Baldwin Run Stream Restoration

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 A Brief History:
Starting in 1930 Baldwin Run was channelized following flooding, causing loss of flood capacity and biological habitat. Later installation of sanitary and combined sewers along the creek added additional stress onto the biological community and degraded water quality.

In 1960 development of the shopping center with later expansion of the hospital filled in the floodplain to the east and increased bank erosion and sediment in the stream.

The 1991 Ohio EPA "Biological and Water Quality Study of the Hocking River and Mainstem and Selected Tributaries" publication indicated improvements and eliminations of the Anchor Hocking discharge had improved issues in chemical water quality. As fish and macroinvertibrates scores were still rated fair, the stream was designated in non-compliance with the warm water habitat criteria.

Again in 1997 the Ohio EPA published another study which found continued improvements in Baldwin Run with the stream nearing or marginally Warm Water Habitat. 
  1. Now

 

Phase 2 restored the stream from Main Street to Fetter's Run/Ewing Run and involved restoring 960 feet of channel in five different areas. 

Debris Removal: Tires, utility poles, and other items embedded in the stream channel were removed as well as significant trash jams, including shopping carts, concrete pipe material and any material that cause obstruction to the natural flow of the stream.

Invasive Species Management: Removal of invasive species such as grapevines and honeysuckle. Large growing canopy trees and smaller understory trees were planted to help limit the reoccurrence of the invasive species. These will also improve stream bank stability and improve stream habitat and water quality

Channel Enhancements: Rock weirs were installed to redirect the stream channel away from erodible banks and also help maintain the stream channel depth and slow downcutting. In addition it will create visual interest and additional wildlife habitat. Eddy rocks were be placed to improve the appearance and provide even more habitat

Bank Stabilization: Armor flex concrete block mats have been installed to stabilize and reinforce steeper sections of Baldwin Run as well as prevent undercutting 

Riparian Corridor Plantings: Areas along the banks have been planted with small willows and alders to help with stabilization. These small shrubs were also be interplanted in areas where invasive species have been removed 

Two signs focusing on healthy streams are posted along the Lancaster Bike Path in the public area, one will focus on the importance of healthy streams to the environment while the second highlights flora and fauna of the stream.

This project is designed to improve stream habitat that is degraded due to siltaion and channelization.
  1. Then
In coordination with the Anchor Hocking Brownfield project, the City of Lancaster completed the first phase of the Baldwin Run Stream Restoration in 2005. This phase provided channel restoration, bank stabilization, and stream planting along approximately 2000 feet of stream. 

For 2009 and 2010 bank stabilization in the area near storm outlets was done as part of the Lancaster Bikepath and Mulberry Storm Sewer projects.

The Baldwin Run Stream Restoration Phase 2 project was funded in part through a grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the United States EPA under the provisions of Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act.