This June, Clermont SWCD and the Clermont County Park District received a grant from Ohio EPA to restore a stream and construct three small wetlands at Shor Park on Tealtown Road. This is the second phase of a restoration project that began in 2014 when Clermont SWCD and the Park District partnered to restore more than nine acres of wetlands and create a bioretention basin for storm water management.
Currently, about 200 feet of Avey’s Run flows through a storm sewer system as it enters Shor Park. The pipes are in disrepair, resulting in several sinkholes that could pose a danger to Park visitors. Bank erosion continues along a 500-foot stretch of the stream. Erosion is also a problem in a small channel that follows a hiking trail downstream of the bioretention basin. Additionally, invasive species such as honeysuckle and autumn olive have taken over parts of the property, including in areas where the soils are better suited for wetlands.
Part of the project will involve removing the existing storm sewer and recreating a natural stream channel in its place. To correct erosion problems in other locations, the project team will install hand placed log structures at key places along the stream bank. This technique mimics naturally-occurring stable wood found in nature, and avoids the disturbance associated with heavy equipment and grading operations. Along with the stream restoration work, three pocket wetlands will be created and more than 11 acres of invasive species will be removed. Project design work will be completed over the winter, and construction is anticipated to start next summer.
Shor Park, located at 4659 Tealtown Road, is the newest park in the Clermont County Park District. The 56-acre parcel of land was donated by Sylvia Shor. The park features three walking trails winding through the many open fields on the property. In 2019, The Park District completed construction of two new picnic shelters, an inclusive playground designed for users of all abilities, and a wind turbine to help power the new facilities.