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October 6, 2005
GOVERNOR TAFT HELPS CELEBRATE CONNEAUT CREEK’S
NEW STATUS AS OHIO’S 12TH STATE SCENIC RIVER
Portion of Ashtabula County waterway also gains rare recognition as a State Wild River
 CONNEAUT, OH - Conneaut Creek in Ashtabula County was officially designated as Ohio’s newest State Wild and Scenic River today at a celebration ceremony led by Governor Bob Taft.
The designation provides additional state protection to a 21-mile stretch of Conneaut Creek from the Ohio-Pennsylvania border to the former Penn Central Railroad bridge in the City of Conneaut.
“State Scenic River status for Conneaut Creek is a true achievement for the many state and local partners who have worked so long to protect this exceptional waterway,” Taft said. “By helping earn this designation for Conneaut Creek, these partners have gained an important new tool for protecting one of northeast Ohio’s finest natural and recreational resources.”
Conneaut Creek becomes the 12th Ohio waterway to achieve State Scenic River status, the first since 1997 and only the third to qualify for the rarer State Wild River designation, said Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Director Sam Speck. ODNR, through its Division of Natural Areas & Preserves, administers the Ohio State Scenic Rivers Program.
“With this designation in place, any publicly funded project that might impact Conneaut Creek and its resources will be subject to a thorough review, ensuring that no threat is posed to the waterway,” Speck said. “At the same time, protections afforded by the State Scenic Rivers law will in no way affect the rights of private property owners with lands alongside the stream.”
Speck said that Conneaut Creek offers an exceptional diversity of habitats, which support outstanding wildlife populations. “The stream corridor is home to 78 fish species and 32 species of amphibians and reptiles. The heavily wooded watershed harbors more than 30 unique plants and plant communities, many of which are listed as threatened or endangered,” he said.
Of the 21 miles of Conneaut Creek to receive state scenic river designation, 16.4 miles - from the state line west to the Creek Road bridge crossing - received the additional State Wild River status. Only two other stream segments in Ohio, portions of the Grand River in Ashtabula County and Little Beaver Creek in Columbiana County, are designated as State Wild Rivers, which must show superior natural conditions, including excellent water quality and aquatic habitat. At least 75 percent of its adjacent banks must be forested.
 Water flow levels in Conneaut Creek can fluctuate throughout the year, with spring and early summer offering excellent paddling opportunities. The river passes beneath several picturesque covered bridges and some of its tributary streams feature waterfalls. A popular destination among anglers, particularly for its quality steelhead trout fishing, the creek also supports a variety of other fish including smallmouth bass, walleye, and northern pike.
Efforts to designate Conneaut Creek as a state scenic river began in 1999. A number of local communities and organizations have worked toward that goal, including the City of Conneaut, Kingsville Township, the Friends of Conneaut Creek and local residents. ODNR’s Division of Natural Areas & Preserves studied the entire stream in 2004 and recommended the river’s designation this past summer.
Ohio passed the nation’s first scenic river protection legislation in 1968, providing for wild, scenic and recreational classifications for rivers. Criteria used to evaluate a river’s status include the stream's length, adjacent forest cover, biological characteristics, water quality, present use and natural conditions.
The Ohio Scenic Rivers Program identifies and helps preserve those rivers and streams possessing important natural or historic characteristics of state significance. Scenic river designation provides increased protection and stream quality monitoring for the waterway. It is a locally driven process that relies on the support and participation of government and landowners.
The latest designation brings the number of state scenic rivers to 12 encompassing 722 miles. Other state scenic rivers include: the Big and Little Darby Creek, Chagrin River, Grand River, Kokosing River, Little Miami River, Little Beaver Creek, Maumee River, Olentangy River, Sandusky River, Stillwater River/Greenville Creek and Upper Cuyahoga River. The Little Beaver Creek, Big and Little Darby Creek and Little Miami River have also been recognized as National Scenic Rivers.
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