Clean Ohio Grant Project – West Fork Creek Riparian/Floodplain Restoration Project
MSD and Groundwork Cincinnati-Mill Creek were awarded a Clean Ohio Conservation Fund grant to design and construct a stormwater bioinfiltration basin in the floodplain of the West Fork Channel.
The project is part of MSD’s long-term solution for reducing combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in the West Fork watershed. Construction is scheduled for late Summer 2017 through Spring 2018.
The bioinfiltration basin — to be located on four vacant parcels of land in the vicinity of 1769 West Fork Road in Northside — will capture stormwater during rain events through an inlet in West Fork Road. It will prevent about 500,000 gallons of stormwater from entering the combined sewer system each year, thereby reducing CSOs into the West Fork Channel.
The basin, which will be about 0.8 acres in size and 2-3 feet deep, will use native plant species, special soils and layers of gravel to absorb, cleanse and store stormwater during a rain event.
A gravel walking path will be constructed around the basin, and educational signage will be installed.
The landscaping was coordinated with Cincinnati Park Board and the Northside community.