Cleveland Metroparks Adds Acreage To "Heron Rookery Wetland" In North Royalton

Posted: March 17, 2016

Enhancing its ecosystem mission of conservation along the East Branch of the Rocky River, Cleveland Metroparks will complete the acquisition of another 14 acres of land in the "Heron Rookery Wetland" area of Millstream Run Reservation in North Royalton later this month.

The current 20-acre "Heron Rookery Wetland" in North Royalton is adjacent to an existing 88-acre Cleveland Metroparks property and a 70-acre Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District easement.

The properties, including the latest acreage will create a core nature resource reserve of 237-acres, the second largest wetland complex in the East Branch Rocky River corridor, and a Category 3 wetland.

"The acquisition of this land is vital to our continuing stewardship of the Rocky River," said Cleveland Metroparks CEO Brian Zimmerman. "It is imperative to helping us continue to improve the wetland landscape."

Since 2010, Cleveland Metroparks has protected nine properties at a cost of just over $2.5 million, working in concert with the assistance of the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (WRRSP). Of the approximate $2.5 million cost, roughly $2.1 million came from funding sources other than Cleveland Metroparks.

"The City of North Royalton and my administration enjoy a unique partnership with Cleveland Metroparks where we are able to provide our residents and surrounding communities additional recreational opportunities. In the future we will continue to work closely with Cleveland Metroparks in identifying property that would enhance their mission," said North Royalton Mayor Robert Stefanik.

The Ohio Water Pollution Control Loan Fund, a state program that provides low-interest loans to communities and sewer districts for sewer-related projects, encourages these entities to support local water quality projects by providing an offset to their loan interest rate if they support a WRRSP preservation or restoration project. The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) agreed to sponsor Cleveland Metroparks Heron Rookery project and since the award, Cleveland Metroparks has utilized the funds to acquire 65-acres south of Edgerton Road and west of Ridge Road.

The West Creek Conservancy, an urban land conservancy and watershed organization serving the Greater Cleveland region, partnered with Cleveland Metroparks on the project, and have been key collaborators since the creation of the West Creek Reservation in 2006.

"The Heron Rookery Project was a great opportunity to utilize the strengths of our partnership with Cleveland Metroparks, in which we were able to coordinate the preservation of over 50 acres along the East Branch of the Rocky River. West Creek Conservancy is proud to be part of such a unique initiative," said West Creek Conservancy Executive Director Derek Schafer.

The Heron Rookery Wetland is part of Cleveland Metroparks larger preservation initiative along the entire length of the East Branch of the Rocky River.

PREV POST Two Cleveland Metroparks Naturalists Earn Prestigious Educator Awards

NEXT POST Cleveland Metroparks Celebrates World Water Day This Saturday