Alkyre Run Wetlands Project Begins
Wetland Restoration Begins Along Alkyre Run Behind Community Center
Piles of freshly cut Callery pear trunks and tangled honeysuckle now line the banks of Alkyre Run behind the Westerville Community Center, marking the first visible step in restoring the stream’s long-altered wetland and floodplain. Crews removed roughly 200 Callery pear trees and about 100 honeysuckle shrubs from the four-acre site, according to the arborist supervising the clearing, to prepare for a project designed to improve water quality and restore wetland habitat before stormwater reaches Alum Creek.
The clearing had to be completed before March 31, when federal regulations limit tree removal in order to protect potential nesting and roosting sites of the endangered Indiana bat.
The work is taking place in the wooded wetland east of the community center along Alkyre Run. A newly installed pedestrian bridge connects the area to Townhouses on the Greenway, a recently built housing development overlooking the wetlands.
Both plants removed from the site are aggressive invasive species. Callery pear trees, often called Bradford pears, were widely planted in landscaping decades ago but have spread rapidly into natural areas, where they crowd out native vegetation. Bush honeysuckle forms dense thickets that shade out other plants and reduce wildlife habitat.
After the trees and shrubs were cut, crews treated the remaining stumps with herbicide to prevent the invasive plants from resprouting. The arborist overseeing the work said some of the downed wood will remain in the wetland to provide habitat for insects and small animals, while most of the material will either be removed from the site or chipped in place.
The work is part of a larger restoration of about 1,150 linear feet of Alkyre Run next to the community center at 350 N. Cleveland Ave. The small stream eventually flows into Alum Creek near the city’s drinking water intake.
Westerville Parks and Recreation received a $340,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to support the restoration of the wetland and floodplain. The project is intended to reduce nutrients, silt, sediment, and other pollutants carried by stormwater before they reach Alum Creek.
“The project will introduce a more naturalized stream alignment and add two acres of wetland buffer, slowing stormwater surges and improving water quality,” said Parks Development Administrator Laura Ball.
Over time, sections of Alkyre Run were straightened and altered to drain nearby roads and commercial areas. Restoration plans call for reshaping parts of the stream corridor and reconnecting it to the surrounding floodplain so high water can spread out and slow down during storms.
The project required permits and review from both the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency. While the stream itself will not be redirected, engineers plan to cut several shallow troughs along the corridor that will form temporary holding pools during heavy rain. These pools will help slow runoff and allow sediment and nutrients to settle before water continues downstream.
Construction work will also include excavation and grading of wetland features, streambank stabilization using rock and bioengineering methods, erosion control measures, and extensive native plantings.
The restoration will introduce wet meadow and emergent wetland plants, along with native trees and shrubs designed to support a wider range of wildlife. A pedestrian bridge has already been installed to provide access across the area, and plans include an overlook where residents will be able to view the restored wetland.
Ball said the restoration was originally envisioned during planning for the community center expansion.
“We are very pleased to have found a grant to finally bring the vision to reality,” she said.
When completed, the project will transform a largely overlooked stretch of stream behind the community center into a functioning wetland designed to slow and filter stormwater. With native plantings, restored floodplain features, and a new overlook area, the site will give residents a chance to watch the landscape along Alkyre Run return to a healthier, more natural state while helping protect the city’s water.
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