Ohio begins dismantling 80-year-old Cloverlick Dam to restore natural creek flow
The 1940s-era Cloverlick Dam in Clermont County is being taken down under Ohio’s H2Ohio program to revive the creek’s natural flow and improve water quality.
Cloverlick Dam, a 12-foot-high concrete wall constructed in the 1940s for Bethel’s water supply, is slated for demolition as part of a statewide H2Ohio restoration effort. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, together with local conservation agencies, the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Village of Bethel, began removal work in October 2026. Officials hope that eliminating the dam will restore the creek’s natural flow, improve water quality, and reconnect roughly 70 miles of tributaries that have been blocked for decades.
The removal is also expected to boost fish populations, aid aquatic insects, and reduce the drowning risk associated with low-head dams. Funding comes from the H2Ohio Rivers Program ($920,000) and a $1.1 million federal grant from the America the Beautiful Challenge. Completion is targeted for fall 2027, after which the creek will gradually adjust to its restored conditions.
Why it matters
Restoring the creek will enhance regional water quality, wildlife habitat and public safety for recreation.
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