Beneficial Use Impairment 10b: Public Access *REMOVED*
The Public Access BUI was a locally-identified impairment. Under the original mandate for Remedial Action Plans to be developed by community-based stakeholder groups, those groups were allowed to identify Beneficial Use Impairments unique to their Areas of Concern and of importance to the community.
At the time the RAP was under development (early 90’s), public access to the river itself, and especially to the ship channel, for riverside hiking, fishing, and water sports, was limited. This BUI sought to remedy that situation.
*REMOVED*
This BUI was removed from the Cuyahoga AOC's list of impairments in December, 2017.
Much has been accomplished in terms of expanding opportunities for public access since the impairment was identified. New parks have been developed along the ship channel. The Scranton Flats project has fishing areas and a section of the Towpath Trail along the ship channel. The Cleveland Rowing Foundation involves hundreds of rowers in daily team training and major regional and national regattas. The Cleveland Metroparks' Rivergate Reservation leads organized kayak tours. The Cuyahoga Valley National Park's new management plan outlines new access points for paddlers and trail users, and Friends of the Crooked River is among the groups that has worked to extend a water trail through the lower river reaches and along the shoreline.