Chagrin State Scenic River
The Chagrin River is located in northeastern Ohio. It is the only scenic river where the majority of its length is located within corporation limits. It borders the Cleveland metropolitan area, yet has retained its scenic characteristics. The river probably was named for the Indian word for clear water - shagarin.
The Chagrin was designated as a State Scenic River in 1979. The original designation of 49 miles includes the Aurora Branch from S.R. 82, 12 miles downstream to its confluence with the main stem of the Chagrin, 23 miles of the main stem from its confluence with the Aurora Branch downstream to US Rt. 6, and 15 miles of the East Branch from Heath Road Bridge downstream to its confluence with the main stem.
The river's Scenic designation was extended in November 2002 to include the headwaters of the Chagrin, also known as the Upper Chagrin. The new 22-mile designation runs from Woodiebrook Road bridge crossing downstream to the confluence with the Aurora Branch of the Chagrin in Bentleyville. A total of 71 miles is now designated as Scenic.
The Chagrin River's glacial past is evident throughout the watershed. Over the past 12,000 years, the river has progressed from the upland headwater areas to create deep ravines further downstream. There are many areas on the Chagrin River and its numerous tributaries where thick glacial till has eroded, exposing sandstone and Chagrin Shale bedrock.
The river valley offers a diversity of terrestrial and aquatic plant communities and wildlife. Recent surveys of aquatic and breeding birds finds more than 49 species of fish and 90 bird species living in the Chagrin River watershed.
The Chagrin is one of few streams in Ohio known to support the American Brook Lamprey, a nonparasitic lamprey species. Additionally, the designation extension protects Spring Brook, a tributary of Bass Lake, which has continually held a population of the Ohio brook trout since the last ice age. The stream provides the brook trout with a near optimal habitat.
The majority of the river retains its riparian forest cover and adjacent lands are primarily zoned for low density, large lot residential.
Read more in the Fall 2002 newsletter.
Local preservation efforts, led by the Chagrin Watershed Partners and the Chagrin River Land Conservancy, continue to aid in permanently protecting the scenic portions of the Chagrin River.
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