1 September 2020 Ohio-Erie Canal, Summit County, OH Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Project Location: This area along the Ohio–Erie Canal and adjacent to Long Lake, Summit County, Ohio was identified as a potential aquatic surface water pathway connecting the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basins (Second from right inside red circle below). Description of Problem: The Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS) completed in 2014 determined that the Ohio Erie Canal is a medium risk connection for transfer of silver carp, bighead carp, black carp, northern snakehead, and skipjack herring from the Mississippi River Basin to the Great Lakes Basin. There is a threat of these aquatic nuisance species being able to move from the Tuscarawas River Watershed into the Cuyahoga River Watershed via the Ohio-Erie Canal. Nuisance species pose serious threats to sport and commercial fishery, ecosystem integrity and economies if reproducing populations become established in the Great Lakes. While ground surface elevations are adequate to inhibit nuisance species from crossing the watershed boundary during normal weather conditions, there was a potential for the basins to be connected during extreme flood events at several discrete locations along a four to five mile stretch of the Ohio-Erie Canal. Studies showed that existing topography allowed overtopping at some locations. The extreme event selected as the design storm for structural barriers was the 100-year storm, plus an additional one foot. Such a storm has a fraction of a one percent chance of occurring in any given year. At some other locations, direct movement of ANS between basins was possible during normal flow conditions. At such locations, fencing or screens have been used as barriers to swimming and jumping. Together with raising ground surfaces along portions of the canal, these measures seek to reduce or eliminate the potential for fish movement between the basins. Human transport of nuisance species between watersheds remains a significant threat of transfer requiring public education, including such topics as the proper use of baitfish. Construction of physical barriers was completed by the Corps in the spring of 2020 with GLRI funding provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Close coordination of the study, design and construction activities was maintained with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and Summit County Metro Parks. Construction Project: Work included construction of thousands of linear feet of ground improvements (i.e., top-dressing the towpath itself, sheet pile, or gabion baskets adjacent to the towpath) to establish barriers at various low points along the canal, as well as installing screens or fencing at the outlets from Long Lake. These extensive improvements were completed in such a way as to help ensure the protection of the scenic and historic significance of the area while reducing the potential for inter-basin movement of nuisance species. To Conserve and improve Fish and Wildlife resources and their Habitats for sustainable use and appreciation by all Ohio GLMRIS Pathways
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1 September 2020
Ohio-Erie Canal, Summit County, OH Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS)
Project Location: This area along the Ohio–Erie Canal and adjacent to Long Lake, Summit
County, Ohio was identified as a potential aquatic surface water pathway connecting the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basins (Second from right inside red circle below).
Description of Problem: The Great Lakes
and Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS)
completed in 2014 determined that the Ohio Erie
Canal is a medium risk connection for transfer of
silver carp, bighead carp, black carp, northern
snakehead, and skipjack herring from the
Mississippi River Basin to the Great Lakes Basin.
There is a threat of these aquatic nuisance species being able to move from the Tuscarawas River Watershed into the Cuyahoga River Watershed via the Ohio-Erie Canal. Nuisance species pose serious threats to sport and commercial fishery, ecosystem integrity and
economies if reproducing populations become established in the Great Lakes. While ground surface elevations are adequate to inhibit nuisance species from crossing the watershed boundary during normal weather conditions, there was a potential for the basins to be connected during extreme flood events at several discrete locations along a four to five mile stretch of the Ohio-Erie Canal. Studies showed that existing topography allowed overtopping at some locations. The extreme event selected as the design storm for structural barriers was the 100-year storm, plus an additional one foot. Such a storm has a fraction of a one percent chance of occurring in any given year. At some other locations, direct movement of ANS between basins was possible during normal flow conditions. At such locations, fencing or screens have been used as barriers to swimming and jumping. Together with raising ground surfaces along portions of the canal, these measures seek to reduce or eliminate the potential for fish movement between the basins. Human transport of nuisance species between watersheds remains a significant threat of transfer requiring public education, including such topics as the proper use of baitfish. Construction of physical barriers was completed by the Corps in the spring of 2020 with GLRI funding provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Close coordination of the study, design and construction activities was maintained with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and Summit County Metro Parks.
Construction Project: Work included construction of thousands of linear feet of ground improvements (i.e., top-dressing the towpath itself, sheet pile, or gabion baskets adjacent to the towpath) to establish barriers at various low points along the canal, as well as installing screens or fencing at the outlets from Long Lake. These extensive improvements were completed in such a way as to help ensure the protection of the scenic and historic significance of the area while reducing the potential for inter-basin movement of nuisance species.
To Conserve and improve Fish and Wildlife resources and
their Habitats for sustainable use and appreciation by all
Ohio GLMRIS Pathways
2 September 2020
Project Milestones
Contract Award SEP 2018
Complete Construction MAY 2020
Fiscal Closeout DEC 2020
Partners and Collaboration: The ODNR is the primary state partner for this project. Partnering and collaboration have been important keys to the success of the project. The USACE provided regular progress updates during construction and, together with its partners, was successful in minimizing impacts to recreational users of the towpath.
Project Benefits: Proactive steps at this location were intended to keep nuisance species such as Asian Carp from reaching the Great Lakes. Asian Carp presence has been confirmed far downstream of this location on the Ohio River and there is a moderate risk they could move upstream to this location in the future through a series of tributaries. Addressing this risk now helps us be prepared for what could eventually become a much more immediate threat to the ecology and economy of the Great Lakes.
Project Status: Construction began in April 2019 and was completed in May 2020.
Est. Project Costs Since 2016
Federal (100% GLRI) $3,728,000
Non-Federal $0
Total $3,728,000
Project Budgets
FY 2018 $2,180,000
$100,000 FY 2019 $600,000
FY 2020 $480,000
FY 2021 $50,000
Point of Contact
Frank A. O’Connor, P.E. Frank.A.O’[email protected]
(716) 879-4131
3 September 2020
Fencing adjacent to the lateral weir from the canal leading to the Tuscarawas River
Gabion baskets installed at the watershed boundary
4 September 2020
Section of steel sheet pile installed along canal towpath
Minor fill and topdressing to address low spots canal towpath
5 September 2020
Concrete curb structure at the Manchester Rd. trailhead parking area.
6 September 2020
Check valve installed at the canal outlet to Wolf Creek in May 2020.
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