Sunnybrook Stream is a coldwater tributary to the Chagrin River that was a man-made pond prior to 1938 and modified by beaver impoundments thereafter. The stream suffers from morphologic instability, threats from invasive species, sediment erosion and channel incision. Restoration of Sunnybrook will restore in-stream habitat, alleviate sediment loading and protect the quality of downstream habitat.

In 2019, Chagrin River Watershed Partners assisted Geauga Park District in applying for and securing $191,500 in funding through the Clean Water Act Section 319(h) Non-Point Source Implementation Grant Award through the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

In the fall of 2020, RiverReach Construction, the selected contractor for this project, began working to restore approximately 500 linear feet of in-stream and riparian habitat. Natural channel design principles and bioengineering methods were used to stabilize the streambanks and allow the stream to better access the floodplain. Also, grade control structures were installed to prevent further incision along the streambank, sandstone riffles were added to help reconnect the floodplain and naturalize streamflow and alleviate erosion, and native woody vegetation was planted to enhance existing wetlands and riparian zones adjacent to the stream.

Restored and reconnected wetlands here will provide valuable services to the East Branch of the Chagrin River: attenuating floodwaters, filtering nutrient loads, reducing siltation and providing excellent wildlife habitat.