Restoring The River

Restoring The River. Removing Barriers. , Restoring the Cuyahoga as a healthy, free-flowing river has many challenges. A major goal is removing dams that block fish migrations and degrade natural wildlife habitats. Here two dams diverted water into this section of the Ohio and Erie Canal, a designated national historic landmark. Park managers must balance protecting natural and cultural resources. Could engineers design a new way to water the canal without a barrier?, The 1827 dam fed a canal that grew the national economy. The 1952 one provided water to downstream steel mills. What role will a healthier river play in Ohio's economy?, [Captions:] , Notice the river spilling over the 1827 wooden Pinery Dam (purple circle). The head gate is just behind it. In 1952 the Brecksville Canal Diversion Dam (main photo, left) was built slightly downstream. This partially destroyed the older dam and hid its ruins underwater., Both the 1827 and 1952 dams were built to divert water to the Ohio and Erie Canal, but for different reasons. After the dams are removed in 2019, a pump system will keep the most intact portions of the historic canal watered., Scientists expect the removal of these historic dams to improve native fish populations. Rainbow darters (top) and smallmouth bass (bottom) are among the species that will benefit.