Riley Run Dam Removal

Project Overview

Prior to the formation of the Buckeye Water District, Riley Run Dam provided a drinking water reservoir to the Village of Salineville, Ohio. Standing 16-ft tall, and 80-ft wide, this low-head dam impounds an estimated 295,000 gallons of fresh water before spilling over the head wall and continuing down Riley Run. For over a decade, the structure has sparked debate with officials who wished to see the dam removed, as it effectively no longer served a purpose to the region and posed a threat to public safety. In addition to its obsolescence, conservation agencies identified water quality impacts to the stream caused by the dam, and incorporated the goal of removing the structure within the Yellow Creek Watershed Action Plan.

A small waterfall flows over a concrete wall into a calm river, surrounded by lush greenery and a clear blue sky. — Riley Run spilling over the head of the dam, continuing its flow to the Ohio River.

In 2024, thanks to funding under Governor DeWine’s H2Ohio Initiative, the Jefferson Soil & Water Conservation District received funding to manage the removal of the dam. Though located in Carroll County, Ohio, the Jefferson SWCD has taken the lead on this project due to its role with the overall management of the Yellow Creek Watershed.

An Environmental Impact Study was commissioned to determine the most appropriate method of removing the long-standing structure, with the notch and release method being favored. This process involves contractors cutting into the head wall, allowing water to drain from behind the dam in a controlled manner. Demolition of the dam is slated to occur in 2026.

JSWCD Involvement

Watersheds are not bound to political boundaries created by man, but rather shaped by nature through the topography of the land. With the majority of the Yellow Creek Watershed located in Jefferson County, Ohio, the Jefferson Soil & Water Conservation District leads in the management of the watershed through community collaboration, public education and outreach, watershed assessments, and seeking funding through grant opportunities. In 2013, the Jefferson SWCD in partnership with Carroll and Columbiana SWCDs and the Yellow Creek Watershed Restoration Coalition developed the “Yellow Creek Action Plan” in response to Yellow Creek being designated a priority watershed for restoration. This plan is a comprehensive guide for identifying threats and impairments within the watershed, while proposing best management practices for protecting areas with exceptional water quality, and improving the water quality in areas not meeting USEPA Clean Water Act standards.