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CHAPTER 4 – EXISTING CONDITIONS
2. PHYSICAL FEATURES & NATURAL RESOURCES
A. 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.
B. 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.
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MAP 5
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2. Groundwater Quantity and Quality
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MAP 6
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 5year 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).
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MAP 7
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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.
b. Water Quality Protection
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.
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.
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.
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.
An event celebrating the Cuyahoga River, RiverScape, is held every September in
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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.
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.
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).
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
a. Wetlands
Wetlands, areas of land saturated by water at or near the surface, are an essential
part of the freshwater ecosystem. According to William Mitsch, a professor of
natural resources at Ohio University, “Wetlands are the kidneys of the landscape.”
Aside from providing a natural habitat for various plant and animal species,
wetlands act as filters for surface water, alleviate flooding, and are beneficial in
replenishing groundwater supplies. It is important to note that wetlands are not
just swamps surrounded by cattails, as some people believe, but wetlands can
actually be covered with forest. Ohio has lost over 90% of its estimated 5 million
acres of wetlands since being settled. The figure on the following page illustrates
some types of wetlands.
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Types of Wetlands
Source: Protecting National Wetlands, American Planning Association, Planning Advisory Report 412/413,
Chicago Illinois, 1986 By: David G. Burke, Erik J. Meyers, Ralph W. Tiner, Jr., Hazel Groman: Page 3.
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.
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MAP 8
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b. Hydric Soils
Hydric soils are soils that are saturated, flooded or ponded long enough during the
growing season to develop anaerobic (oxygen deprived) conditions in the upper
part of the soil. Hydric soils present moderate to severe limitations for various
types of structures and other improvements, primarily due to the soil’s high
moisture content and/or instability. Hydric soils are also indicators of areas that
may, when tested, be classified as wetlands. These soils occur primarily in the
southwest portion of Mantua Village and along the Cuyahoga River (Map 12,
Critical Natural Areas). Scattered hydric soil concentrations are identified
throughout the balance of the community. The hydric soils in Mantua Village
include Canadice silt loam, Damascus loam and Holly silt loam.
4. Sand & Gravel Resources
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.
5. Oil & Gas Resources
There appears to be one oil/gas well in Mantua Village near the Water Treatment
Plant. Rising oil and gas prices have made drilling new wells more profitable in
recent years, and oil and gas resources in more urbanized areas in northeast Ohio are
being tapped. The depth of the well determines the minimum size of the parcel on
which the well is located, its distance to other wells and its distance to other property
boundaries. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Mineral
Resource Management, has authority over oil and gas well drilling in Ohio.
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Prepared by: Portage County Regional Planning Commission - 2008