The Euclid Creek East Branch Dam was located in the Euclid Creek Watershed on the East Branch of Euclid Creek, a tributary to Lake Erie that is heavily urbanized and affected by urban runoff and habitat degradation. The dam was located near the confluence of the East Branch and the Euclid Creek mainstem in the Euclid Creek Metropark Reservation. Highland Road crosses the East Branch on a high bridge over the dam.
The dam was removed in December 2010. The low head dam that was constructed in the early 1930's to impound water for swimming at a YMCA camp and had not served this or any other essential purpose in decades. The original pool behind the dam had completely filled with sediment. The dam was approximately 6 feet high and constructed of concrete, and was an impediment to fish migration upstream from the mainstem of Euclid Creek.
The dam and abutments were removed and 704 linear feet (lf) of stream was restored to a more natural grade and geometry. The goals of this project were to: 1) Reintroduce and re-establish native fish species; 2) Increase recreational fishing opportunities; 3) Restore aquatic habitat diversity to the watershed; 4) Restore natural flow in the lower reaches of the watershed; 5) Provide fish passage to the upper reaches of the East Branch to further enhance the health of this sub-watershed; and 6) Assist in restoring Euclid Creek to reach State of Ohio water quality attainment standards.
Project Partners: ODNR, Divisions of Fish and Wildlife and Soil & Water, City of Euclid, Cleveland Metroparks, Cuyahoga County Engineer, Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District, Ohio EPA, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, and Friends of Euclid Creek.
Land Owner: Cleveland Metroparks
Grants Manager: Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District
Design Consultant: Burgess & Niple
Construction Management Entity: Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
Design and Engineering $135,125
Construction $493,644 (includes construction administration and oversight costs)
Project Grant Funding:
For Design and Engineering:
$30,100 US Fish & Wildlife Service, Midwest Region, Fish Passage Program
$27,000 ODNR, Division of Wildlife
$23,000 ODNR, Division of Wildlife through USFWS
$300,000 Ohio EPA, Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (WRRSP) (as match for Ohio EPA 319 Program)
$235,428 Ohio EPA 319 Program
Project Publications & News:
Euclid Creek Newsletters articles about project:
2006 Issue 6 p. 3;
2007 Issue 10 p. 3; Issue 11 p. 3;
2008 Issue 12 p. 3, Issue 13 p. 5, Issue 14 p. 3;
2009 Issue 15 p. 3; Issue 17 p. 3;
2010 Issue 18 p. 4
Articles about Project:
Addition by Subtraction for Euclid Creek Watershed: Cleveland Metroparks Emerald Necklace article, page 3 [April 2011 Newsletter]
Dam Removal in Cleveland Metro Area Opens Fish Passage: US Fish and Wildlife Service article and to view narrated slideshow of construction [1/21/11]
Euclid Creek dam removed to improve water quality - But that's one down and five to go: Plain Dealer article and video [12/20/10]
Work under way to remove a Euclid Creek dam dating back to 1933 - News Herald Article (11/26/10)
Euclid Creek's first dam removal project underway - Collinwood Observer article (11/22/10)
Ohio EPA fact sheet on Low Head Dams
ODNR Website - information on low head dam removal projects in Ohio
US Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Fish Passage Program information
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency - Section 319 grant program (scroll down and click on 319 tab)
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency - Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program Resources (WRRSP) program website
Remaining Dams in Euclid Creek (information and map from Euclid Creek Watershed Action Plan - P. 90-92)
Click here for Slideshow of Construction/Dam Removal Photos from November 2 through December 30, 2010
For more information, please contact Claire Posius, Euclid Creek Watershed Coordinator, 216-524-6580x16 or email firstname.lastname@example.org.
Project to Bid: Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Pre-Bid Conference Info. Mtg.: Wednesday, July 14 at 10:00am - Environmental Maintenance Services Center - 4747 E. 49th St., Cuyahoga Hts., OH 44125
Bid Proposal Due Date: Friday, August 6, 2010
Award: Thursday, September 16, 2010 at NEORSD Board Meeting - to Great Lakes Construction Company of Hinckley, Ohio.
Pre-Construction Meeting: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 1:00pm - Environmental Maintenance Services Center - 4747 E. 49th St., Cuyahoga Hts., OH 44125
Construction Start Date: October 18, 2010
October to November: Construction staging area and access roads were prepared; a stream pump around system was installed so construction could occur in dry weather conditions; and the gabion mattress baskets were started.
December 7, 2010: the East Branch dam was removed
Late December: remainder of gabion mattress installed, cross vane and boulder cobble run structures completed (see 'Design Details' section above for explanation of structures and their function in the natural stream design)
Spring 2011: plantings to complete riparian restoration, Metroparks' staff designed and installed interpretive signage, fencing and park benches at Upper Highland Picnic Area overlook.
Dam Removal Celebration: Thursday, April 21, 2011 from 5:00-7:00pm - Euclid Creek Reservation - Upper Highland Reservable Picnic Area - Event Agenda
Click here for Ohio EPA's Monitoring Report
BASELINE MONITORING (2008) - East Branch Dam Baseline Monitoring Report (p. 126 Euclid Creek Project)
POST CONSTRUCTION MONITORING (2011) - East Branch Dam Post Restoration Monitoring Report (p. 6 Euclid Creek Project)