Friends of the Crooked River

03/05/2026

More information about the sturgeon reintroduction program in the Cuyahoga. Kudos to all the partners involved!

02/18/2026

The Ohio Division of Wildlife's Ohio Stream Guide is now available, for free! See Jim McCormac's persuasive piece about the Guide, below, and get yourself a copy by calling the Division of Wildlife. Did I mention it's free? Really looking forward to the section on the Cuyahoga!

Discover the updated "Ohio Stream Guide," a free resource detailing Ohio's 60,000 miles of waterways, their ecology, history, and conservation efforts. Learn how to get your copy.

02/18/2026

A small but intrepid group of Cuyahoga River fans had a fascinating hike in Cleveland MetroParks' Garfield Park Reservation on Sunday, February 15. We walked along Wolf Creek, a tributary of Mill Creek, which in turn is a tributary of the Cuyahoga. The day was warm and it felt good to stretch the legs in this surprising, historically significant, and beautiful park. Kudos to Cleveland Metroparks for their recent restoration work there. (The new visitor's center looks good, too!) Highly recommended!

02/14/2026

ODNR Scenic Rivers will hold its Ohio Rivers Symposium on Friday, March 27 in Columbus. See below for more info.

2026 🌟Ohio 🌟 Rivers 🌟 Symposium

One-day event is perfect for natural resource professionals and river enthusiasts alike! 👨‍🏫Event includes presentations, exhibits, lunch, and networking. 🌟Registration opens Jan. 8, 2026!

✅To learn more about symposium sponsorship opportunities, email [email protected] for details.

02/14/2026

The Cuyahoga River Area of Concern (AOC) Advisory Committee will hold its biennial symposium on March 12, 2026. See below for more information.

Join the Cuyahoga River Area of Concern (AOC) Advisory Committee on March 12, 2026, from 9:30 AM–3:00 PM at the Slovenian National Home in Cleveland’s St. Clair Superior neighborhood for our biennial symposium: !

Come hear how history, culture, and local action across the watershed continue to shape the future of the Cuyahoga River. Attendees can expect:
💧 Updates on areas of concern
💧 Highlights on local projects
💧 Celebration of the Champion of the River
💧 Stories from stewards

And we’ll keep things flowing with a happy hour at Goldhorn Brewing Company right after the event 🍻

🎟 Registration:
• General Admission: $5
• Pay It Forward option available to support others
• Honorary Admission offered if cost is a barrier

🥐 Continental breakfast & lunch will be provided for all registered guests.

This event is sponsored by the generous support of Davey Resource Group, Ohio Sea Grant, Cleveland Water Alliance, Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District, and Interlake Maritime Services.

All are welcome and we hope to see you there! 💙

📲https://buff.ly/roEnU2i

02/12/2026

Just a reminder that we're going for a ramble this Sunday! It's going to be in the mid-40s--positively balmy! Come join us!

Join Friends of the Crooked River as we explore Mill Creek and Wolf Creek, tributaries of the Cuyahoga River. We'll walk a leisurely 2.5 miles as we learn about the restored Garfield Pond and wetlands along Wolf Creek. Hear about the history of this 130-year-old park and see its stone structures from the New Deal era. After the walk we'll take a short drive to visit Mill Creek Falls, the tallest waterfall in Cuyahoga County.

For more information and to register, see the link in the comments. It’s free, of course! Come join us!

[Photo courtesy Cleveland Metroparks]

01/25/2026

Join Friends of the Crooked River as we explore Mill Creek and Wolf Creek, tributaries of the Cuyahoga River. We'll walk a leisurely 2.5 miles as we learn about the restored Garfield Pond and wetlands along Wolf Creek. Hear about the history of this 130-year-old park and see its stone structures from the New Deal era. After the walk we'll take a short drive to visit Mill Creek Falls, the tallest waterfall in Cuyahoga County.

For more information and to register, see the link in the comments. It’s free, of course! Come join us!

[Photo courtesy Cleveland Metroparks]

11/14/2025

More boring news! “Elaine” has been hard at work for the health of the Cuyahoga River . . .

The City of Akron’s Northside Interceptor Tunnel Boring Machine, Elaine, Completes Her 1-mile Journey under Akron’s Riverside Drive

Tunnel Breakthrough Moves Akron Closer to a Renewed Cuyahoga River

Akron, Ohio, Nov. 13, 2025 — Yesterday, the City of Akron celebrated the arrival of Elaine, the tunnel boring machine, as she completed her over 6,600 foot journey more than 100 feet under the City’s North Hill neighborhood. Beginning tunneling on April 23, 2025, Elaine created the second largest storage tunnel in the City to hold and convey combined sewage during heavy rain events until it can be treated at the Water Reclamation Facility.
The tunnel has a 16.5 foot inside diameter and can store 10.3 million gallons. The tunnel is expected to go into operation in December of 2026.

The Northside Interceptor Tunnel constitutes the next to last project required by the City’s federal consent decree with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. EPA. The final
project remains subject to court proceedings in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, where the parties are currently referred to mediation.

“The city’s first tunnel, the OCIT, has had significant positive impacts to both our waterways and our residents,” said Mayor Malik. “During heavy rain events, we are able to keep 467 million
gallons of combined sewer overflow out of our waterways. With the addition of the NSIT, we will be able to capture and treat 99.7% of combined sewer overflow events in a typical year. This is an outstanding achievement and one we are incredibly proud of. As we approach the end of our massive sewer system overhaul, I want to thank all of our employees, the Ohio EPA, the US EPA, and all the stakeholders from our community who have made this incredible transformation a reality here in Akron, especially our tunnel’s namesake Elaine Marsh.”

Originally planned to be a 20-foot tunnel spanning 10,000 feet long to hold 23 million gallons, the City sought the support of Ohio EPA and the United States EPA to “right-size” the tunnel in order to provide similar environmental impacts at a fraction of the cost to ratepayers. In April 2023, the Court issued an order amending the City’s Consent Decree to save ratepayers $40 million in costs.

The Northside Interceptor Tunnel’s boring machine was named “Elaine” in honor of the tireless advocacy of Elaine Marsh, who worked with communities, regulators, and local governments to do the complex, collaborative work of dam removal and waterway renewal all along the Cuyahoga River.

Crews will now work to complete the tunnel shafts and finalize connections to the tunnel before it goes into operation. The City expects the Northside Interceptor Tunnel to be in-service and fully
operational by the end of December 2026. To learn more about the city’s work on the consent decree, visit
www.akronwaterwaysrenewed.com.

10/14/2025

CANCELED

Given the forecast for Sunday--rain and wind--we are canceling the bike trip that had been scheduled for Sunday, 10/19. We'll try again next year!

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Join us for a pedal, not a paddle! This coming Sunday, October 19, we'll ride along the Cuyahoga from the Industrial Valley north to Lake Erie, then back. We'll take our time, stopping here and there to learn about the river, the lake, and the city. We'll use the Towpath Trail for 90% of the riding, with a few short stretches on the street. The trail is mostly flat, with a few hills.

For more details and to register (it's free!), see the link in the comments.

When we rode this route last year, it was a lot of fun. Join us as we do it again this Sunday!

10/09/2025

Come visit us at the Blue Heron Homecoming Fest!
THIS SATURDAY 10am-2pm!

The 2025 Blue Heron Homecoming is this Saturday, October 11 from 10am to 2pm! Join Akron Waterways Renewed for a 5K Walk/Run, Photo Contest, giveaways, hands-on exhibits, and more. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4mulbHT

09/19/2025

More good news for the health of the Cuyahoga watershed . . .