A public meeting will be held on May 15th at 6pm for the Cuyahoga River Old Channel (CROC) sediment cleanup at Windows on the River. Free parking will be provided.

details from EPA press release:

EPA and Partners to Hold Public Meeting in Cleveland on Cuyahoga River Old Channel Cleanup

May 9, 2024

Contact Information

Allison Lippert (lippert.allison@epa.gov)

312-353-0967

CHICAGO (May 9, 2024) — Next week, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Great Lakes Legacy Act project partners will hold a public meeting in Cleveland to discuss the Cuyahoga River Old Channel sediment cleanup that will begin next year. The sediment  contains several contaminants that are toxic to aquatic organisms, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), oil and grease, and metals. Approximately 100,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment will be removed from the Cuyahoga River Old Channel. At the meeting, EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will update the community on the construction of a confined disposal facility where the contaminated sediment will be properly disposed.   

WHO:      EPA
                  U.S. Army Corps of Engineers                                               
                  Port of Cleveland
                  Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
                  Ohio EPA
                  Ohio Lake Erie Commission
                 

WHAT:      Public meeting to learn about next steps for Cuyahoga River Old Channel cleanup
 

WHEN:      Wednesday, May 15
                     6–8 p.m.
            

WHERE:    Windows on the River
                     2000 Sycamore St.
                     Cleveland, OH
                    

The project is part of a larger initiative to clean up the Cuyahoga River Area of Concern. For more information, please visit EPA’s webpage.

https://www.epa.gov/great-lakes-aocs/cuyahoga-river-aoc

https://cuyahogaaoc.org/

You're invited to the 2nd Annual Share the River Ramble, a 3.3-mile connect-the-dots, run/walk of the Cuyahoga River riverfront trail segments  Rivers and trails are the arteries that connect people and communities to their natural resources. The Ramble physically connects people to the evolving transformation of Cleveland's riverfront that in some ways is unrecognizable from that June 22 day in 1969. 

We're grateful to our supporting sponsors who have helped make the Expanded Ramble and Blazing Paddles a possibility:

• Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District: "‘Given our role in helping to improve the health of the Cuyahoga River, we’re excited to be part of this celebration. Plus, we’re happy to support an event that connects people to our water resources."
• Fat Head's Brewery is our official brewery partner.
• Canalway Partners: "We're pleased the Share the River Ramble is serving as one of the kick-off events for the inaugural Cleveland History Days, "10 Days and 20 Ways to Experience Cleveland’s History". More information is at http://canalwaypartners.com/events/clevelandhistorydays/
• Ohio City Inc.: "Ohio City Incorporated is working with partners to tie together a growing network of trails and connecting people to the riverfront through Irishtown Bend, and we are thrilled to support the Share the River Ramble which celebrates one of our regions greatest assets, the Cuyahoga River."

We're also partnering again with North Coast Mutli Sports Inc. to stage the Ramble.  Our charity partner is St. Malachi Parish. Cleveland Rowing Foundation (CRF) is our site partner.

You made the 1st Annual Ramble such a success that we're adding a music and beer event at CRF/Rivergate Park where participants can connect with Share the River partner organizations, Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie stakeholders. Fat Head's Brewery is the Ramble's brewery partner and they are excited to support an event that celebrates an important turning point in Cleveland history. We're also teaming up with Nalu Standup Paddle & Surf to host Blazing Paddles, a stand-up paddleboard race on Saturday, June 23.

Stay tuned for more details. The Ramble's intent is to encourage the public to enjoy their natural resources, parks, and paths but it's also intended to provide a focus on several themes central to Share the River's "branding Cleveland as a waterfront city" mission:

• the importance and demonstrable impact of common sense environmental regulations
• the value of public investments in clean water infrastructure (like NEORSD's Project Clean Lake).
• the positive impact of engaged, long-term recreational use of the Cuyahoga River
• the benefit the above three have on Cleveland's appeal 1) as a city where people want to work, live and play in and 2) as a tourism destination.

Save the date, register, and invite your friends! Click on the below link and register for the Share the River Ramble now! Would you like to be part of the team that's making this year's Ramble an event to remember? Register to be a volunteer or serve on one of our committees!

And if you are a business, organization, foundation or individual who sees the branding value of the Ramble, we are in the process of securing sponsors! We are a full-blown experiential marketing event with an engaged social media presence and following. Please e-mail us at sharetheriver3@gmail.com. 

If you're on Facebook, click on this link to let your friends know you're going and then invite your friends to the Cuyahoga River Party!

Inaugural Ramble Media Links

• Plain Dealer (Steve Litt) - First standup paddle race on Cuyahoga, Blazing Paddles, to showcase shipping and recreation sharing river
• WKYC (Dawn Kendrick) - Exploring Cleveland's "Rails to Trails"
• Plain Dealer (Steve Litt) - Share the River plans "Burning River Ramble" Thursday to mark 48th anniversary of Cuyahoga fire (photos, video)
• WCPN/Sound of Ideas (Mike McIntyre) - Burning River Ramble Commemorates 48th Anniversary Of Fire
• Plain Dealer (Joshua Gunter) - Inaugural Burning River Ramble brings runners to Cuyahoga River (photo essay)
• Plain Dealer (Zach Lewis) - Fresh glimpses of city reward effort in inaugural 'Burning River Ramble' (photos): Stretching Out
• WCPN/Sound of Ideas (Mike McIntyre) - Learning to Fail (Burning River Ramble portion comes up at 28:10 in the show)

Cuyahoga River Area of Concern invites you to a press conference at Merwin's Wharf announcing the removal of two existing BUI's (beneficial use impairments (BUIs identify specific problems that can prevent a waterbody from meeting its full water quality potential), there are eight more to go! ) from the Cuyahoga River. A reception follows at Merwin's Wharf.

http://www.cuyahogaaoc.org/bui-10b-public-access.html

http://www.cuyahogaaoc.org/bui-11-degradation-of-aesthetics.html

Speakers:

• Jenn Grieser, Cuyahoga AOC
• Kirk Lang, Cleveland Rowing Foundation
• Jared Magyar, Port of Cleveland
• Elected Officials

There are four AOCs in Ohio: the lower two miles of the Ashtabula River; the entire Black River watershed; the lower 46.5 miles of the Cuyahoga River, including all tributaries and the adjacent shoreline; and the lower 22 miles of the Maumee River, including several adjacent watersheds that discharge directly to Maumee Bay and Lake Erie. For more information on delisting guidance and restoration targets for Ohio Areas of Concern, check out Ohio EPA's doc: http://epa.ohio.gov/portals/35/lakeerie/Ohio_AOC_Delisting_Guidance.pdf

The Race event kicks off at 1 pm on Saturday, April 28th. 

Expert whitewater kayak competitors and spectators will be gathering in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio for a time trial race through the most difficult section of rapids on the Cuyahoga River. Expert kayakers, get ready to experience a race like no other. A half-mile stretch of rapids, with just over 60 feet of elevation drop, completely surrounded by an urban setting. At the end of the race you'll find yourself at the bottom of a 100-foot canyon. At the top of the canyon walls, on river left, is State Route 8, which has an estimated 90,000 travelers per day. On the opposing side, river right, is downtown Cuyahoga Falls. Just seconds away from this Class V run are all your urban amenities including multiple restaurants and bars, a brewery, hotel, apartments, and cafe. The race is unique because it's short enough that shuttling or portaging for multiple laps is easy, and it's surrounded by everything you could possibly need.

Like, Follow, & Share the Cuyahoga Falls Kayak Race main Page!
Head over to www.cfkayakrace.com for more details!

Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/175820746358589/

Here's what they have so far:
•NEW Cuyahoga Falls Riverfront renovation!
•Great spectator viewing and experience
•Spectacular Community support
•Official Website
•Boater Registration (9am-11am)
•Consecutive Class III-V Rapids
•Bus Shuttle provided for racers
•Dam controlled water releases from Lake Rockwell Reservoir (Akron) on Saturday, April 28th and Sunday, April 29th for out-of-town travelers and locals to enjoy multiple days of race level boating.
•WATERFALLS
•Freestyle kayakers (maybe a contest)

Our first annual Burning River Ramble is a fun, no fee, 4.8 mile running/walking tour of Cleveland's evolving waterfront on the June 22 anniversary of the 1969 Cuyahoga River fire. The route (still in progress) is designed to connect property segments that have either recently changed to a park/paved path or are being considered for such (Irishtown Bend). Our hope for the Ramble's iconic route is to physically connect people to the great things happening along Cleveland's Cuyahoga River.

The Burning River Ramble will start near the Columbus Road Bridge and finish between the Cleveland Foundation Boathouse and Cleveland Metropark's Merwin's Wharf. Ramble participants can then enjoy food/drinks at Merwin's Wharf, Hoopples, Sainato's Pizza/Rivergate Tavern or Brick & Barrel Brewing (the Ramble's official post-Ramble hydration location!). We're pleased to be partnering with Run Wild CLE on the Burning River Ramble and we look forward to seeing you on June 22! Invite your friends as the more the merrier! Here's the Facebook Invite https://www.facebook.com/events/214919659018963/. 

Due to rising interest in the Ramble we encourage participants to ride RTA, bikes (maybe rent a UH Bikes) or take an Uber in so we can minimize the impact of parking on the neighborhood. Questions? E-mail us at sharetheriver3@gmail.com

Ramble Route Note: Our addition of the north segment of the Cleveland Foundation Centennial Lake Link Trail adds about a mile to the Ramble route. Ramble participants looking to shorten their effort can simply cut that segment out of their route!

Still on the fence? Here's a POV look at the Burning River Ramble route!

Burning River Ramble Route

A week before the Ramble some friends did a dry run of the route to help us spot potential gaps in our signage/volunteer coverage. By all accounts they had a fun time (even if they got a little wet) and several said "That's a fun course! We had no idea some of this was out here!"

River Day is an opportunity to spend some time along the Cuyahoga and its system of wetlands, tributaries and, of course, Lake Erie, where the river ends.

There will be fun festivities, peaceful paddling, and lots to do along the river, up in its tributaries and along the lakefront. Get to know the river and its watershed up close and personal. Become a steward. Be river-literate. Be a river lover. Go to http://crookedriverday.org/ for more info and an event schedule 

Maintenance dredging in the Cuyahoga River federal navigation channel will be the focus of a March 10, 2016, Ohio EPA public meeting. The information session and hearing will begin at 6 p.m. at Cleveland Metroparks’ Watershed Stewardship Center at West Creek, 2277 West Ridgewood Drive, Parma. Event details here: http://www.epa.state.oh.us/News/OnlineNewsRoom/NewsReleases/TabId/6596/ArticleId/911/language/en-US/ohio-epa-seeks-input-on-cleveland-harbor-dredging.aspx

During the March 10 information session, Ohio EPA representatives will present details about the proposed project. During the hearing, which follows the information session, the public can submit comments and questions for the record regarding the application.

Western Reserve Rowing Association's season ending championship regatta for Summer Rowing League is Saturday, August 22nd, from 8 am - 3pm at Cleveland Rowing Foundation. After you've checked out the fun you can wander over to Cleveland Metroparks' Merwin's Wharf for a bite and a drink on the Cuyahoga River. Event details are at http://www.westernreserverowing.com/news/final-srl-regatta/