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Chagrin River

intro-watershedNE Ohio Watershed Map


 The Chagrin River is located in Northeastern Ohio. It is the only scenic river where most of its length is located within corporation limits. It borders the Cleveland metropolitan area, yet has retained its scenic characteristics. The river probably was named for the Indian word for clear water—shagarin.

The Chagrin River watershed drains approximately 267 square miles. The Main Branch of the Chagrin River begins as the Upper Main Branch above Bass Lake in Munson in Geauga County and flows 48 miles before entering Lake Erie at Eastlake. Two branches, the Aurora Branch and the East Branch, flow into the Main stem of the river at Bentleyville and Willoughby.






The Chagrin River was first designated as a State Scenic River in 1979. At that time, only 49 miles of the river were given this title. The river’s "scenic" title was extended in November 2002 to include the headwaters of the Chagrin, also known as the Upper Chagrin. A total of 71 miles is now designated as “Scenic”.

The Chagrin River’s glacial past is easily seen throughout the watershed. Over the past 12,000 years, the river has progressed from the upland headwater areas to create deep ravines further downstream. There are many areas on the Chagrin River and its numerous tributaries where thick glacial till has eroded exposing sandstone and Chagrin Shale bedrock.
    The river valley offers a diversity of terrestrial and aquatic plant communities and wildlife. Recent surveys of aquatic and breeding birds finds more than 49 species of fish and 90 bird species living in the Chagrin River watershed.
 
Audubon Ohio (a group focused on conserving and restoring natural habitats) has identified the Chagrin River as an Important Birding Area (IBA). IBAs target areas for active bird population monitoring and habitat restoration efforts. This IBA is a riparian corridor characterized by scenic ravines with small stands of hemlock and some extensive tracts of mature Beech-Maple forest. Hemlock ravines support Dark-eyed Juncos (an endangered species in Ohio), as well as other northern nesting bird species, such as the Winter Wren, the Acadian Flycatcher, and the Black-throated Green Warbler. Small mammal and bat surveys, as well as butterfly and dragonfly surveys conducted by state experts have documented rare species in the natural areas.

Already heavily overcrowded by the expanding Cleveland population, crucial habitat is at risk of further fragmentation. Deer over-population is a key issue at certain critical sites. Cowbird parasitism, raccoon predation, and disturbance by people are of concern for breeding land birds.


 

The Chagrin is one of few streams in Ohio known to support the American Brook Lamprey, a non-parasitic lamprey species. Additionally, the title of “Scenic River” protects Spring Brook, a tributary of Bass Lake, which has continually held a population of the Ohio Brook Trout since the last ice age! The riparian area along the stream provides nearly perfect habitat for the brook trout- shade, stable banks and cool water.

The majority of the river retains its riparian forest cover and adjacent lands are primarily zoned for low density, large residential lots.
(Excerpted from ODNR, Division of Natural Areas and Preserves)
 
   
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