Hinckley Lake Returns After Two-Year Dam Restoration Project
By Remy LaFlamme, BEAT reporter
BRUNSWICK, OH- The Cleveland Metroparks recently completed a two-year project of draining and refilling Hinckley Lake and rehabilitating its dam. Sean McDermott, Cleveland Metroparks Chief Planning and Design Engineer, discussed the project.
According to McDermott, “The project aimed to strengthen the flood protection and improve opportunities for recreation in the area. The earthen dam structure was approaching 100 years old (built in 1927), and needed to be brought up to modern standards to ensure that areas downstream of the lake were being protected in the event of severe flooding.” McDermott has also described how the lake has gotten shallower over the years due to sediment buildup.
To restore the dam, the Metroparks had to drain the lake with a valve at the end of the lake, but it took multiple weeks because it kept filling from rain. The Metroparks moved key animals like freshwater mussels before construction, but other animals like beavers, fish, and turtles naturally migrated upstream.
Once the lake was empty, the Metroparks were able to fix the dam to proper condition. On the northern part of the lake, they had to raise the earthen dam. Then they had to rebuild the concrete spillway and remove excess sediment from the lake to make it deeper.
After the project was completed, water from the East Branch of the Rocky River slowly filled the lake. According to McDermott, the water comes from the Rocky River watershed. Once the drain was closed, water gradually filled the lake again. After the lake refilled, Cleveland Metroparks restocked the lake with fish. Additionally, animals have been coming back to the lake. Waterfowl, which are birds that like water and wetlands, have been seen the most. Plants and vegetation grew on the lakebed when the lake was empty and are still there. The project was completed in November of 2025, and the lake formally reopened for activities in June 2026.
With the restoration complete, Hinckley Lake is once again a place for people and wildlife to enjoy for many years to come.
Remy LaFlamme, Brunswick Middle School, is one of over fifty student “backpack journalists” (grades 6-12) in the award-winning BEAT Video Program. The program, celebrating its 25th year, is sponsored by Donut Land, Plum Creek Assisted Living Community, MODA Gifts, Scripps Howard Foundation and the Brunswick Rotary Club. Go to https://www.bcsoh.org/community/new-beat-site to learn more about the Program, or visit https://thebeat.viebit.com/?folder=ALL to view videos produced by the students.
PHOTOS: Hinckley Lake.