OSU Capstone Projects – Spring 2026
NAMING AND ASSESSING UNNAMED TRIBUTARIES IN THE LOWER OLENTANGY WATERSHED
Madeline Dorsett, Qiao Li, Liam White, Diego Dilley and Brayden Cross
Unnamed streams lack visibility in maps and databases, are often overlooked in restoration and planning efforts and are difficult to reference and communicate across projects
OSU Capstone Projects – Fall 2025
NAMING THE UNNAMED STREAMS OF THE LOWER OLENTANGY WATERSHED
Emma Hart, Emma Lesiecki, Mary Raker, Jake Tefend, Craig Upton, Zhenghan Zhong
Unnamed streams can lead to management difficulties, mapping inconsistencies, and confusion amongst community members. Officially naming streams within the watershed allows community members to better connect with and act as stewards of the local land, enables governments and organizations to correctly identify the streams for management and maintenance, and ensures that local culture and history are celebrated.
Individual stream reports: Goodrich Run Stream Naming Report, Linworth Run Stream Naming Report, Shattuck Run Stream Naming Report, Fogle Run Stream Naming Report, Warrior’s Path Run Stream Naming Report
FLOW IMPACT ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK
Andrew Hettinga, Ellie Trego, and Moe Bradley
FLOW currently lacks a system to effectively measure their impact in the watershed from this data. Hence, our project creates an impact framework and methods that directly align with FLOW’s mission by outlining measurable ways to increase public awareness and sustain the watersheds health through community outreach, environmental stewardship, and ecological outcomes.
Impact Assessment Framework Final Report
Impact Framework
Benchmarking Report
Data Analysis Tool Suggestions
Capstone Poster
Final Capstone Presentation- FLOW Impact Assessment Framework
FLOW POLLINATOR GARDEN ASSESSMENT AND MAINTENANCE STRATEGY
Linh Le, Shaye Mehls, Keri Bowyer
Students developed a repeatable, data-driven process to help FLOW strategically prioritize and manage the 65 pollinator gardens that we maintain. The team provided FLOW with a number of assessment tools, including a GIS Map & Data Structure, Site Assessment Scorecard, and Prioritization Strategy. Contact info@olentangywatershed.org for details
OSU Capstone Projects – Fall 2024
WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF ACKERMAN RUN
Austin Copper, Jefferson King, Ophelia Kruse, Eli Monnin, Matthew Ventouris, Keegan Younger
Increased chloride levels were been found to be a significant contaminant harming the stream’s health, most likely as a result of de-icing salt. A salt storage facility in a parking lot that drained to the stream was determined to be a major source of this contamination.
OSU Capstone Projects – Spring 2024
OVERBROOK RAVINE NATURE PRESERVE: SITE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT PROPOSALS
Liv White, Mya Garrison, Ted Wing, and Katie Decamp
In partnership with the City of Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, this project is focused on the development and improvement of Overbrook Ravine to preserve green areas and engage community members.
SOIL QUALITY ANALYSIS AND STREAM RESTORATION RECOMMENDATION AT ISLAND VIEW NATURE PRESERVE
Landon Chase, Kaley Taylor, Molly Dougherty, Maddie Wilson
This specific project aims to address challenges in monitoring soil quality and assessing stream conditions at one of these target sites, Island View Nature Preserve. By reviewing relevant literature and benchmarking previous projects, the plan seeks to offer comprehensive recommendations for soil health management and stream restoration.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR TREE EXPANSION
Mary Feldkamp, Lillian McNutt, Maura O’Conner, Snigdha Paidikondala, Adrianne Stewart
This project addressed the need to increase Columbus’ tree canopy by reaching out to landlords and property managers to determine barriers to adding trees to rental properties. A website was created to share the financial benefits of increasing tree canopy.
The group also compiled this tree list, with a focus on mature sizes, which should be of interest to landlords.
OSU Capstone Projects – Fall 2023
Creating Outreach Strategies to Achieve 40% Tree Canopy Cover with FLOW Weinland Park: Urban Tree Canopy
Savannah Snyder, Sam Buehler, Zoee Keiser, Indra Khatiwoda
To promote native tree planting and understanding, we created a website with educational materials and conducted a survey to improve FLOW events. We also recommended creating a community ambassador program in the future. WEBSITE LINK
Urban Stream Bank Erosion in the Lower Olentangy Watershed
Tucker Mills, Lauren Pierce, John Narouze, Nate Harper, The Ohio State University College of Environmental Science
Through coordination with FLOW, we assessed two sites in the watershed (Slyh Run & Coe Run) to determine their severity of erosion through utilizing the Bank Erosion Hazard Index (BEHi), a system that uses several different measurements to quantify the severity of erosion in a particular area.
Addressing Two Priority Parcels to Increase Tree Canopy in Columbus, Ohio
Maya Geringer, Regina Loayza, Sarah Male, Yun Yi Amelie Thomas
While FLOW puts effort toward maintaining watershed quality, the process of engaging stakeholders in tree planting is often challenging due to its tedious and inefficient nature. Our capstone group aimed to alleviate this burden by identifying eight parcels of land with low tree canopy coverage, with the goal of implementing the plans at two sites.
Water Access Point Design Considerations
Ethan Fischer, Kylie Miller, Rishi Patel, Sarah Rubadue, and Danny Wainstein
Guidelines for Sustainable Non-Motorized Watercraft Launch Points within the Central Ohio Blueways
While this capstone was not one requested by FLOW, we encourage recreational use of the river and safe river access. The research is presented in a story map here.
OSU Capstone Projects – Fall 2022
Weinland Park: Urban Tree Canopy
Etain Brunner, Loong Choi, Alexandra Haritos, Ainsley Lightcap, Alonzo Madaris, And William Novotny
Studying and mapping current tree canopy in the Weinland Park neighborhood.
OSU-FLOW Capstone Project: Storm Drain Art Project
Alex Miu, Catie Funk, Chelbeigh Routte, Jeff Nogaj, Justin Smith, Kira Jones
Creation of social media and print infographics and materials and an interactive walking map to publicize the upcoming FLOW storm drain art project.
FLOW: Ensuring Proper Storm Drain Use in the Lower Olentangy Watershed
Julia O’Donnell, Cassie Kneeland, Prachi Patel, Aurora Ellis, Shanvanth Arnipalli
Survey of OSU students to determine level of awareness of storm drain functions, and creation of social media infographics to educate residents that storm drains flow directly into the river.
Sawmill Wetlands Salamander Restoration
Austin Lucas, Joshua Lococo, and Milan Orbovich
FLOW needs a best management plan to allow for the breeding and maturation of salamanders at the Sawmill Wetlands Educational Area.
OSU Capstone Projects – Spring 2022
Restoring an urban floodplain forest: Preliminary results of 2021 woody planting
Society for Ecological Restoration at The Ohio State University – Grace Gutierrez & Dave Tomashefski
An analysis of the effects of tree tubes on the survival rate of saplings in a restoration project in the flood plain of the OSU Fawcett Center
Part 1 | Part 2
Hydrology of Sawmill Wetlands
Austin Lucas, Joshua Lococo, Milan Orbovich
Intensive data sampling, simulations and modeling, to fully understand issues with water loss and containment at Sawmill Wetlands.
OSU Capstone Projects – Fall 2021
On December 7th at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center OSU students from the School of Natural Resources in the College of Food Agriculture and Environmental Sciences presented their FLOW requested Capstone projects. The projects were titled as follows:
(click on the titles to see the posters summarizing the projects)
Allelopathy of Amur Honeysuckle and Management
Rachael Truman and Mike Puckettt
Environmental Education at Sawmill Wetlands
Lilla Dvoraczky, Brandon Flores, Jennifer Regrut, Tatiana Slesnick
Slyh Run Soil Restoration
Katie Baker, Erin Stewart, Izabelle Vose, Sydni Ward
Sawmill Wetlands Forest Assessment
Madison Drlik, Danielle Hutchison, Nick Neumeier
A Literature Review of Sustainable Urban Tree Management for Worthington Tree Nursery
Grace Beil, Anthony Suchan, Zijing Wang
Wildlife Survey Within the Urban Landscape
Gautam Apte, Nikolas Fuhrman, Kelsey Ridenour, Andrea Spurck, Eric Vermillion, Zach Whalen
We would like to thank Dr. Bill Peterman, Associate Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Management and all the students for their time and hard work. We’d also like to thank the FLOW volunteers that worked with these amazing students on their projects.
OSU Capstone Project: Cannon Drive relocation story map – Spring 2021
The relocation of Cannon Drive is a project developed by the Ohio State University that aims to straighten and elevate Canon Drive to support future growth by creating 12 acres of developable land and serve as future flood protection for the surrounding area. Phase I occurred south of Herrick Bridge to King Avenue and increased the safety of the hospital area from 500 year elevation floods. Phase II is proposed to occur from Herrick Rd north to Lane Avenue. Further potential for future phases have been assessed all the way to Dodridge Rd in order to increase entry and departure from campus.
This StoryMap is part of Ohio State’s School of Environment and Natural Resources Spring 2021 Senior Capstone project. The project was undertaken in collaboration with FLOW (Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed) to inform the organization and the public on various aspects of the Cannon Drive Relocation project. In the following StoryMap, we will discuss how the soil, river, and aquatic organisms that currently reside in the area will be impacted by the proposed construction plans and how to best mitigate negative impacts. We also analyze the potential for this site to facilitate recreation and educational opportunities to students and citizens alike.
Project: Olentangy Trail Flood Mitigation Project, Spring 2019
Team Members: Adam Dodson, Yuhan Liu, Jackson Rucker, Joey Smith
As part of the ongoing effort to provide safer recreational trails, improve water quality, and control stormwater runoff in urban floodplains, FLOW has tasked the capstone team with designing a sustainable solution for the problem of trail flooding during storm events. Although flooding occurs at several areas along the Olentangy Trail, this study focuses on a portion of the trail directly north of where Henderson Road intersects Interstate 315 in Columbus, Ohio.