Grand River Conservation Area

Water Resources Restoration Sponsor Program

Conceptual Plan

Submitted by
Lee J. Homyock
Director
City of Painesville
Department of Recreation and Public Lands

WRRSP Grand River Conservation Area Project

Project Type
Stream/Riparian Protection: 15.19 acres
Levee Removal: 0.55 acres
Stream Bank Restoration: 0.66 acres
Contact Information:
City of Painesville, Ohio
7 Richmond Street
P.O. Box 601
Painesville, Ohio 44077
Contact Person: Lee J. Homyock, Director of Recreation and Public Lands
Telephone: (440)392-5912
E-mail: lhomyock@painesville.com
Plan Summary:
In the Late 1970s the project site was modified from a forest swamp area to a residential
development, known as Millstone and Gristmill Condominiums. Structures on the
property that included 80 family units contained in 10 residential structures, 5 parking
structures, roads, and parking areas. Most trees and native vegetation were removed and
replaced with ornamental plants, trees and grasses. Prior to being completed the area was
flooded and to prevent continued flooding the developer constructed a poured concrete
wall and earthen berm to stop the flow of high water onto the property.
In July 2006 the City of Painesville experienced a significant flooding event in the flood
plain adjacent to the Grand River, causing heavy damage to two condominium complexes
built prior to the issue of FEMA flood insurance rate maps. These complexes, the
Millstone and Gristmill Condominiums, were subsequently closed. As a result of the
residential development activities associated with these two condominium complexes, the
Grand River experienced adverse water quality impacts. Before the flood and since, site
runoff to the river and obstructions in the floodplain to high river flow have contributed
to lower water quality conditions than would exist if an undisturbed, wood river corridor
were present.
The City of Painesville project has three objectives. First the City intends to purchase the
former Millstone and Gristmill Condominiums affected by the 2006 flood and demolish
the buildings on the site, with financial assistance from Federal Emergency Management
Administration (FEMA), Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), and other
federal, state, and local government funds.
Secondly, the City plans to return the area, 15.19 acres, to a near-natural forest and
floodplain area and to improve the natural habitat in the stream bank and riparian zone,
while also helping improve the conditions of the rivers substrate and its channel
morphology. As a result, this project is expected to improve the water quality in the
Grand River corridor and to protect surrounding areas.

Thirdly the area will be used as an environmental education tool to (1) inform the public
about water quality, riparian areas, and stream ecology; (2) about proper use of
floodplains, (3) the proper application of surface water drainage practices; and (4)
description of the WPCLF/WRRSP program(s) and their involvement in this project.
Upon completion of site demolition activities focusing on the condominium buildings,
the WRRSP funded part of the project will begin. The City of Painesville intends to use
these funds to remove remaining site amenities, roads, parking areas, utilities, levee
walls, berms, and nonnative plant species; and restore and protect the project site and the
adjacent portion of the Grand River riparian corridor.

To recap, the City of Painesville WRRSP funded portion of the restoration project will
include:
Removal of concrete retaining wall.
Removal earthen berm
Removal of non-native invasive plant species
Re-grading and restoration of the historical stream bank
Creation of a mixed forest including; forest, meadows, and vernal pools
Construction of a Trailhead Kiosk to; (1) inform the public about water quality,
riparian areas, and stream ecology; (2) about proper use of floodplains; (3) the
proper application of surface water drainage practices: and (4) description of the
WPCLF/WRRSP program(s) and their involvement in this project.
Portions of the restoration projects funded through other source are:
Acquisition of property
Demolition of buildings
Maintenance of an existing parking area, which will also be used as a trail head
Development of a permeable nature interpretive trail with access to the Grand
River

Conceptual Plan

Parking Area / Trail Head To Be Left

Description of Water Resources to be Protected and Restored

Identification of Water Resources
HUC 04110004-606-080 the Grand River Watershed is located in the City of
Painesville, Lake County, Ohio. Legislative Districts; U.S. 14, State Senate 18, State
House 63.
Project Location

Existing Property/Location

Topographic Aerial of Project Area

Overview of Water Resources

The Grand River watershed encompasses over 700 square miles of land that is located in
parts of four different counties in northeast Ohio. Soil type in the watershed is generally
low permeability loams and tills. Terrain varies from low-gradient to high-gradient, with
unique features that vary from extensive swamp forests and wetlands to steep shale
gorges. The Grand River was designated as a wild and scenic river in 1974, with
sections identified in each area.
The Grand River watershed supports a large variety of plants and animals, many of which
are endangered, threatened, or sensitive. Plant life varies from large, riparian (stream
side) forests composed of silver maple, eastern cottonwood, sycamore, black walnut, and
black willow trees, to rare occurrences of riverweed, an aquatic plant whose only habitat
in Ohio is the Grand River. A beautiful plant, Emory's Sedge, creates meadows on the
sides of the river. The river corridor contains a unique mix of both northern boreal and
southern deciduous plant communities including Beech-Maple Forests, Oak-Chestnut
Forests, and Hemlock Northern Hardwood Forests.
The riparian forests, found along the river, help stop streambank erosion by holding the
soil in place, lowering the water temperature, and acting as buffers by filtering out
pollutants from runoff. Lower water temperature means a greater supply of oxygen in the
water, allowing the river to support a great diversity of aquatic life. Smallmouth bass,
steelhead, and muskie are just a few of the many fish species found in the Grand River.
Sensitive species, such as the eastern sand darter, four-toed salamander, and northern
brook lamprey, make the waterway their home and even minimal habitat destruction can
prove harmful to the continuance of these species. The river otter was reintroduced to the
Grand in 1986, and is still considered endangered.
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Biological Features of Water Resource

The Grand River Watershed supports 64 endangered, protected and sensitive species.
They include the northern brook lamprey, river otter, and eastern massasauga rattlesnake
as rare species that inhabit the banks of the Grand River.
The terrestrial community that occurs on the temporarily flooded soils along the Grand
River is Silver Maple-Elm Floodplain Forest. Dominant trees include silver maple,
American elm, black walnut, and sycamore. Other associated species include box elder,
red ash, and cottonwood. This community includes open meadows dominated by wingstem, ox-eye, pinnacle aster, smooth Goldenrod, Joe-Pye weed, ironweed, sandbar
willow, red osier dogwood, and silky dogwood. Meadow formation is caused by Emory
sedge. Once the beds are established, prairie grasses and summer meadow flowers can
grow in them. Plants of special interest that can be repopulated in the project area
include native species of painted trillium and Clintons wood fern, two rare plants in
Ohio found within the Grand River Watershed.
In the aquatic community smallmouth bass, steelhead, and muskie are fish species found
in the Grand River. The Grand River also has a native population of walleye and
northern pike making singularly unique among Ohio streams. The Grand River and its
tributaries provide habitat for many species considered rare by Ohio EPA, or listed as
threatened or endangered by the Ohio Department of natural Resources including 32
macro invertebrate and freshwater mussel species and 11 fish species. The Grand River
has a current seasonal current seasonal salmonid use designation in place. Sensitive
species, such as the eastern sand darter, four-toed salamander, and northern brook
lamprey, make the waterway their home and even minimal habitat destruction can prove
harmful to the continuance of these species. The Grand River is the only Ohio tributary to
Lake Erie that harbors a self-sustaining population of Great Lakes muskellunge.
The 2004 Grand River Water Report specifically identifies Invertebrate Community
Index (ICI) values that support exceptional macro invertebrate communities above the
project site, however downstream values do not support exceptional status. The ICI
values along with the number of sensitive taxa sampled are measurable values that may
support the projects success upon completion.
On the project site all areas are disturbed and overgrown with common weeds, such as
Canada thistle, common thistle, and crab grass. The area contains invasive, non-native
and residential landscape plants, trees, flowers, and grasses that degrade the habitat
function and competes with quality species. The rapid flow from impervious surfaces
produces sediment, pollutes, and erosion damage while the berm and retention wall
prevent water flow from the river during flood events cause damage and erosion to
surrounding resources. The proposed restoration will be a positive change.
Description of Surrounding Land Use and Existing Protected Lands
Land use within the watershed includes agricultural; undeveloped and park land; rural
development; and urban development. The urban development includes residential,
commercial, and some industrial. Increasing efforts are being made by park districts,
private organizations and local government bodies to acquire lands for protection

adjacent to the river. Land use and zoning throughout the watershed are receiving an
increased amount of attention.
Protected Lands encompassing the area include; City of Painesville Kiwanis Recreation
Park and Evergreen Cemetery, Lake Metroparks Beatty Landing, Grand River Landing
and Helen Hazen Wyman Park, and privately owned lands preserved by Grand River
Partners Incorporated. Privately owned Casement Golf Course is located north of the
project area. (Please see the accompanying map sent separately.)
Identification of Key Issues
Habitat Modifications
Locating a residential development including berm and retention wall on the Grand River
resulting in non-point pollution, excessive runoff from impervious surfaces, and the
obstruction to high river flow are all modifications which have contributed to flooding in
the area and damage to surrounding resources negatively affecting the natural habitat
including substrate, channel morphology, bank erosion and riparian zone.
By removing impairments and restoring this property to a silver maple-elm floodplain
forest, we will decrease erosive flow during bank flood and higher flooding, add forest
leaf litter providing macro invertebrates additional quality food sources, and improve the
substrate on the property.
Origin of impairment of threats
Impairments and threats to the Grand River water resource at this location are due to
residential development so close to the river. The additional hard surface runoff and the
materials it carries from parking lots, drives, and lawns; overland and through storm
pipes to the river; sewage/household product contamination under flood conditions; and
flow obstruction/water impoundment resulting from the site grading and levee all
adversely impact the river at this location. Reduction of these impairments including the
levee and imperious surfaces will increase the riparian zone and improve substrate within
that zone. Allowing this area to be temporarily flooded with decrease the rivers pressure,
during bank flood and high water, reducing streambank the erosion downstream. Also as
an added benefit, surrounding developed area will have reduced flooding lowering the
amount of pollution discharged during flooding.
History of previous water quality efforts in the watershed
Lake Metroparks, Grand River Partners Incorporated, and the City of Painesville have
been working to protect the Grand River for many years. The protection has been in the
form of acquisition of fee simple purchases and conservation easements to protect the
river corridor and water resources contained within. Management plans for all of these
sites include removal of evasive species and enhancement of native vegetation which
improve the quality of the water flowing thorough and out of these sites.
Current efforts in the watershed to help meet water quality standards.
The City of Painesville has followed NOACAs approach to riparian protection it the past
years by preserving and protecting land in the Grand River corridor as stated in the
Recreation and Parks Master Plan, passing Erosion and Sediment Control and Flood

Plain Management Ordinances, and continuing to evaluate other potential ordinances and
ordinance updates to further address water quality concerns.
Improvements and upgrades the City of Painesvilles Water Pollution Control Plant,
funded through WPCLF, will maintain water quality flow from the plant to the Grand
River, in the future while protection of properties in the river corridor by area
organization will protect the river from being overdeveloped
In 2000, Grand River Partners, Inc. was awarded a Watershed Coordinator Grant, which
provided the organization the ability to hire a Watershed Coordinator to develop a
comprehensive plan for the Lower Grand River and its surrounding watershed. Knowing
the size and the number of different ecological areas of the watershed, it was decided to
break the watershed into two separate sections for the planning process; the Upper and
Lower Grand River Watersheds.
The goal of the Lower Grand River Watershed Plan is to address causes and sources of
water quality impairments and habitat degradation within the watershed, and to
recommend restoration and protection goals. The outcome of the Lower Grand River
Watershed Plan is an itemization of problems, priorities, and action items identified and
supported by local Grand River Watershed communities.
The purpose of this plan is to reduce water resource impairment in all water bodies within
the Lower Grand River Watershed that do not currently meet water quality standards. It
is also to identify areas that are meeting standards, and protect these areas. However, the
main goal of the Lower Grand River Watershed Plan is to restore and maintain the
chemical, physical, and biological integrity of water bodies within the watershed.
Watershed plans come together in basically two major steps. First, the watershed
coordinator helps stakeholders gather what is known about the watershed. This
watershed inventory includes information about land use, water quality, high value
resources and other information stakeholders need for good decision-making. The second
step is a social process of engaging local stakeholders in defining specific steps necessary
to improve or protect the watershed.
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is currently working on a Total Maximum
Daily Load (TMDL) document for the Lower Grand River Watershed, which provide key
chemical and physical indicators of the overall health of the river and its tributaries.
Upon its completion, the comments, suggestions, and data will be incorporated into the
Lower Grand River Watershed Plan. The endorsed Lower Grand River Watershed Plan
will help Grand River Partners with the planning and more importantly the funding to
fulfill the mission of preserving the water quality, the open space, the natural,
recreational, agricultural and scenic resources of the Grand River and in the permanent
protection of the Grand River Watershed.
Habitat Integrity Statement
Biotic Integrity is the ability to support and maintained a balanced, integrated, and
adaptive community of organisms having a species composition, diversity and functional
organization comparable to natural habitats in the region. By removing this residential
development, impairments, and correcting the features of the site, in restoration to natural

landscape and native species, the property will be returned to a silver maple-elm
floodplain forest bringing the properties habitat back into balance. In addition this project
will be used as an example and educational tool showing Habitat Integrity and what can
happen, the 2006 flood, if this integrity is not maintained.
Restoration/Protection Objectives
The City of Painesville intends to restore the property to a silver-maple-elm flood plain
forest. This community occurs on temporarily flooded soils along major rivers and
streams. Dominant trees include silver maple, American elm, black walnut, and
sycamore. Other species include box elder, red ash, and cotton wood. Meadows within
this community will be dominated by wing-stem, ox-eye, panicle aster, smooth
goldenrod, Joe-Pye weed, ironweed, sandbar willow, red osier dogwood, and silky
dogwood. Meadow formation will be facilitated by planting Emory sedge. Once the beds
are established, prairie grasses and summer meadow flowers will grow in them.
The City will employ an environmental engineering group to develop detailed restoration
plans to include:

Removal from site and recycling of concrete retaining wall.

Removal earthen berm by either complete removal or by re-grading into the site.
During this phase desirable trees and other plant materials will be protected, not
removed unless absolutely necessary.
Removal and control of non-native invasive plant species by appropriate methods.
Re-grading and restoration of the historical stream bank by appropriate methods.
Creation of a mixed forest including; forest, meadows, and vernal pools if
appropriate area is located.
Construction of a Trailhead Kiosk detailing the past use of the area, 2006 flood,
and proper land use management.
Development of a permeable nature interpretive trail with access to the Grand
River.
Maintenance of an existing parking area, which will also be used as a trail head.
Supply the City of Painesville with a Management plan for the property.

Both the City of Painesville and Employed Engineering firm will oversee the restoration.
The City of Painesville will responsible for the implementation of the management plan
to include maintaining and controlling the property.
Please see Appendix A for Project Timeline.
Proposed Project Budget
Estimated Project Budget
City of Painesville - Gristmill Acquisition
DR-1656-OH
Item Description
Units Unit Price
Total
Property Appraisal
18
350
6,300.00
Property Acquisition
18
86,050
1,548,900.00
Closing Costs / Legal Fees
18
1,000
18,000.00

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Asbestos Assessment
Asbestos Abatement
Demolition

18
18
18

500
2,500
9,596
Sub Total

Funding Description
Federal Share
State Share
Local: ICC Demo Funds

9,000.00
45,000.00
172,728.00
1,799,928.00

Percentage
Total
75%
1,349,946.00
21%
389,982.00
3%
60,000.00
Sub Total

1,799,928.00

City of Painesville - Millstone Acquisition

DR-1580-OH
Item Description
Units Unit Price
Total
Property Appraisal
38
350
13,300.00
Property Acquisition
38
93,000
3,534,000.00
Closing Costs / Legal Fees
38
1,000
38,000.00
Asbestos Assessment
38
500
19,000.00
Asbestos Abatement
38
2,500
95,000.00
Demolition
38
9,596
364,648.00
Sub Total

Funding Description
Federal Share
State Share
Local: City of Painesville
Local: ICC Demo Funds
Local: CDBG Funds

4,063,948.00

Percentage
Total
75%
3,047,961.00
12.5%
507,994.00
7.1%
286,743.00
3.7%
150,000.00
1.8%
71,250.00
Sub Total

4,063,948.00

Proposed Project Budget (cont.)

City of Painesville
FMA 2007Supplemental
Item Description
Property Appraisal
Property Acquisition
Closing Costs / Legal Fees
Demolition & Site Restoration
Asbestos Assessment

Units Unit Price

Total
24
500
12,000.00
24
75,850
1,820,400.00
24
3,000
72,000.00
24
5,000
120,000.00
24
1,000
24,000.00

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Asbestos Abatement
Project Administration

24
1

6,000

Sub Total

144,000.00
52,904.80
2,245,304.80

Funding Description
Percentage
Total
Federal Share
75%
1,683,978.59
Local: CDBG
78,750.00
Local: Gristmill Condo Association (Insurance Proceeds)
250,000.00
Local: City of Painesville
142,576.21
Local: National flood Insurance Program - ICC
90,000.00
Sub Total
City of Painesville
WRRSP Project
Item Description

2,245,304.80

Cost
90,000.00

Planning and Design

Habitat Restoration Activities
Mobilization, Insurance, and Bond
Removal of levy retaining wall (1200 LF.)
Removal of concrete pavement (8000 SY)
Removal of levy embankment (4000 CY)
Removal of non-native species along
river bank and removing debris
Removal of sight amenities
Removal of drainage pipe
Plugging of Sanitary Sewer
Site Grading
Plant native species along river bank
Plant native species within development
Kiosk

34,000.00
216,000.00
96,000.00
48,000.00
12,000.00
50,000.00
10,000.00
10,000.00
24,000.00
60,000.00
310,000.00
1,000.00
Sub Total

Budget Summary
DR-1656-OH
DR-1580-OH
FMA 2007Supplemental
WRRSP Project

961,000.00
1,799,982.00
4,063,948.00
2,245,304.00
961,000.00

Grand Total

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9,070,234.00

Alternatives to Achieve Restoration/Protection Objective

The City of Painesville evaluated three alternatives during the planning for this project.
The first alternative involved a no-action option that would maintain the current
condition of the two condominium complexes. As this alternative would not address any
of the concerns the city has with keeping vacant, flood-damaged buildings on the site, the
city eliminated this option from further consideration. At this point, the city developed
two options for further analysis.
At this point, the city developed two options for further analysis;
1. The City of Painesville, as property owner, would remove all structures of the property
with the exception of the levee roads and parking area. The City would maintain the
property removing non-native plant materials, and mowing the open areas annually. The
City of Painesville would not allow any further development of the property.
2. The City of Painesville, as property owner, will be responsible for the implementation
of the WRRSP project meeting those restoration and protection objective discussed
above. Lee Homyock, as Director of Recreation and Public Lands, will be responsible for
project oversight, hiring an appropriate Engineering firm to complete restoration and
management plans, developing bid packages, coordinate all aspects of the project, and
provide day to day supervision of all project activities. The City of Painesville will utilize
local expertise from Lake County Soil and Water District, Lake Metroparks, Grand River
Partners, as well qualified engineering group to develop land management plans. All
restoration activities will be performed under contract by knowledgeable professionals
and staff.
Selection and Basis for Selection
Upon further analysis of option one (1) the City of Painesville would not obtain the
desired results of improving the quality of the habitat to a desirable level and due to the
lack of restoration the property would be further denigrated in the future. No benefit
would be obtained for the Grand Rivers water quality and may be denigrated further in
the future.
The City of Painesville, as property owner, intends actively restoring the property to a
silver maple-elm floodplain forest as in option two. Through this process the City of
Painesville will be able to improve the ecological health of the subject property and
adjacent Grand River. In doing this it will improve the lifestyle of it citizenry. The City of
Painesville has selected this approach, option two (2) for implementation.
Implementation Plan and Staff Resources/Experience
The City of Painesville, as property owner will be responsible for implementation of the
project management as listed above. The restoration Plan and Management Plan will be
completed by a qualified engineering firm. The restoration project will be overseen by the
City of Painesville and the engineering firm.
The project monitoring, management, and maintenance will be performed by the City
Department of Recreation and Public Lands, the staff includes individuals with forestry,

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parks, and natural resources management background. Monitoring will be done on a daily
basis. Maintenances will be on an as needed and periodic basis as its management plan
dictates. The City of Painesville intends to restore this area to a naturally functioning
floodplain providing shade, habitat, and organic material to a fully attaining an aquatic
resource.
Lee Homyock, Director of Recreation and Public Lands has been employed by the City
of Painesville since 2004. He provides planning, management, direction, and operation of
Recreation programming, Parks, Cemeteries, and Public lands. Mr. Homyock possesses a
solid knowledge of park resource management through his education and over 25 years
of experience in the field he is assisted by Steven Hubbell, Public lands Supervisor who
is an Ohio State Certified Arborist.
Maintenance Plan for Perpetual Management of the Project
and Monitoring and Evaluation Program
The Maintenance Plan for Perpetual Management of the Project and Monitoring and
Evaluation Program will be modeled on Clermont County Park Districts plan for their
Lower East Fork WRRSP project as described below:
A. Management of Property
The future use and management of properties by the City of Painesville restored to a near
natural habitat through WRRSP funding will be subject to the WRRSP Use Agreement as
agreed to by the City of Painesville and Ohio EPA. Subject to this Use Restriction
Agreement, management of the property will be directed by a site specific management
master plan. A written baseline survey will be conducted for the property.
The detailed Property Management Plan will be completed prior to restoration.
Monitoring for compliance with WRRSP land use conditions, for example, to assure
ATV and equestrian traffic is excluded from the project area will be done on a daily
basis. Property maintenance will be performed on an as-needed basis to assure that
native vegetation succeeds and that invasive species are controlled. For example,
sampling of native vegetation restoration areas will be carried out throughout the growing
season until vegetation is established and no longer threatened by predation. Invasive
species control techniques will include biological and mechanical measures, with
precision application of herbicides used as a last resort.
B. Management of Invasive Species
As described above, a Property Management Master Plan will be developed to restore
and document the near natural condition of the property as well as threats and actions to
be taken to control those treats. When invasive species are found on the property, a
control strategy will be included as part of the Master Plan. Efforts to control invasive
plant species will be under the direction of the City of Painesville, Department of
Recreation and Public Lands training personnel. Labor will be provided by then City of
Painesville staff and volunteers. The location of extensive invasive plant populations will
be identified on a map and updated periodically to document effectiveness of
management methods. Funding for necessary herbicides will come from the City of
Painesville budgets or other available sources.

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