Habitat for Hard Places: Concepts and Lessons from the Ship Channel of the Cuyahoga River

Since the infamous 1969 fire, the Cuyahoga River has experienced recovery. Where only 9 specimens of 2 fish species were found, there are now over 40 native species. However, the 5.5 mile Ship Channel of the Cuyahoga River, vital for maritime commerce of NE Ohio, is a major barrier to fish migration between Lake Erie and up-river spawning areas. Virtually the entire length is dredged and lined with sheet steel bulkheads, providing a hostile habitat for juvenile fish as they migrate to Lake Erie.

The Cuyahoga River Community Planning Organization, organizational parent for of the Remedial Action Plan (RAP), as Part of its Habitat for Hard Places Initiative™, has been developing a series of solutions for adding "Green Bulkheads" in the ship channel to provide habitat, shelter and food for the expanding fish populations.Our presentation will discuss the complex issues which must be addressed for providing aquatic habitat in a ship channel and present several innovative Green Bulkhead solutions we have developed and are evaluating in Cleveland and other Great Lakes Ports.

The presenter is James White, Executive Director of CRCPO. Mr. White was awarded the Ohio Lake Erie Award for his innovative approaches for urban habitats.