Grant launches Phase I of the Lower Great Miami River Restoration Initiative; project design has advanced with an updated total cost of $7.66 million
HAMILTON, OHIO (July 2026) — The City of Hamilton has been awarded $2.45 million through the State of Ohio's H2Ohio Rivers Program to advance removal of the Hamilton Low Dam, marking the official launch of Phase I of the Lower Great Miami River Restoration Initiative.
The project, developed in partnership with the Miami Conservancy District (MCD) and the City of Hamilton, will fully remove the low dam and restore a free-flowing stretch of river through Hamilton. Since the project's initial application, engineering plans have moved from an early concept to a more detailed design, refining the total estimated project cost to $7.66 million.
Additional project partners include MetroParks of Butler County, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Hamilton Community Foundation.
"This grant is the green light Hamilton has been working toward," said Craig Bucheit, City Manager, City of Hamilton. "The Great Miami River is one of Hamilton's greatest natural resources. For years, we've talked about increasing recreational opportunities and driving riverfront development, but a major concern has always been the danger created by the existing dam. What's particularly exciting about this project is the opportunity to replace that structure in a way that improves safety, increases recreation, and helps restore the river.
We appreciate and thank MCD, the Hamilton Community Foundation, the Hamilton Vision Commission, MetroParks of Butler County, ODNR, H2Ohio, and all of our partners for their support and for helping us secure the funding to move this project forward."
"This is a defining moment for the Great Miami River in Hamilton," said MaryLynn Lodor, General Manager of the Miami Conservancy District. "By removing the lowest barrier on the river, we're not just improving one location — we're unlocking the potential of the entire river system."
A Foundational Step in a Larger River Restoration Strategy
Located south of downtown, the Hamilton Low Dam is the first barrier a fish or paddler would hit on the Great Miami River coming up from the Ohio River. Removing it will open about 33.7 miles of river that will once again flow freely all the way to the Ohio River.
Phase I is intentionally designed as the first step in a larger plan for this stretch of river. Just upstream, MCD's Two Mile Dam is also set to be removed or modified, through an Ohio Department of Transportation project beginning in fiscal year 2027 and creating a rare opportunity to improve a longer stretch of river at once.
Restoring a River, Not Just Removing a Structure
Built for recreational boating in the late 1980s, the Hamilton Low Dam turned a free-flowing stretch of river into a slow-moving, pond-like pool — making the water warmer, slower-moving, and lower in oxygen than a healthy river should be.
The project will:
According to the Ohio EPA, data shows the Great Miami River is healthier downstream of the Hamilton Low Dam than upstream, which shows just how much of a difference the dam has made.
Improving Safety and Expanding Recreation
Low dams like this one are known to be dangerous because of the strong, swirling currents that form just below them. The Hamilton Low Dam has been tied to multiple deaths and rescues over the years, including a drowning in July 2025.
Removing it will:
The project also supports Hamilton's broader plans for its riverfront — better river access, stronger trail connections, and a bigger role for Hamilton within the Great Miami Riverway.
Strong Partnership, Shared Commitment
The project is backed by a partnership grounded in technical expertise and long-term stewardship:
Pursuing Additional Funding to Complete the Project
As design work has progressed, the total project cost has been refined to $7.66 million. With H2Ohio's $2.45 million investment as the foundation, project partners are actively pursuing additional funding to close the remaining gap and build the whole project at once. These sources include the Ohio EPA Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (WRRSP), the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Fish Passage Program, state funding, and local philanthropic support. Consistent with a 1987 agreement between the City and MCD, the City of Hamilton is also committed to help secure remaining costs not covered by grants or partner funding, underscoring the City's commitment to seeing the project through to completion.
Moving Forward
With H2Ohio funding secured, the project is moving ahead with final design and permitting. Construction is targeted for 2027–2028, once design, permits, and remaining funding are in place.
The Miami Conservancy District will continue to manage the river corridor, including the levees that keep the City of Hamilton safe from dangerous and destructive floodwater, making sure the investment keeps paying off for the community.
Looking Ahead
Phase I will kick off a longer-term effort to restore the lower Great Miami River — reconnecting habitat, improving water quality, making the river safer, and strengthening Hamilton's identity as a riverfront community.
"This project helps reconnect a region to its river," Lodor said. "It restores ecological function, protects lives, and creates new opportunities for people to experience the river. It's an investment in the future of Hamilton and Southwest Ohio."
