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Climate Impacts in Cuyahoga Valley

Beside a river, the floor of a wooden staircase is missing. Below is a jumbled pile of sticks and rocks.
River debris and damage at Lock 29 Trailhead, after a July 2003 flood.

NPS

Northeast Ohio gets about seven more inches of annual precipitation when you compare 1960 to 2020 data, according to the US Army Corps of Engineers. Small increases of about 0.12 inches every year add up to an overall increase of about 18%. Precipitation often falls as rain during storms that have become more frequent and more intense. Temperatures are warming too. Climate change affects all aspects of life in the valley, across America, and globally. National parks and other federal lands are responding with a Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) approach. Resisting means working to maintain current ecosystem conditions. Accepting means allowing things to change. Directing means actively shaping ecosystem changes in ways that we prefer.

Climate Impacts and Possible RAD Responses

Click the headings below to learn about each impact to Cuyahoga Valley National Park and what park managers might do in response.


While the Great Lakes region has its climate challenges, other places are more vulnerable to water shortages and rising sea levels. There are two big questions. Can people, native wildlife, and native plants adapt quickly enough to protect our economy, human life, and nature? Can we reduce greenhouse gas emissions to buy ourselves more time?

Learn More

Dive into these resources to learn more about climate change impacts at Cuyahoga Valley.

  • In 2013 Cuyahoga Valley started on a path to becoming a Climate Friendly Park, drafting an action plan. Explore ways that you can make your park visit even more “green.”
  • Cuyahoga Valley's invasive plant monitoring report explains how the park's resistance efforts are going.
  • The climate section of our park's Natural Resource Condition Assessment includes the latest climate trend data.
  • In 2024 the NPS released park-specific climate futures summaries which illustrate the range of possible climate exposure for each park. Visit the NPS Climate Change website to read the summaries for Cuyahoga Valley and hundreds of other national parks.
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    Cuyahoga Valley National Park

    Last updated: July 12, 2024