The National Park Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are planning to reshape the Cuyahoga River a bit/NPS file

In a nod to the dangers of crowding too many folks into a meeting room while coronavirus is still a concern, the National Park Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are offering virtual meetings to explain a river restoration proposal at Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

The meetings are set for June 25, and will be held via WebEx at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. local time. The presentations will describe a planned Cuyahoga River restoration project and participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and make comments.

To join: https://usace.webex.com/meet/lynn.m.greer

Phone: 1-877-336-1831

Passcode: 413 385 63

Security code (if prompted): 4182

The National Park Service, in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will be reshaping areas of the floodplain adjacent to the Cuyahoga River between Boston Mill Visitor Center and Vaughn Road. The goals of the project are to improve water quality and return the river to a more natural condition by restoring and expanding wetlands, lengthening the river, and reforesting riverbanks. The project will improve a stretch of river that currently is listed as an "Area of Concern" under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Work is scheduled to begin in summer 2021 and expected to take two years to complete.

“This restoration project is part of a multi-year plan to improve the condition of the Cuyahoga River,” said Cuyahoga Valley Superintendent Craig Kenkel. “Restoring the river to a more natural state will increase public recreation opportunities and greatly improve habitat. The Cuyahoga River is a regional asset, and the national park protects and preserves 26 miles of it. We cannot do this work alone and we appreciate the expertise of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.”

In addition to the public meetings, interested parties are encouraged to review additional information and provide input on this proposal using the NPS’s Planning Environment and Public Comment website under the project Cuyahoga River Restoration: Boston Mills North. The public also may submit written comments by mail to Superintendent, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, 15610 Vaughn Road, Brecksville, Ohio 44141, attention: Cuyahoga River Restoration, until July 27, 2020.

"This project is just another one of many that the Corps of Engineers and National Park Service are working together to complete, with funding through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency managed Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. This highlights how federal agencies can come together and deliver projects that have tremendous benefits for the environment and the nation," said Lieutenant Colonel Jason Toth, USACE Buffalo District Commander. "Having a healthy environment across the Great Lakes directly benefits the nation's economy and ensures environmental sustainability for generations to come."