08/07/2026
Dam Removal at Eyman Park Will Restore Natural Flow and Habitat in Paint Creek
WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, Ohio — Paint Creek is home to a remarkable diversity of aquatic life, including several state-listed endangered species of freshwater mussels and fish that depend on clean, free-flowing water to survive. A dam removal project announced today at Eyman Park in the City of Washington Court House will restore the natural flow conditions that these species and the broader watershed depend on.
The City of Washington Court House, Fayette County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), and Rural Action are collaborating with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' H2Ohio Rivers Program to remove the dam using nearly $1 million in funding designed to improve and maintain the health of Ohio's large rivers. Construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2027 and conclude before 2028.
The Eyman Park dam has stood as a barrier in Paint Creek for decades, limiting where aquatic life can travel, feed, and reproduce. Its removal will reopen miles of river habitat, allowing fish and freshwater species to move freely through the watershed for the first time in generations. When dams come down, rivers respond quickly. Restored sediment flow, improved water temperature, and natural current patterns can transform a stretch of degraded river into thriving habitat within just a few seasons.
Rural Action will serve as the lead coordinator for the project, managing all administrative and financial requirements including progress reporting, partner coordination, outreach, and fish population monitoring. Rural Action will also provide oversight of subcontractors responsible for permitting, surveying, design, and construction.
“Dams alter the flow in rivers resulting in changes to habitat both upstream and downstream of the dam. Those changes can have negative impacts on many stream dwelling organisms including fish, bugs and freshwater mussels. Paint Creek is home to a variety of aquatic animals including some threatened and endangered species. Removal of the dam will help restore natural flows and connectivity for all the aquatic life in Paint Creek,” said Matt Ledford, Watersheds Program Director at Rural Action.
“The dam removal project at Eyman Park is part of creating better parks in our community by removing barriers and creating better fish habitat and water quality,” said Brigitte Hisey, Natural Resources Specialist at Fayette County Soil and Water Conservation District.
The removal of the Eyman Park dam is one piece of a larger reckoning happening across Ohio’s waterways. Since the launch of H2Ohio Rivers Program, Governor Mike DeWine’s initiative to ensure safe and clean water in Ohio, more than 20 river miles have been contracted for restoration and over 650,000 pounds of trash removed from Ohio streams. In Paint Creek, the work begins with a single structure and the belief that what was disrupted can, with enough intention and investment, be made whole again.
About H2Ohio
H2Ohio is Governor Mike DeWine's statewide, data-driven water quality initiative, built on the goal of ensuring all Ohioans have access to clean, safe water for generations to come. The program takes a comprehensive approach to protecting and improving water quality across Ohio, from reducing harmful algal blooms and improving wastewater infrastructure to preventing lead contamination. The H2Ohio Rivers Program, administered by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, focuses specifically on restoring and preserving healthy rivers through funding for dam removal, acid mine drainage remediation, riparian protection, and river cleanup efforts. Learn more at h2.ohio.gov
