The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) retained AK Hydro to evaluate its statewide inventory of 114 regulated dams and identify opportunities to reduce long-term risk through dam decommissioning. With an average dam age exceeding 90 years and more than $500 million invested in dam rehabilitation efforts, ODNR sought a strategic framework to identify dams where decommissioning could provide greater long-term benefits than continued rehabilitation. The project was completed in two phases consisting of a statewide screening and prioritization study followed by site-specific feasibility evaluations.

Phase I Statewide Dam Screening: AK Hydro developed a comprehensive weighted evaluation methodology to assess each dam based on technical, operational, environmental, regulatory, financial, and risk reduction considerations. The team reviewed existing engineering documentation, coordinated with dam owners and ODNR divisions, completed environmental desktop screenings, and developed a prioritized list of candidate dams for future decommissioning. As part of the project, AK Hydro also developed a customizable screening tool that enables ODNR to efficiently re-evaluate and prioritize its dam inventory as conditions, rehabilitation efforts, and operational needs evolve. Following completion of the statewide screening, review meetings were conducted with ODNR and the respective owning divisions, resulting in the selection of three dams to advance to Phase II feasibility studies.

Phase II Dam Decommissioning Feasibility Studies: AK Hydro completed detailed feasibility studies for three selected dam sites, including field investigations, hydrologic and hydraulic evaluations, preliminary breach channel design, conceptual restoration plans, sediment management evaluations, permitting considerations, construction cost estimates, and recommendations for future site use. The feasibility studies evaluated the technical, environmental, regulatory, hydraulic, and constructability considerations necessary to determine whether dam decommissioning represented a practical and cost-effective alternative while supporting future project implementation. To further support decision-making, AK Hydro developed comparative pre- and post-decommissioning inundation mapping and presented the findings to ODNR Dam Safety and project stakeholders, providing a clear understanding of the anticipated hydraulic, environmental, and operational impacts of dam removal.

This project provided ODNR a comprehensive decision-making framework for evaluating dam decommissioning opportunities across its statewide inventory while supporting long-term asset management, risk reduction, environmental restoration, and funding prioritization. The study established a repeatable methodology that ODNR can continue to apply when evaluating future dam rehabilitation and decommissioning alternatives throughout its statewide inventory.