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Cuyahoga River Old Channel

Cuyahoga River​ Area of Concern

Site History

The lower Cuyahoga River has been modified several times over the last 200 years. Today, it empties into Lake Erie through the navigation channel west of Downtown Cleveland. A mile-long extension, called the Old River Channel, was built in 1827 and branches off the main channel before it reaches the lake. By the 1900s, the Cuyahoga River became known as one of the most polluted rivers in the country. Oil slicks on the river caught fire several times, the first occurring in 1868. The infamous 1969 fire caught the attention of Time magazine, resulting in a scathing piece on the state of river. The article incited a national movement to address water pollution, giving rise to the Clean Water Act and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.
​
​Despite progress, contaminants persist in the sediment of the Old River Channel. Through its history, part of the channel was used for industrial waste disposal by a printing plant and a battery factory. In concert with ongoing restoration efforts throughout the Cuyahoga River Area of Concern, remediation could restore beneficial use of the site for the communities of Northeast Ohio.
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Cleveland as it appeared in 1877: The Old River Channel, which was built in 1827, is visible at the far right. (Photo Credit: U.S. Library of Congress)

Location

The former graving dock at the westernmost end of the Old River Channel has the highest concentrations of contaminants. To the north and the east lie the Olde River Yacht Club and the Channel Park Marina. Along the southern banks of the Old Channel, there is a privately-owned shipyard and a number of city-owned brownfields. An investigation through Ohio EPA’s Voluntary Action Program found that the sources of pollution in these brownfields are controlled and recontamination is not a concern. ​
The Old River Channel branches off the main navigation channel and lies within the Cuyahoga River Area of Concern. The marker on this map shows the location of the graving dock site.
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Legacy sediments containing high concentrations of contaminants have settled in waters of the Old River Channel, and are particularly high at the old graving dock site (Photo Credit: Port of Cleveland).
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The contaminated sediment will be dredged and transported to an off-site disposal facility owned by the Port of Cleveland (Photo Credit: Port of Cleveland).
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The proposed plan is to transport the contaminated sediment by barge to the confined disposal facility (CDF). (Photo Credit: U. S. Army Corps of Engineers)

Schedule

Cleanup Process

The project is currently being designed. ​Updates will be provided as the project progresses. If a remediation project develops, the nonfederal sponsor would take on any long-term monitoring or maintenance of potential capped areas.
​Sediment to be remediated: TBD
Contaminants: PAHs, 
PCBs, metals, oil & grease 
Method: TBD
When: TBD
Partners:
 Cleveland Cuyahoga County Port Authority with financial support from City of Cleveland
Cost: TBD during design

Short-term Disruptions

Sediment remediation is like a construction project on the water. It can involve large equipment, bright lights, and noise. Many projects even continue into the night and on weekends to speed up the process. Remediation can feel inconvenient, but a bit of patience results in a big payoff. As the project develops, short-term disruptions will be detailed here.

Long-term Benefits

  • A remedial project in the Old River Channel would contribute to the efforts to restore the Cuyahoga River Area of Concern, which begins at the Gorge Dam reservoir in Cuyahoga Falls and ends along the shores of Lake Erie. 
  • Sediment remediation would prevent contamination from entering the food chain. Contaminants have negative impacts on the health of the ecosystem and contribute to fish consumption advisories on fish caught in the Cuyahoga River and the Great Lakes.
  • Restoration improves habitat for fish and wildlife species, allowing local populations to increase and thrive.
  • After the project, the land surrounding the Old River Channel would be usable and open to redevelopment, contributing to the economy of Cleveland.
  • ​To learn more about the significant benefits enjoyed by communities in Great Lakes Areas of Concern after a cleanup, watch the Great Lakes Legacy Act video.
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The Cuyahoga River Area of Concern encompasses the lower 46.5 miles of the Cuyahoga River and its tributaries (Photo Credit: City of Cuyahoga Falls).

Community Involvement

The Old River Channel may feel a bit tucked away from the everyday bustle of community life, but cleanup actions will have far-reaching impacts on the health of Lake Erie, as well as the local economy of Cleveland.  Contact U.S. EPA project manager, Mary Beth Giancarlo to provide input on the project, ask questions, or to coordinate the project with community events on the river.

More Information

Stakeholders
Cuyahoga River Restoration
Friends of the Crooked River​
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency​
IISG and GLR logos
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Contact Us

Great Lakes Mud c/o Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant
Purdue University
195 Marsteller Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2033

​Email: abelle@illinois.edu
© 2019 Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, All Rights Reserved.
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant strives to ensure equal access and an
​inclusive environment.
Website last updated August 9, 2022
  • Home
  • Pollution
    • Dioxins
    • Heavy Metals
    • NAPL
    • Oil and Grease
    • PAHs
    • PCBs
    • TBT
    • TPH
  • Partnership
    • Great Lakes Legacy Act
    • Cost-Sharing
  • Cleanup Process
    • Project Stages
    • Dredging
    • Dry Excavation
    • Caps and Covers
    • Habitat Restoration
  • Waterbody
    • Indiana >
      • East Branch - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • East Branch Phase II - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • East Chicago Waterways - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • Indiana Harbor Canal TSCA - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • Lake George Canal Middle & East - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • Roxana Marsh - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • Stateline - Grand Calumet River AOC
      • West Branch - Grand Calumet River AOC
    • Michigan >
      • Black Lagoon - Detroit River AOC
      • Centennial Park - Detroit River AOC
      • Division Street Outfall - Muskegon Lake AOC
      • Former MGP Site - St. Marys River AOC
      • Lower Rouge River Old Channel - Rouge River AOC
      • River Raisin - River Raisin AOC
      • Riverwalk - Detroit River AOC
      • Ruddiman Creek - Muskegon Lake AOC
      • Ryerson Creek Outfall - Muskegon Lake AOC
      • Tannery Bay - St. Marys River AOC
      • Torch Lake - Torch Lake AOC
      • Upper Trenton Channel - Detroit River AOC
      • Zephyr Site - Muskegon Lake AOC
    • Minnesota >
      • Azcon/DSPA Slip - St. Louis River AOC
      • Minnesota Slip - St. Louis River AOC
      • Munger Landing - St. Louis River AOC
      • Scanlon Reservoir - St. Louis River AOC
      • Slip 3 and Slip C - St. Louis River AOC
      • SLR Interlake/Duluth Tar - St. Louis River AOC
      • Spirit Lake Site - St. Louis River AOC
    • New York >
      • Buffalo River - Buffalo River AOC
    • Ohio >
      • Ashtabula River - Ashtabula River AOC
      • Cuyahoga River Old Channel - Cuyahoga River AOC
      • Gorge Dam - Cuyahoga River AOC
      • Jack's Marine North Slip - Ashtabula River AOC
      • Ottawa River - Maumee AOC
      • Otter Creek - Maumee AOC
    • Wisconsin >
      • Greater Milwaukee Estuary - Milwaukee Estuary AOC
      • Hog Island Inlet - St. Louis River AOC
      • Howards Bay - St. Louis River AOC
      • Kinnickinnic River - Milwaukee Estuary AOC
      • Lincoln Park - Milwaukee Estuary AOC
      • Sheboygan River - Sheboygan River AOC
      • Tyco - Menominee River AOC
    • More coming soon...
  • Education
    • Grade School Curriculum
    • High School Curriculum
    • More Resources >
      • Indiana
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Ohio
      • Wisconsin
  • Contact