Restoring The River

Restoring the Cuyahoga as a healthy, free-flowing river involves the challenge of removing dams that block fish migrations and degrade wildlife habitat while also protecting cultural resources tied to the Ohio & Erie Canal. At this site, two dams diverted water into the canal for different purposes. The 1827 wooden Pinery Dam fed a canal that helped grow the national economy, and the 1952 Brecksville Canal Diversion Dam provided water to downstream steel mills, partially destroying the older dam and hiding its ruins underwater. After the dams are removed in 2019, a pump system will keep the most intact portions of the historic canal watered, and scientists expect the removal to improve native fish populations, including rainbow darters and smallmouth bass.

Ohio · United States