Lake Erie coastal beaches are recognized for their recreational value, but are also highly threatened ecosystems. On the beaches controlled by the Lake Metroparks, three state threatened plants and four state potentially threatened plants have been found.
Due to the natural fluctuations of the level of Lake Erie, these coastal ecosystems are always changing.
The [REALLY] Great Lakes
The lands and waters of the Great Lakes are like no other place. People are connecting to beaches, open waters, bluffs and rivers because of the natural beauty, fishing, swimming and other advantages that the Great Lakes and its natural wonders offer. Likewise, these same resources create jobs to support families and contribute to one of the largest economies in the world. For so long, the Great Lakes have been taken for granted; fortunately, more people are realizing these unique natural resources need to be protected and restored for everyone to enjoy now and in the future.
We have come full circle in recognizing the importance of public access; instead of building big manufacturing plants along the waterfront, communities are now converting the land into public green space. Click here to read the entire article. (PDF)
Living with Lake Erie as Your Neighbor
by Lake County Soil & Water Conservation District staff
Living along the lakeshore is not always a
day
at the beach. In fact, much of Lake County’s
shoreline is composed of bluffs instead of beaches.
The tops of these steep slopes offer a great vantage
point to spot passing freighters or watch the weather
roll in, but they can also be precarious places to build
a home or other structures.
The shoreline is shaped by several natural forces.
The elevation of the lake surface is perhaps the
most dominant of these forces. When the lake is low,
small beaches can form at the foot of a bluff. These
beaches protect the steep cliff from the energy of
the waves. But as water level rises, the waves can
dig into and erode the base of the slope, leading to
failure and loss of property. Click here to read the entire article. (PDF)
Nearly four hundred and thirty seven miles of river and stream pulse through Lake County. These rivers, streams and tributaries vary widely in character and beauty. The natural, historical and recreational values afforded us by these wonders are evident in many ways as we travel the waterways of Lake’s rivers and streams.
The rivers, streams and creeks that flow through this county all contribute to the unique and valuable nature of the region's waterways. Lake Metroparks strives to showcase these amazing systems in many of the Parks found throughout Lake County.
The Chagrin River, on Lake County’s Western fringe, offers some of its eighty three state designated scenic river miles, including portions of its East branch. The East branch winds through the rolling terrain that surround the Children’s Schoolhouse Nature Park and Penitentiary Glen then joins the Chagrin’s main body before continuing through its namesake, Chagrin River Park, on its way into Lake Erie.
Photo by Maria Sharron
Not far from the Chagrin’s mouth lies the end to another Lake County waterway, the Grand River. The Grand shares with us its state designated wild section. Over twenty-three miles of stunning riverway winding its way toward the lake.
The Grand enters Lake County at its eastern border with Ashtabula County and continues West through Madison and such parks as Hogback Ridge, Riverview and Hidden Valley. Mason’s Landing and several other properties see the Grand on its way to Lake Erie. Grand River tributaries such as Paine Creek and Big Creek begin at meager headwaters and pick up size and speed as they head toward the Grand.
Paine Creek flows through Hell Hollow Wilderness Area and Paine Falls before joining the Grand’s main body at Indian Point. The Big Creek makes stops through Girdled Road Reservation on its way to Helen Hazen Wyman Park in Painesville where it meets the Grand River. These parks offer visitors a decidedly unique look into some local river and stream ecosystems.
Scenic and wild designations for Ohio waterways imply a value not inherent in all waters. Only eleven of Ohio’s waterways are currently designated as wild or scenic. Factors such as water quality, species diversity and aesthetics contribute to these designations. Lake County and Lake Metroparks wear these noted river miles with pride and realize a commitment to their continued stewardship.
The grand boasts the greatest aquatic diversity
of any Ohio Lake Erie tributary. Increased river health has led to a shift toward more environmentally sensitive animal species. These species call only the cleanest waterways home. The Chagrin River is said to accommodate forty-nine species of fish and over ninety species of birds. The Grand River watershed is home to seventy-seven species of dragonflies. Both the Grand and Chagrin rivers are two of the few streams in Ohio known to support the American Brook Lamprey, a nonparasitic lamprey species. This high level of species diversity is directly attributable to river cleanliness and overall ecosystem health.
Both the Chagrin and Grand rivers exhibit a glacial past in the steep walls of Chagrin Shale that are evident throughout much of their lengths through Lake County. The two main river channels cut through both the Allegheny Plateau as well as the lake plain as they wind toward their respective mouths at Lake Erie.
The watersheds of these river systems drain a combined sixty percent of Lake County’s acreage. With such a substantial drainage in either system, the nature of these rivers can change dramatically with each rain event. These quick natured rivers with their tributaries can flood and recess within a twenty four-hour period. Such turbulent water levels provide for the fairly unique ecology in and around these rivers and streams.
One equally significant although less noted waterway in Lake County is Arcola Creek. An estuary, Arcola Creek is an ecologically unique system. An estuary is most simply defined as an area where two water systems meet. The mouth of Arcola Creek flows into Lake Erie for most of the year but may often be seasonally isolated during the summer months. This periodic isolation leads to an increase in plant and animal species otherwise not found there. An agreement between Lake Metroparks and The Nature Conservancy has assured that Arcola Creek is held in trust for all to experience.
Each year thousands of county residents set out to hike and explore many of these river and stream miles. Many are attracted to the scenic beauty held among these waterways. Others seek a more wild side. All can find what they are seeking, often without leaving Lake County.
As the days get longer on and evening light lasts, spring and summer days near any of these rivers and streams seem to draw many people and a variety of activity. One may observe a canoeist, an angler, a child overturning stones in search of creatures or perhaps a hiker with their dog. Our waterways seem to offer more than we sometimes credit them with. The opportunities to enjoy these natural systems seem endless.
Major Lake Erie tributaries have been the showcase for steelhead fishing for many years now. Lake Metroparks has taken a role in local tributary stocking as well. With an annual effort in Paine Creek, angling seems to be more popular than ever. With increased river health and a combined resource base for stocking, the fishing of these rivers and streams will continue to grow.
Wildlife watchers will usually catch glimpses of the great blue heron, the kingfisher and perhaps a pair of nesting hawks soaring high above. Beaver can be seen and heard as a passerby is welcomed by the beaver’s slamming tail. The chance sighting of a river otter seems to push hikers further up these watery channels.
Recreational goers will find ample opportunity for canoeing, kayaking, hiking or just exploring these waterways. Many of Lake Metroparks’ facilities and properties lie within easy access for recreational pursuits. Canoe launches, scenic overlooks and winding paths can be found at many of Lake Metroparks waterside parks. It seems that the interest to recreate among these waterways will only increase into the future.
The waterways of Lake County hold a high place in the lives of county residents. Whether it is recreation, aesthetics or simply exploration we seek, the rivers, creeks and streams of the area seem to offer much more than any of us can expect. The ecological value of these systems is apparent with every rare wildlife sighting. The recreational and historical significance of each waterway is evident with every canoe trip. The value we hold for all of these waterways shows an interest, a commitment and a desire to protect and promote these rivers and streams for future generations. Each watery experience further ties us to our affinity for Lake’s rivers and streams.
Since its first property acquisition at the confluence of Big Creek and the Grand River, much of Lake Metroparks land acquisition has been focused along the high quality drainages of the Grand River, Chagrin River and Lake Erie watersheds. Lake County is fortunate to be home to some of the finest tributaries draining into all of Lake Erie including two state-designated scenic rivers in the Grand and Chagrin Rivers.
In the 1950s the Lake County Planning Commission contracted a consultant to do a Comprehensive Plan of Lake County. An element of this plan was a Parks and Openspace Master Plan showing areas of the county that should be protected from development. One of the elements of this plan was the Grand River valley and its Big, Paine and Mill Creek tributaries. When the park district was formed soon thereafter, this naturally became a focus of the agency’s preservation efforts.
Over the years this tremendous foresight has paid major dividends for the residents of Lake County in a myriad of ways. Quality of life, protection of our native flora and fauna, positive impacts on property values, clean air and water, access to top-notch recreational opportunities, and places where people can go to get away from the increasingly fast pace of life are some of the more obvious benefits.
Another benefit was illustrated in a massive way during the historic Lake County flood of 2006. This focus on protecting our streamside and floodplain openspace greatly reduced the impact of that flood (and all of the annual floods before and after that event) by providing the river and tributaries with a place to spread out (accessing its natural floodplain) and dramatically limiting the amount of fill and inhabited structures placed along our stream courses.
Lake Metroparks has identified and manages a large number of naturally occurring wetlands on its holdings. Many of these wetlands are vernal pools, shallow wet areas in forests that contain water for all or part of the year. Lake Metroparks has identified 183 vernal pools within its boundaries.
Other natural wetland areas include lakeshore marsh environments and riverine floodplain wetlands as well as the occasional beaver pond found throughout our parks.
These naturally occurring wetland sites provide important places for biodiversity within the parks. They serve as breeding areas for wildlife as well as protected environments for high quality plant communities.
Lake Metroparks manages these sites by controlling unwanted exotic plant infestations and performs periodic monitoring to ensure these natural wetland areas remain high quality.
“Endangered” dragonfly discovered in Lake Metroparks --
First in Lake County!
Racket-tailed emerald at Lake Metroparks River Road Property
Three racket-tailed emerald dragonflies were found at Lake Metroparks' River Road property in Madison Township on Wednesday, June 15, 2011. One was photographed and this will constitute a new Lake County record. The racket-tailed emerald is an “Endangered" species in Ohio. It has an interesting history in the state. It was originally found in the Burton Wetlands in Geauga County and was last seen in 1924. In 1999, a thriving population was found at Singer Lake Bog in Summit County. A few years ago it was again found at Burton Wetlands. Last year, it was found in Ashtabula and Trumbull Counties and this year at Geauga Park District's Pinebrook Preserve.
Many species of dragonflies are indicators of high quality wetland habitats and the racket-tailed emerald is a fine example of this. All of the locations it has been found in Ohio are in some of the finest wetland complexes. The racket-tailed emeralds that were found at River Road were found in a complex of wetlands created by Lake Metroparks in the 1990s. These wetlands were designed to emulate beaver wetlands, a natural habitat in this region. The wetlands at River Road are also home to two other state threatened damselflies: vernal bluet and boreal bluet. This has been the only known Ohio location for boreal bluet for the last few years. This is one of the reasons Lake Metroparks creates wetlands rather than gravel-lined, well-manicured ponds.
Did you know?
Lake Metroparks has identified and manages a large number of naturally occurring wetlands on its holdings. Many of these wetlands are vernal pools, shallow wet areas in forests that contain water for all or part of the year. Lake Metroparks has identified 183 vernal pools within its boundaries.
For more information about wetlands within Lake Metroparks, click here.
Wetland Mitigation
Wetland mitigation is a process by which lost wetland areas impacted by development or other activities are mitigated through the preservation, creation, enhancement or restoration of other wetland areas. The regulatory branches of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Ohio EPA typically administer this process.
Since 1994 Lake Metroparks has been an active participant in this process having completed more than 20 mitigation projects ranging from wetland preservation to wetland restoration. Some of the more visible projects include the restoration of Granger Pond at Veterans Park, a series of created wetlands at our Girdled Road Reservation and the purchase of riverfront land at our Chagrin River Park.
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Lake Erie Coastline
The lands and waters of the Great Lakes are like no other place. People are connecting to beaches, open waters, bluffs and rivers because of the natural beauty, fishing, swimming and other advantages that the Great Lakes and its natural wonders offer. Likewise, these same resources create jobs to support families and contribute to one of the largest economies in the world. For so long, the Great Lakes have been taken for granted; fortunately, more people are realizing these unique natural resources need to be protected and restored for everyone to enjoy now and in the future. 
Living along the lakeshore is not always a
day
at the beach. In fact, much of Lake County’s
shoreline is composed of bluffs instead of beaches.
The tops of these steep slopes offer a great vantage
point to spot passing freighters or watch the weather
roll in, but they can also be precarious places to build
a home or other structures.
The Chagrin River, on Lake County’s Western fringe, offers some of its eighty three state designated scenic river miles, including portions of its East branch. The East branch winds through the rolling terrain that surround the Children’s Schoolhouse Nature Park and Penitentiary Glen then joins the Chagrin’s main body before continuing through its namesake, Chagrin River Park, on its way into Lake Erie.
The Grand enters Lake County at its eastern border with Ashtabula County and continues West through Madison and such parks as Hogback Ridge, Riverview and Hidden Valley. Mason’s Landing and several other properties see the Grand on its way to Lake Erie. Grand River tributaries such as Paine Creek and Big Creek begin at meager headwaters and pick up size and speed as they head toward the Grand. 
The grand boasts the greatest aquatic diversity
of any Ohio Lake Erie tributary. Increased river health has led to a shift toward more environmentally sensitive animal species. These species call only the cleanest waterways home. The Chagrin River is said to accommodate forty-nine species of fish and over ninety species of birds. The Grand River watershed is home to seventy-seven species of dragonflies. Both the Grand and Chagrin rivers are two of the few streams in Ohio known to support the American Brook Lamprey, a nonparasitic lamprey species. This high level of species diversity is directly attributable to river cleanliness and overall ecosystem health. 
Each year thousands of county residents set out to hike and explore many of these river and stream miles. Many are attracted to the scenic beauty held among these waterways. Others seek a more wild side. All can find what they are seeking, often without leaving Lake County.
Major Lake Erie tributaries have been the showcase for steelhead fishing for many years now. Lake Metroparks has taken a role in local tributary stocking as well. With an annual effort in Paine Creek, angling seems to be more popular than ever. With increased river health and a combined resource base for stocking, the fishing of these rivers and streams will continue to grow.
