Hudson High School Tinkers Creek Stream Restoration Design-Build

This project not only restored ecological function and value to a degraded urban stream; it also provided high school students with hands-on experience in ecological science and a living outdoor classroom that will continue to enrich their education.

The Cuyahoga County District Board of Health called upon Biohabitats to help restore approximately 2,000 linear feet of a degraded tributary to Tinkers Creek. The tributary, which flows through the Hudson High School campus, had been channelized, incised, and disconnected from its floodplain.

The goals of the project were to improve water quality and aquatic and riparian habitat; dissipate Stream Energy; minimize erosion and sedimentation; protect existing infrastructure; provide a minimum of 2,000,000 gallons of storage to reduce storm flows. The project also enhances the high school’s Land Lab, a living outdoor classroom.

Biohabitats’ design met these goals in a way that maximizes ecological benefits, minimizes disturbance, and inspires and facilitates ongoing stewardship and education. The site was divided into three reaches, each associated with an ecosystem indicative of Ohio’s riparian systems: wildflower meadow, forested wetland, and scrub/shrub emergent wetland.