A long-awaited sediment cleanup and dam removal project is officially underway at Gorge Metro Park in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), State of Ohio and local partners are leading the effort under the Great Lakes Legacy Act, with support from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The project will dredge and stabilize more than 850,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment from behind the Gorge Dam before the structure is removed in a subsequent phase. Once complete, the Cuyahoga River will flow freely for the first time in more than a century.
“This is a major step forward in restoring this river to its healthy, natural, free-flowing state,” said Gov. Mike DeWine in a press release. “It’s something that hasn’t happened in over 100 years.”
The cleanup is one of the largest of its kind in the Great Lakes and is expected to take two construction seasons. Beyond improving water quality and habitat, officials say the project will reduce pollutant loads carried downstream, provide flood resilience and create new opportunities for recreation along the river.
“The Gorge Dam Cleanup Project is a win for clean water and a win for Northeast Ohio,” said Rep. Shontel Brown in a press release. “Cleaning up the Cuyahoga River in Summit County also benefits us in Cuyahoga County—because the river connects our communities.”
