Ohio starts removing 200-foot dam after 80 years to restore 14-mile creek

For over 80 years, a concrete dam in Ohio did what it was built for: supplied water to a village. Now, the aging structure is being removed as part of a major restoration project. The aim of the project is bringing a creek back to its natural flow and improving water quality. It also wants to reconnect aquatic habitats that have been separated for decades now. The project was launched in October 2026 and it focuses on Cloverlick Creek in Clermont County, where officials hope removing the old structure will serve wildlife and people who fish, kayak and paddle in the region.The Cloverlick Dam is 200-foot-long and stands about 12 feet tall. It was built in the 1940s to provide water to the Village of Bethel. However, it has become an old structure and has now outlived its purpose.