Client: Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Engineer: EMH&T
Completed: 2020
Daylighting Design/Build Project Description
The City of Columbus Recreation and Parks Department selected the Design/Build team of ERC and EMH&T (design engineer) to daylight Dry Run. Dry Run is a tributary of the Scioto River flowing through Columbus’s Hill Top Community. Funded by a Clean Ohio Conservation Fund grant, this project reduces erosion potential during flooding events of Dry Run to neighboring residents and the parallel railroad. Furthermore, this project restores natural floodplain access and establishes a riparian corridor.
To begin with, in 2020, ERC began demolition and removal of 1,500’ of 90” storm sewer. The team also removed an adjacent cast in place concrete flood relief channel. Moreover, ERC implemented a bypass pumping system to manage base flow during the construction of the daylighted stream channel within the footprint of the previous culverted stream. 
Next, working from the upstream end, ERC constructed the new channel for Dry Run, consisting of a 27’ wide (typical) bankfull channel. The channel now consists of riffle/pool structures throughout. Moreover, ERC integrated rock vanes, woody debris, and stabilized banks. The design/build team also constructed a series of step-pools through a steeper portion of the stream reach. Consequently, this incorporates structural elements to stabilize and preserve the restoration components. All these features are connected to the adjacent floodplain and riparian corridor consisting of willow and sycamore live stakes, bare root trees and shrubs (sycamore, cottonwood, various oak, and honey locust), and native seeding.
Given the project’s adjacency to two City of Columbus schools, Westmoor Park, and the Hilltop YMCA, there will be numerous educational opportunities during project establishment, post-construction monitoring, and throughout the Dry Run’s establishment and maturity. This daylighting design/build project was completed in late 2020.
Services:
- Design/Build
- 1500 LF Stream Daylighting
- Floodplain Creation
- Rock vanes/riffles
- Drop pool structures
- Native planting
- Demolition