Riverbank Stabilization Cuyahoga Valley National Park

RiverReach Construction and their design team were contracted by the National Park Service to perform design build services for stream and floodplain restoration for the Cuyahoga Valley National Park restoring areas of the Cuyahoga River that trailed the railway and towpath walking trail that runs through the park.  The project included 8 restoration sites within the park and an additional 3 emergency sites that were later added on as a secondary contract. A total of 11 sites were restored for the National Park Service.

The objective of this project was to restore the park sites by creating floodplain, bank stabilizations, wetlands, fish habitat, and native revegetation plantings. Several towpath sections along with railway sections were in danger of collapse due to the severe erosion along the riverbank. By restoring these sections RiverReach and its design build team were successfully able to allow park visitors to safely continue use of the national park and its walking trails. This park has an estimated 3 million visitors per year, making it one of the most visited national parks in the country.

RiverReach Construction achieved this by implementing 9,500 lf of restoration enhancements to the Cuyahoga River with an estimated 58,000 tons of riprap. The restoration activities included floodplain excavation, natural stone bank stabilization, woody habitat structures and boulder habitat clusters to enhance the in-stream habitat for fish & aquatic wildlife. Native seeding and native plantings were added as well.