Cuyahoga Gorge Dam Great Lakes Legacy Act Cleanup
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Events
Future events will be posted here.
Background
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and several non-federal sponsors are beginning a remedial or cleanup project to remove contaminated sediments from behind the Gorge Dam on the Cuyahoga River within Cuyahoga Falls and Akron, Ohio under the Great Lakes Legacy Act. EPA estimates 865,200 cubic yards of contaminated sediment from behind the Gorge Dam will be remediated. Remediation includes removal, transportation, stabilization, and placement of dredged material to take place over the course of two construction seasons.
The purpose of the project is to address contaminants of concern in the Gorge Dam pool sediments. The contaminants are primarily polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), oil and grease, and various heavy metals including cadmium and lead. The removal of the contaminated sediments will reduce the risk of exposure to these substances to humans as well as fish and wildlife. This cleanup will greatly advance progress in restoring beneficial uses of the Cuyahoga River to local communities and will help lead to the ultimate removal of the Cuyahoga River Area of Concern from the list of 25 remaining U.S. Areas of Concern (AOCs) — highly degraded areas found across the Great Lakes basin.
Following completion of the sediment remediation work, the dam will be removed in a subsequent project. This will return a significant portion of the river to a free-flowing natural state for the first time in over 100 years. The Gorge Dam has been in place since 1911.
Read EPA's news release about the project agreement
Learn more about Cuyahoga River AOC
Photos
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Sediment boring samples were drilled in the river near the former Ohio Edison power plant area to get a better understanding of how the sediment material is layered above the bedrock.
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Due to the low height of the bridge, crews are creating a safe entrance to allow for marine equipment to be launched into the river from the North side of the Front St. Bridge.
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An aerial view of the former Ohio Edison power plant, that will serve as the Dredging Laydown Area for the GLLA Cleanup Project.
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Crews continue to clear and grub stumps and debris in the Sediment Placement Area. The material that is removed from the river will be stabilized and placed here.
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View of the Sediment Placement Area looking south. The contractor is pictured seeding the site to help control erosion before the dredged sediments are placed here next year.
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View of the site looking south, contractor is clearing the site and beginning construction of the ditches and outfalls.
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View of the Sediment Placement Area looking north. The left side of the picture shows compacted fill material that contractors placed in the upland area of the site. The right side of the picture shows a ditch that was recently seeded to prevent erosion.
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Aerial view of contractors installing outfall 2 at the Sediment Placement Area.
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Aerial view of the Sediment Placement Area looking south, showing outfalls 3 and 4 on the right side of the picture.
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Upstream view of the Gorge Dam pool with the Front Street bridge in the distance.
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Downstream view of the Gorge Dam pool where former EPA vessel, the RV Mudpuppy, samples for contaminants in sediment. (Photo Credit: Elaine Marsh, Summit Metro Parks)
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The crew installs spuds onto the dredging barge. The spuds work as an anchor for the barge to allow for easier and more precise dredging.
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Preparations begin at the Highbridge Trail parking area to allow for the safe launching of marine equipment for future sediment removal on the west side of the Front Street bridge.
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The Highbridge Trail was closed to the public by Summit Metro Parks on June 4, 2025.
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Preparations begin at the Highbridge Trail parking area to allow for the safe launching of marine equipment for future sediment removal on the west side of the Front Street bridge.