Olentangy River: Not the Same as it Used to Be

With the removal of the 5th Avenue dam in early August, the Olentangy River looks quite different than it used to.  My dad came to a football game earlier this year and was shocked at how low the water level was.  The water levels  especially near campus, have receded and exposed the river's rocky bed, along with a great deal of trash and debris.  Those walking over the bridges to The Ohio State University campus have seen many shopping carts and other items stuck in the bed of the river.  The removal of the dam has also caused construction along the Olentangy Trail.  There is a detour near the towers on Cannon Drive on campus.

Exposed river bed along the Olentangy River
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/11/21/oh-man-the-river.html

According to an article from The Columbus Dispatch, "The river restoration has already begun. The plan is to create a new channel for the flowing water along a 2-mile stretch north of the dam.

The channel will be narrower, so crews will shore up the riverbank, planting trees, shrubs and grasses, and creating wetlands and parkland, said Bryon Ringley, senior principal for Stantec, the project’s design engineer.  Officials want to create a more natural-flowing river that will improve conditions for fish and other wildlife. They also hope the restored river will attract more visitors to the river’s edge. OSU faculty members plan to use the river and wetlands for research and education." (Ferenchik, 2012).

Although it does not look pretty now, in a few years, the natural growth will return and it should become a more aesthetically pleasing part of Columbus.  

On a more positive note, Dodridge Street is now open!  This allows much easier traffic flow in this area because all drivers do not have to solely use Lane Avenue to get from Olentangy River Road to High Street.  Also, the Dodridge Bridge has reopened allowing avid cyclists using the trail to not have to be rerouted.