Soil diesel
Tracked equipment for
low soil pressure
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
Construction in the Dry
› Pump Around
› Floodplain Excavation &
Channel Construction
Isolated from Existing Ditch
Straw Wattles
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
Park Total Project Costs Installed Construction
Cost/LF
Latham Park $ 326,400 $ 154
Franks Park $ 1,229,159 $ 154
Spindler Park $ 1,433,355 $ 193
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
Floodplain Utilized
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
6 Months Post
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
1 Year Post
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
2 Years Post Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
3 Years Post
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
QHEI Metric Existing 2011
Results
2012
Results
Substrate 1 13 13
In Stream
Cover
13 7-13 13-15
Channel
Morphology
6.5 14 14
Riparian 4.5 7 7
Pool/Glide
Riffle/Run
6 9-11 9
Gradient 4 4 4
Total 35 56-60 60-62
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
Finding Sufficient Length
› 500 LF segments don’t do much
Landowner Cooperation
› How much will you pay me?
Grants can only be used on Public Lands
› Public Lands are not always located in the right area of
the watershed to make a noticeable difference.
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
How much restoration in any given tributary is enough to change its aquatic life use designation to WWH?
How much restoration is necessary to assimilate NPS pollution such as phosphorus and nitrogen?
How much restoration is needed to make a positive effect on the receiving stream or water body?
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
The Clover Groff Run stream restoration
projects constructed over 3 miles of new
sinuous stream channel within 38 acres of active
riparian floodplain in three central Ohio parks.
Restoration eliminated impairments caused by
hydro-modification by implementing Natural
Channel Design techniques within the goals of
Ohio’s Clean Water Act.
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.