Project Name: Herron Downs Ecological Restoration: WR392136-0001

6397 OH-159, Chillicothe, OH 45601

Sponsor: Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District

Sponsoring Project: Big Creek Tunnel Project: CS391430-232

Link to the LER and FONSI: https://epa.ohio.gov/divisions-and-offices/environmental-financial-assistance/reports-and-data/documents-available-for-review-and-comment

WRRSP Project Description:

The Herron Downs property (the Site) has been largely cleared (deforested) and modified for farming, with significant impacts to wetlands and streams to improve drainage for crop production. The buffer around the streams and wetlands was largely removed, and Stream 2, a natural spring, was ditched across the floodplain to efficiently drain an area of partially hydric soils to Kinnikinnick Creek. An additional drainage ditch was excavated in the floodplain to drain a spring-fed, now-degraded, fen (identified as Wetland G in this application). All of the wetlands on site, with the exception of Wetland G, are of low quality. Wetland G is of moderate quality (a modified Category 2 wetland), and has the potential to improve to a Category 3 wetland through removal of the hydrologic modifications and control of invasive species. Sitewide, the reversal of the historic drainage modifications, eradication of invasive species, and restoration of the native wetland, riparian and upland plant communities will result in considerable ecological uplift, eventually allowing the Site to rival the quality of the adjacent Kinnikinnick Fen Nature Preserve. This preserve serves as an ideal reference site for wetland and stream restoration at Herron Downs, and the biological studies completed in preparation for submitting this WRRSP application document the fact that Category 3 wetlands and Class IIIB primary headwater habitats are achievable through this restoration. By restoring hydrology and enhancing and diversifying the available habitats, the diversity of amphibians, reptiles, fishes, macroinvertebrates, etc. supported by the Site should improve significantly. This site is a unique one because of its placement between the glaciated and unglaciated boundary. This topographic and vegetative shift will likely appeal to a greater diversity of species that could move into the area.

In addition, although no direct restoration of Kinnikinnick Creek is proposed, the restoration activities at the Site are expected to provide ecological lift for this adjacent waterway, which is currently only partially in attainment of its Aquatic Life Use (ALU) designation (i.e., warmwater habitat, WWH). Although the Ohio EPA has been unable to pinpoint the sources of impairment, habitat loss, agriculture, and flow modifications are likely contributors to the degradation of the creek. There also may have been a recent (2022) fish kill that resulted in a Modified Index of Well-being narrative rating of “fair,” due to very few large fish but many young-of-year fish being found during the Index of Biotic Integrity fish sampling this summer. One issue noted during completion of the Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) was that of bank erosion and unstable substrates on Kinnikinnick Creek. By restoring the local groundwater-influenced hydrology, the rate of runoff from the Site will be reduced, and baseflow within the creek will improve, potentially reducing erosive flows and “flashy” hydrology that will benefit the creek’s biota.

Combining this hydrologic restoration with the re-establishment of floodplain and wetland plant communities and enhancement of upland buffers may allow this Scioto River tributary to fully attain its ALU, and possibly even meet exceptional warmwater habitat (EWH) standards in the future.