CUYAHOGA RIVER HABITAT RESTORATION
The current “buzz word” in the year 2009 involves the term “Federal Stimulus.” These emergency funds are being doled out through a number of existing federal agencies and programs.
The majority of Stimulus Funds have been distributed through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for transportation projects. A key phrase in all funding decisions is “shovel-ready.” Quite simply, it means - has the project moved from a conceptual phase into and preferably through environmental reviews and preliminary engineering drawings. If you have followed some of the local announcements involving transportation funds, you will find that some projects, like the Innerbelt Bridge and Opportunity Corridor, were originally awarded Stimulus Funds by the state, only to be rejected by the FHWA as not meeting the test of “shovel ready.”
Unfortunately, the Towpath Trail project was not considered “shovel ready” and therefore did not compete for any transportation stimulus funds. However, a portion of the greenway that will include the Towpath Trail – a stretch along Scranton Road – did hold some promise for Stimulus Funds appropriated through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for projects addressing Coastal Restoration.
On March 25th, Ohio Canal Corridor Director Tim Donovan received a phone call from Dave Vasarehlyi of the Trust for Public Lands (TPL) alerting him of the possible stimulus funding source through NOAA. It was focused on Coastal Restoration and would award $167 million nationwide. It was a competitive process; the Grant was due in the NOAA office by April 6th – a 12 day window.
Tim quickly read through the 34 page instruction guidelines and determined that there was a possible project – a riverfront stretch along Scranton Road where the steel bulkheading was eroding and a new engineered solution could address issues associated with maintaining the shipping channel while introducing a coastal restoration zone where fish habitat might prosper. Prime goals for the funds were: (1) project matched goals of agency; (2) project would produce jobs; (3) project funds would be spent within an 18 month period – so, if awarded, the project would require tight and effective coordination.
As one might expect given the name of the granting entity, Ocean-based projects would have a priority. Yet, within the guidelines, projects within the Great Lakes were eligible as were those in recognized “Areas of Concern” like the Cuyahoga River. An argument had to be made that any restoration project would mitigate an existing condition in the Cuyahoga River that would impact an eventual delisting of that impairment. For the Cuyahoga River, fish migration through the shipping channel is a current impairment. The proposed project would address it by establishing a fish habitat zone within the shipping channel. In addition, the project would address another existing impairment – public access to the water.
To submit, the first challenge was to identify an eligible sponsor agency already signed onto the federal government’s web site with passwords and an account. The city of Cleveland qualified as it was awarded previous NOAA grants and gave a green light to proceed. The next step was to assemble a team to address the grant requirements –a to-do list that included addressing specific questions posed in the grant, assembling existing plans, cost estimates, work schedules, and property purchase agreements.
A meeting was held at Cleveland City Hall on Friday, March 27th to present the opportunity and enlist help. In attendance were Tim Donovan of Ohio Canal Corridor, Jim White of the Cuyahoga RAP; Bob Brown, George Cantor and Marty Cader of Cleveland City Planning; Eric Wobser representing the Mayor’s Office; Stan Kosilesky of the Cuyahoga County Engineer’s Office, Sandra Ambris of Cleveland’s Harbor Master, and Dave Vasarehlyi of TPL.
Donovan presented the outline of the grant requirements and described the purpose and intent of the proposal and introduced a proposed outline/ framework to approach the project. All signed on as active supporters and participants. Each would play a valuable role.
Jim White proved to be an invaluable asset to this exercise. The Cuyahoga RAP had spent years in exploring such an engineered alternative to the steel walls that line the Cuyahoga River and had proceeded towards preliminary engineering drawings. Furthermore, Jim had enlisted experts in the fields of fish habitat as well as engineering and had a team ready to apply their knowledge to the effort. Finally, he helped with writing some of the technical passages specific to fish habitat and the natural shoreline approach. Dave Vasarehlyi of TPL handled the property negotiations. Stan Kosilesky took on the work schedule/timeline and reviewed cost estimates. Sandra Ambris reached out to contacts within Ohio EPA and Army Corps of Engineer’s to begin the needed coordination for any implementation. Dick Kerber of Cleveland Metroparks provided additional direction with budgeting and our habitat restoration strategy. George Cantor would act as the chief liaison within the City of Cleveland Planning Commission and co-authored portions of the grant. At the end of the meeting, all agreed to reconvene the following Monday afternoon; each had individual work assignments. Donovan would spearhead the effort; write most of the grant and coordinate all final products in partnership with individual team members.
The week that followed was a whirlwind of meetings and conversations leading to the final submission – a 60-page grant request of $ 9.2 million towards a project valued at $ 11.2 million. The package included two letters of support from our US Senators Brown and Voinovich. The document can be viewed on our web site: www.ohiocanal.org.
NOAA was to announce grant awards one month later in May. That deadline extended to July after they received more than 800 grants. The process whittled the 800 down to 119 and from there to 50 winning proposals. Our proposal was not among the winners. In fact, three Great Lakes projects were awarded $ 16.1 million.
The ad-hoc committee has reconvened to pursue alternative funding strategies for the project. There will be progress forthcoming.
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