Case Studies

Historical Information

1. Dam Name: 5th Avenue Dam – Columbus, Ohio

2. Estimate height of dam in feet - 8'

3. Dam Type:

a) earthfill dam ____
b) concrete arch dam __X__
c) gravity dam ____
d) masonry dam ____
e) timber cribs ____
f) other, please explain ____

4. Location Description:  5th Avenue Dam on the Olentangy River just north of the 5th Avenue bridge and just south of King Avenue bridge. Franklin County, Dam ID# 658.   
Image of dam location from Bing. Latitude: 39.99   Longitude: -83.02

5. Year Constructed: 1935 Year Removed: 2012

6. Dam Owner:

a) public  __X__
b) private ____
c) abandoned ____

7. Dam Function:

a) generate hydropower __X__
b) irrigation ____
c) domestic water supply ____
d) navigation ____
e) flood control ____
f) recreation ____
g) industrial water supply ____
h) unknown _____

8. What repairs have been done to the dam? The hydro power plant has not been in operation since the 1950’s.

9. Reason(s) for Removal:

a) aesthetic enhancement __X__
b) fish and wildlife habitat improvement __X__
c) cost savings ____
d) community revitalization __X_
e) public safety hazard __X__
f) water quality improvement __X__
g) recreational improvement __X__
h) alternative to dam ____

10. Project Sponsor (who initiated project): City of Columbus, Ohio EPA and The Ohio State University.

11. Dam Removal Funding Sources:

a) federal _____
b) state __X__
c) local governmental agencies __X__
d) other (please explain) __X__ The Ohio State University

12. Cost of Dam Removal: $400,000 removal; $6.5 million for restoration

13. List all Contractors by Name, include Address and Telephone #:

  Evans Landscaping at 3700 Round Bottom Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45244 (513) 271-1119

14. Permits Required:

a) federal__X__
b) state__X__
c) municipal ____

15. Dam Photographs:

a) before removal__X__
b) during removal__X__
c) after removal __X__

16. Problems Encountered

a) before removal: None
b) during removal: None
c) after removal: None

17. Before Removal:

a) Estimated Reservoir Area in acres____
b) Composition of river bed: ____
c) Types of Fish caught in the river: _____
d) Water Quality:

i) behind the dam Good______ Fair_____ Poor__X__
ii) below the dam Good______ Fair______ Poor__X__

18. Were any studies of the river conducted before the dam was removed?

Yes or No - __YES__
Several feasibility studies were conducted that would address the poor water quality issues in the area attributed to sewage overflows.

19. Have studies been conducted on the river after the dam was removed to document changes in the river?

Yes or No - __Yes__
Since the dam was removed the changes are being monitored by a live “Dam Cam” on the Columbus City Department of Public Utilities website and by OSU researchers who will have decades of changes to track.



Additional online resources regarding this removal:

• Columbus newspaper article
• Columbus City Department of Public Utilities