Chapter 4 – existing conditions physical Features & Natural Resources

1. 
   Topography
   

Mantua Village is bisected by the Cuyahoga River and the Village is in the Upper Cuyahoga River watershed. The River was instrumental in creating the topography of the Village (Map 5, Mantua Village Topography). The level land along the Cuyahoga River was formed by the river’s periodic flooding and is lowest in elevation in the Village at 1,080 feet. The floodplains are widest along the south bank of the Cuyahoga River and extend up to 1,500 feet from the river in some places. The areas of lowest elevation along the River are primarily open space, but some businesses, industries and low-density residential uses in this area have experienced flooding problems.

The more improved portions of the community are located away from the floodplains and wetlands of the Cuyahoga River. The gradient of the land increases steadily on the north side of the River towards the higher elevations in the northwestern quadrant. The highest elevations, approximately 1,290’ above sea level, are located along Reservoir Drive near Bramley and near the high school. The Village’s drinking water reservoir tank is located on Reservoir Drive.

1. Natural Resources

1. Surface Water and Watersheds

The Cuyahoga River was formed during the last glacial retreat, 13,000 years ago, and is called an “infant glacial river.” It begins its 100-mile journey in Geauga County, and then flows south to Cuyahoga Falls where it turns sharply north until it empties into Lake Erie. It drains approximately 813 square miles in northeastern Ohio. The River was identified as the “crooked river” by early Native Americans and maintains the nickname to this day. Indians utilized the river for food and transportation as early as 200 B.C. and established camps and burial sites along its banks. Many ancient artifacts have been located in and around Mantua (see Prehistoric and Historic Features). As stated earlier, the Village is located in the Upper Cuyahoga River watershed, meaning all surface waters flows into the Cuyahoga River. Map 6, Surface Water, shows the Cuyahoga River’s path through the Village.

MAP 5

. Groundwater Quantity and Quality

Groundwater quantity and quality are critical features in determining the types and densities of future land use because the economic and housing base cannot grow larger than the available clean water supply. It is very important for Mantua to protect its aquifers from pollution and man-made contamination to ensure good quality drinking water.
a. Groundwater Quantity
The Village’s obtains groundwater from the Village’s well field located along the Cuyahoga River in the southwestern portion of the Village (Map 7, Mantua Wells & Source Water Protection Areas). Mantua has three wellheads in this area. The wells can pump at a rate of 1,000,000 gallons of water per day.
Besides being the location of the local drinking water wells, this area also is part of the source water protection area for Lake Rockwell, the City of Akron’s drinking water source, and the source water protection area for Portage County’s Shalersville wells, making it critical to protection of drinking water for a large population outside the Village.
The depth to the water aquifer in this area is quite shallow, allowing rainfall and snowmelt to infiltrate easily and recharge the groundwater, but also making the wells vulnerable to contamination from pollutants. In assessing public source water areas in Ohio, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) did studies to calculate the length of time a pollutant would take to infiltrate and reach wellheads based on ground water flow, soils and the geology in each well’s vicinity. The EPA is sharing this data with local officials to increase awareness of areas most vulnerable to contamination and to encourage close monitoring of land use and consideration of more stringent requirements for development or for specific land uses that pose the threat of contamination. Map 7 identifies the 5-year and 1-year travels times for the Mantua Village and Shalersville groundwater wells and the corridor management zone for Lake Rockwell, the critical area where contamination or pollutants pose a threat to surface drinking water supplies.
The water treatment plant for the Village’s water supply is located on Mats Road. It is capable of processing 700,000 gallons of water per day. The average daily flow at the plant is 220,000 gallons (2008 data).

MAP 7

As stated earlier, land use has a significant impact on water quality within each watershed. In order to protect the quality of water resources, communities need to control the impacts from point source and non-point source pollution, including sedimentation and erosion, pesticide and herbicide runoff from agricultural uses and lawn care, chemical spills by industries, deforestation, and destruction of riparian (stream side) vegetation.

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  The Lake Erie Basin (208) Clean Water Plan identifies the Upper Cuyahoga as a “Unique Regional Water” selected for priority protection. Stressors identified for this portion of the River include loss of riparian vegetation and water warming due to loss of riparian vegetation and increased surface water run-off. The Plan recommends strategies for wastewater management, management of non-point sources of pollution and home sewage disposal systems, and protection of unique regional waters as well as groundwater drinking supplies.
  

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  The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program, administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) controls the amount of pollutants that can be released into surface waters from wastewater treatment plants (Phase I) and from storm water run-off (Phase II). While Mantua Village is not classified as a Phase II community that must adopt storm water regulations and best management practices, some aspects of the Phase II program still apply, including the need to control run-off and erosion from construction sites that are 1 acre or over. The Wastewater Treatment Plant must also abide by the conditions of their Phase I NPDES permit.
  

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  The Source Water Assessment and Protection Program (SWAP), mentioned earlier with regards to protecting the areas near ground water and surface water sources, encourages local officials to create and adopt plans that protect drinking water sources by identifying and controlling potential sources of pollutants, educating residents and officials about drinking water protection, developing an emergency response plan, and monitoring ground water.
  

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  The Cuyahoga River is one of 14 rivers in the United States designated as an American Heritage River, acknowledging its cultural, environmental and economic importance in the region. The Cuyahoga River Community Planning Organization (CRCPO) hosts the American Heritage River initiative and its executive director serves as the “river navigator.” The CRCPO and its partners and stakeholders in five northeast Ohio counties work together to restore and revitalize the Cuyahoga River Watershed. The Cuyahoga River Remedial Action Plan organization is also involved in watershed protection efforts, though most of their work is concentrated in the lower reaches of the Cuyahoga. Both organizations are committed to ongoing education and outreach in addition to undertaking more targeted projects along the Cuyahoga and its tributaries.
  

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  An event celebrating the Cuyahoga River, RiverScape, is held every September in Mantua Village in combination with the Potato Festival. RiverScape is sponsored by the Upper Cuyahoga River Watershed Task Force and the Ohio State University Cooperative Extension office and is intended to educate the public about water resource protection and to help spotlight the Cuyahoga River as an American Heritage River and a local treasure. Activities such as a children’s casting contest, an electro-fishing demonstration, stream monitoring and wildlife displays are sponsored.
  

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  The Western Reserve Land Conservancy and The Nature Conservancy are other organizations with missions to preserve and protect land and water resources in northeast Ohio. Both have been instrumental in acquiring properties with important natural features such as bogs and fens or working landscapes that preserve our agricultural heritage. The Portage Soil & Water Conservation District is a county agency instrumental in helping preserve and protect local natural resources. They work with landowners, local officials and other agencies on storm water issues, best management practices and education of residents about environmental issues.
  

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  The Ohio Water Pollution Control Loan Fund supports the Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (WRRSP) to help fund stream habitat restoration. Over 160 acres of wetlands in and around Mantua Village have been protected through this program (see “Wetland Preservation Areas” on Map 3, Parks & Protected Areas).
  

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  Federal and state wetland and floodplain regulations, locally administered land use plans, zoning ordinances with riparian setbacks and county health department enforcement of septic regulations are examples of other efforts that can and do play a role in protecting water resources.
  

3. Wetlands and Hydric Soils

Wetlands are scattered throughout Mantua Village according to the Portage County Wetlands Inventory, which was done by the Davey Resource Group using 2000 aerial photos as part of the Portage County Watersheds Plan in 2004. The majority of the wetlands are located in close proximity to creeks and along the Cuyahoga River. Map 8, Priority Wetlands and Woodlands, shows those wetlands and woodlands that were ranked most crucial to preserving intact ecosystems and water resources in Portage County in the Watersheds Plan. Mantua Village has some of the highest ranking woodlands and wetlands in Portage County.

Sand and gravel deposits in Ohio are the result of glacial action. The kames and eskers and alluvium that frequently are good sources of sand and gravel occur in most of Mantua Village except for the northwest corner in the higher elevations. However, most of the glacial deposits where sand and gravel are likely to be found occur in areas that are already developed or in existing protected areas or wetlands, reducing the probability of tapping these resources in the near future.