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.