West Fork Creek Rain Garden
MSD has constructed a rain garden (stormwater bioinfiltration basin) in the 1700 block of West Fork Road in Northside to help reduce combined sewer overflows (CSOs) into the West Fork Creek, a tributary of the Mill Creek. Construction began in August 2017 and was completed in summer 2018.
The project, funded by a Clean Ohio Conservation Fund grant awarded to Groundwork Cincinnati-Mill Creek (now the Mill Creek Alliance), is part of MSD’s long-term solution for reducing combined sewer overflows (CSOs) into the Mill Creek.
The bioinfiltration basin captures stormwater during rain events through overland flow and via a street 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 Creek.
The basin, which is about 0.8 acres in size and 2-3 feet deep, uses special plants and soils to absorb, cleanse and store stormwater during a rain event. Any excess stormwater is discharged to the West Fork Creek.
A gravel walking path is located around the basin, along with educational signage.
The landscaping for the rain garden was coordinated with Cincinnati Park Board and the Northside community.