Gorge Dam fate may be disclosed

The fate of the 57-foot-high Gorge Dam on the Cuyahoga River between Akron and Cuyahoga Falls will be discussed by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency at a public meeting Sept. 24 at the Cuyahoga Falls Natatorium.

California-based Tetra Tech conducted a $22,500 feasibility study. The dam’s removal and disposing of the sediment would cost $30 million.

Dams in Kent, Munroe Falls and the Sheraton and LeFever dams in Cuyahoga Falls have been removed or modified.

The dam was built in 1911-1912 by the Northern Ohio Traction & Light Co. to generate electricity for its Akron trolley cars and cooling-water storage for a coal-burning power plant

The hydro facilities were discontinued in 1958, the coal-burning plant decommissioned in 1991.

Previously, Summit Metro Parks opposed removal of the Gorge dam and denied access to Advanced Hydro Solutions, based in Fairlawn, which wanted to conducts tests for possible hydropower use.

To read Bob Downing’s story in the BJ, click on http://www.ohio.com/news/local/ohio-epa-to-release-feasibility-study-on-removing-gorge-dam-on-cuyahoga-river-1.624501