THE US STATE OF OHIO WANTS TO remove the Gorge Park dam, the largest dam on the Cuyahoga, to improve water quality in the river.
The state Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wants to study whether it is feasible to remove the 17.7m high dam, which was built in 1912.
Removing the dam is an idea the state first raised two years ago during an extensive water quality study of the Cuyahoga river between Munroe Falls and Lake Erie.
The dam blocks the migration of fish and creates conditions that is favourable to extensive algae growths down river. Besides helping the water quality, removing the dam would open a section of the river that has challenging rapids for kayakers.
The dam produced power at the Gorge Hydroelectric Power Plant from 1914 to 1958 and has not been in operation since then.
Last month, the dam’s owner, Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp., was notified of the state’s intention. Ohio EPA officials are to meet with FirstEnergy representatives to begin evaluating the dam’s removal.