West Fork Mill Creek Riparian Restoration
Confidential Client • Colerain Township, Hamilton County, OH
Solution Overview
Client:
Confidential client
Business Challenge:
- Restoration of flood impacted property to rehabilitate native plants and habitat
Solution:
- Provide engineering and biological consulting services to address restoration activities holistically
Results:
- Planting of approximately 650 native trees and shrubs
- Restoration of native habitat and prevention of future flood related losses
Challenge
Apex team members were responsible for the design and implementation of riparian corridor enhancement for three sites along the West Fork Mill Creek in Colerain Township, Hamilton County, Ohio. All three sites included residential lots purchased with federal funds to remove repetitive-loss, flood-damaged homes.
Solution
The project established mixed mesophytic and upland forest, and dry-mesic prairie. An eroding streambank was stabilized with bioengineering techniques using natural materials, such as woody cuttings, prairie plants, and fascines for toe protection.
Prior to planting of native vegetation, honeysuckle eradication was performed. Non-native grasses were also eliminated from the sites, followed by installation of a low-profile prairie seed mix with a seed drill.
Results
Approximately 400 native shrubs and 250 native trees were planted at two of the three project sites. This project was supported with a Clean Ohio Fund grant. Today, the site is thriving and the native species have become well‑established, providing additional habitat to native flora and fauna.