Popular Hinckley Lake will pull plug until 2026 to rehabilitate reservoir, dam

Those relishing summer swims and boat outings on Hinckley Lake will have to wait a few years after this summer to backstroke and paddle there again. When they return, however, they will come back to an improved lake.

Cleveland Metroparks, which oversees Hinckley Reservation just west of Richfield, plans to begin rehabilitating the reservoir's dam this month — with one last blast of summer Sept. 16 for the Ledges-to-Lake Adventure Race. Then, on Sept. 18, draining of the lake is set to begin.

The project requires that the lake remain drained until the dam rehabilitation is completed, with work scheduled to finish by summer 2026. The park's other amenities, including picnicking and hiking trails, will continue to be available. But Hinckley's famed buzzards — the turkey vultures whose return is celebrated each March — will see a temporary desert form where kayaks, paddleboards and rental watercraft usually drift.

Cleveland Metroparks CEO Brian Zimmerman said Hinckley Reservation was one of the first land donations that the park system received, and it carved out 87 acres for construction of the recreational lake.

“We’re excited to continue on the legacy of our parks' largest inland lake, rehabilitating it in time for its 100th anniversary and ensuring that it can be part of our next century of stewardship,” he said.

The dam rehabilitation, which will cost between $8 million and $10 million, is being designed by Michael Baker International Inc., which has offices in the Cleveland area and in Canton. It will be constructed by the Great Lakes Construction Company in Hinckley. Cleveland Metroparks has also been coordinating with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Army Corp of Engineers.

What will dam renovations accomplish?

Over the next several years, the rehabilitation project is expected to improve recreational opportunities at Hinckley Lake by raising the height of the existing earthen dam embankment that stretches across the northern portion of the lake. The project also will rehabilitate the 150-foot-wide concrete spillway to meet modern standards and provide improved protection for the area in the event of severe flooding. The original dam was completed in 1927.

Another issue the renovation will address is silt buildup. According to the Cleveland Metroparks, the Rocky River has deposited a significant amount of silt in Hinckley Lake after the dam was finished, ranging from 2 to 16 feet deep. Cleveland Metroparks will remove the excess silt in specific areas of the lake to allow for proper depths for recreation. The removal of the silt follows the recently completed Johnson’s Creek Restoration project, a headwater tributary to the East Branch of the Rocky River in Hinckley Reservation that flows into Hinckley Lake. The project, funded in part from the Ohio EPA, restored the stream channel and stream banks and removed barriers that had impeded the passage of fish and macroinvertebrates.

What will happen to the fish in the lake?

Cleveland Metroparks said it will protect and relocate key species living in and around the lake. The park system also will coordinate with Ohio Department of Natural Resources for the duration of the project. Efforts to relocate the lake's freshwater mussels already started earlier this summer.

While Hinckley Lake is being worked on, the smaller Ledge Lake, a 3-acre lake stocked with trout, largemouth bass, and bluegill, will remain open. Near this lake are bridle and hiking trails, as well as other favorite park spots.

"There is a vast network of trails and hiking opportunities at Whipp's Ledges and Worden's," said Jacqueline Gerling, director of communications for the Cleveland Metroparks. "Rock climbing is also permitted — and of course, activities such as cycling."

Park officials said Hinckley Lake will be restocked with fish upon completion of the dam restoration and refilling of the reservoir.

For the latest information on the project and timeline, visit clevelandmetroparks.com.

Reporter April Helms can be reached at ahelms@thebeaconjournal.com

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Hinckley Lake to be drained until 2026 for reservoir, dam overhaul