SEVEN HILLS, Ohio — Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District’s (NEORSD) Hemlock Creek Stream Restoration Project, which is designed to curtail flooding issues in the area, is nearing completion.
“This project is going to pay significant dividends to that part of the city, a reduction of the threat of overland flooding from heavy rains,” Seven Hills Mayor Anthony D. Biasiotta said.
“In addition, when the project is finished, I’m very confident it’s going to be an amenity to the community because they’re going to leave it in a very picturesque and nature-friendly setting.”
Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District is nearing completion of Hemlock Creek Bank Stabilization Project in Seven Hills. (Courtesy of NEORSD)Courtesy of NEORSD
The mayor noted the project suffered a delay in the spring and early summer related to water valves. However, the work picked up in July with construction planned to end later this year.
“My concerns with the December completion date would be the landscaping aspects of the project,” he said. “Seed will be planted this year.
“If the grass does not take, come up for spring, it will be replanted under contract. Also, whether to plant trees that are part of this project this year or in the spring has not been decided.”
Once completed, the project is restoring approximately 1,318 linear feet of Hemlock Creek and constructing two new box culverts that are replacing two deteriorating and undersized roadway crossings.
“This project will improve stream conveyance, reduce erosion risk and reduce flooding risk to buildings and roads in Seven Hills,” NEORSD Watershed Team Leader Donna Friedman previously told cleveland.com.
“We’ll also stabilize the streambanks and realign the stream to improve how it functions during heavy rain events.”
Estimated at $3.18 million — with nearly half of that used to purchase seven homes on Forest Overlook, Linda Lane and Donna Rae Drive — the extensive work modifies the alignment of two culverts to improve stream function and create floodplain access to control the out-of-bank flows during larger storm events.
In layman’s terms, the stream currently makes two 90-degree turns, which are a product of development.
The solution is to re-meander the stream for a smoother flow of Hemlock Creek, which eventually connects with the Cuyahoga River.
Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District is nearing completion of Hemlock Creek Bank Stabilization Project in Seven Hills. (John Benson/cleveland.com)John Benson/cleveland.com
Flooding in the Hemlock Creek watershed not only impacted buildings, streets and property, but created severe streambank erosion that further threatened property.
“This project will not only stabilize the eroding banks but realign — or move — the stream so water is conveyed more naturally and can utilize its newly-established floodplain during heavy rains,” Friedman said.
The mayor added that stormwater will flow easier from the southern to the middle section of city.
“We’ve been attacking water management issues from the moment I got here,” Biasiotta said. “This is a big piece of that.
“We’re extremely thankful the sewer district agreed with us that this was an issue and is making a significant investment of regional funds in our community.”
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