Portage Lakes East Reservoir Dam Rehabilitation

This project involves rehabilitation of the East Reservoir Dam, a Class I high-hazard-potential structure, comprised of an earthen embankment which impounds 235 acres of water at normal pool located near Barberton, Ohio. The dam consists of three separate embankment areas: south embankment (100 feet long), main embankment (825 feet long), and the north embankment (175 feet long).

Originally part of the Ohio-Erie Canal system, the dam was constructed in the 1840s. The main embankment failed during the 1913 flood event and was reconstructed with a new ogee spillway in the north embankment of sand overlying a typically sand foundation. Various performance issues will be addressed including uncontrolled seepage conditions, persistent wet areas, deterioration of the appurtenant structures, and making the structure meet current established dam safety standards.