Ohio’s thrust for sustainable waterways just made a splash with the removal of the Covington Dam on the Stillwater River, thanks to the H2Ohio initiative. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) announced the project’s completion, which is set to improve water quality and restore the natural rhythm of this State Scenic River in Miami County, reported to the ODNR.
With the governor’s H2Ohio program in full drive, the stage is set not only for ecological rehabilitation but also for public safety and outdoor leisure enhancements – echoing Governor Mike DeWine’s words, “Today we celebrate that the State Scenic Stillwater River will be free-flowing all the way to Greenville Creek, another State Scenic River” according to the ODNR, all while illumining nature’s bounty in the region, the Stillwater River starts its journey in Darke County flowing southeast to meet Greenville Creek in Covington, a confluence of spent rivers now set free from the constraints previously imposed.
Mary Mertz, ODNR Director, emphasizes the significance of collaboration for the success seen in Covington, with the project benefiting various species and leading to “better water conditions downstream of Covington,” as sourced from the ODNR’s statement. The dam, at 130 feet wide, had blocked over 55 linear miles of the river, but its removal now brings a reunion of aquatic life and habitats, fostering a thriving ecosystem under Ohio’s watchful environmental stewardship…