Residents gathered Tuesday night at the Akron-Summit County Public Library auditorium for an update on the long-running Gorge Dam removal project along the Cuyahoga River, as officials outlined progress on a decades-long effort to restore the river to a free-flowing state.
The project aims to reverse more than a century of environmental disruption by removing contaminated sediment, a process taking more than two years because of its massive scope.
Mike Johnson, chief of conservation at Summit Metro Parks, said the effort is intended to bring long-term ecological and community benefits.
“The purpose of the project is to restore a free-flowing river for improved water quality and recreational value,” Johnson said before the presentation. Once the dam is removed, the Cuyahoga River will be free-flowing from the Lake Rockwell Dam in Kent all the way to the river’s mouth at Lake Erie.
The work should improve water quality, reduce exposure to wildlife from harmful pollutants, and reopen the river for recreation while moving the Cuyahoga River closer to removal from the federal list of degraded Great Lakes sites.
Cleanup work underway before dam removal
Progress accelerated last year when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hired Sevenson Environmental Services Inc. to begin dredging contaminated sediment from the river — a required step before the dam can be removed.
Crews are dredging sediment from behind the dam and sending it downstream via a temporary pipeline to a prepared containment area at the Chuckery Area of Cascade Valley Metro Park. Once there, the material is mixed with cement and stacked into engineered landforms.
“We’re basically stacking it on top of each other. We’re building actually two very large hills out of it,” Johnson said.
The material will eventually be capped with clean soil and replanted with vegetation.
Estimated cost of project will be $130 million
The project’s estimated cost is around $130 million, said EPA project manager Courtney Winter.
It is funded through a mix of federal, state and local sources, including the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and Ohio EPA. Local partners include the City of Akron, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, and FirstEnergy/Ohio Edison.
Officials estimate about 865,200 cubic yards of contaminated sediment will be removed. Dredging began in 2025 and includes removal, transportation, stabilization and placement of the material, with work expected to continue through 2027.
“There’s about that volume — if you can imagine it, it’s about 13 football fields filled to the goal posts,” Winter said.
Questions and answers about the Gorge Dam Removal Project
This transcript has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Is there a beneficial reuse of the dredged material?
Not in the plan. We’ve dredged almost 15,000 cubic yards so far in testing batches of about 250 cubic yards. None has met residential standards [for compost], so it is staying on site. It is being mixed with Portland cement to stabilize it and incorporated into engineered landforms.
What impact is the project having on wildlife?
EPA has a research group studying wildlife impacts, including radio-tagging fish and monitoring insects and spiders. Officials said wildlife patterns, including deer sightings, are being studied to better understand habitat changes during construction.
Editor’s note: More than a dozen turtles were relocated last summer from the reservoir behind the dam. Read about it here.
How is sediment being stored, and how secure is it?
Earlier phases included feasibility and leachate testing to ensure the design would not impact groundwater or allow contaminants to spread through runoff. The sediment is mixed with Portland cement, which stabilizes it by binding both the material and contaminants into a solid form. It is also tested throughout the process to ensure it meets strength and design requirements and remains safe over time.
When will the structural concrete dam removal begin?
Sediment dredging is expected to continue through 2027, followed by restoration work in 2028. The dam removal should begin in 2028 and complete the project by 2030.
What happens if crews find large or dangerous items during dredging?
Material is screened through one-inch and three-inch grates before processing. Operators inspect oversized debris, and if anything unusual or potentially hazardous is found, crews stop work and notify project partners.
Will there be changes to downstream banks?
The Gorge Dam sits in bedrock, which reduces concerns about erosion or structural movement because the river channel is already firmly established.
A rendering shows a lookout at the dam to keep people safe. Is that still part of the plan, and are there any safety measures being considered?
No final decision has been made. The area is undergoing natural geological changes unrelated to construction. The EPA is conducting additional studies and the Ohio Department of Transportation is also involved in review and coordination.
What is an Area of Concern?
The Area of Concern designation identifies roughly 30 highly degraded sites in the Great Lakes Basin, with about 25 still remaining. These sites were identified in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The Gorge Dam area falls within one of these zones, which helps qualify the project for federal cleanup funding programs.
Has the City of Cuyahoga Falls contributed?
The city has contributed about $50,000 in funding and provided in-kind support, including hosting meetings and participating in planning discussions.
What benefits will come after dam removal?
The main changes will be a lower water level and faster, more natural flow. Downstream conditions are not expected to change significantly because the dam is not used for flood control. Upstream, the river will shift from a pooled system to a free-flowing channel.
What will the falls look like afterward?
It is difficult to predict exactly. The area could become anything from rolling rapids to a more defined waterfall system depending on how the river naturally reshapes itself.
Historic photos suggest what the area may have looked like before the dam was built, and officials said the goal is to allow the river to return to a more natural condition. But the final form cannot be known in advance.
(Editor’s note: The Gorge Dam was built on top of the Big Falls — Cuyahoga Falls was named for them, but they haven’t been visible in 114 years.)
Residents can follow updates and see photos through the Summit Metro Parks website.
