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The Upper Cuyahoga River Watershed

The Upper Cuyahoga River Watershed

The Upper Cuyahoga River Watershed

The Upper Cuyahoga River Watershed starts at the headwaters of the Cuyahoga River in Chardon, Ohio and flows down to Lake Rockwell in Franklin Township and runs approx. 42.52 river miles.

The watershed is 207 square miles (132,608 acres) and includes parts or all of the Cities of Aurora, Ravenna and Streetsboro, the Villages of Middlefield, Burton, Aquilla and Mantua and the Townships of Auburn, Baimbridge, Hambden, Munson, Huntsburg, Newbury, Burton, Middlefield, Parkman, Troy, Claridon, Montville, Franklin, Mantua, Freedom, Ravenna, Shalersville and Hiram.

The Cuyahoga River starts out as the East Branch and the West Branch in the headwaters and combines just below the Village of Burton.

State Scenic River Designation

On June 26, 1974 twenty five miles of the Upper Cuyahoga River were designated as State Scenic River by the State of Ohio. This program has a goal to protect and preserve the natural condition of river corridors and is administered through the Scenic Rivers Program of the Division of Watercraft of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

This designation extends from Russell Park downstream to the confluence of the river at the upstream terminus of Lake Rockwell, (one-quarter mile north of State Route 14). The scenic designation grants review and approval authority to ODNR for all publicly funded projects within 1,000 feet from the edge of the river. Participation and adherence to ODNR advisements on private property is voluntary. Large portions of the Cuyahoga River that is designated as scenic are owned and preserved by the City of Akron. Akron continues to protect this natural resource through best management practices for quality source waters.

The Cuyahoga River was also designated an American Heritage River in 1998, and a National Heritage Corridor in 1996.