For decades, MSD’s engineers, like others throughout the US, spent much effort and money to widen, channelize and line local streams with heavy stone and concrete to "improve" drainage, "minimize" flooding and render wetlands suitable for development. This old approach actually aggravated flooding and drainage problems, increased erosion and destroyed natural areas. MSD is now working with the community to implement a greenways program to reclaim and enhance waterways by restoring natural settings, meandering streams and buffer vegetation. Greenways provide better flood control and stormwater management, water quality and wildlife habitat protection, recreational areas, walking and bike paths and lower flood insurance rates. Several projects, including a recreational corridor along the county’s 55-km (35-mi) Ohio River bank, are partially complete and already very popular.

MSD is working with citizen groups and local government to restore riparian zones to their natural vegetative state to recover the flood-mitigation qualities and wildlife habitat that mowed grass lacks. Soil bioengineering designs with native species are being incorporated into applicable capital projects.

Since 1989, communities on both banks of the Ohio River have set aside a Saturday in June to clean up debris from its Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania source to its Cairo, Illinois mouth. The annual Ohio River Sweep draws over 15,000 volunteers from six states and 75 counties.  MSD coordinates those activities along the entire Jefferson County bank.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
	What is a watershed?
	What is a greenway?

Return to CERES Principles