By Bernheim
Chapeze Dam Removal Restores Stream Health and Connectivity of Long Lick Creek
A failing low-head dam on Long Lick Creek in Clermont, Ky., has been removed to restore natural stream flow, improve fish passage, make for safer recreation, and enhance water quality. The Chapeze Lane Dam Removal Project is a collaboration among the James B. Beam Distilling Company, Ohio River Foundation, and Bernheim Forest and Arboretum, supported by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Fish Passage Program.
Low-head dams can create dangerous hydraulic currents, posing safety hazards to people while blocking the natural movement of fish, mussels, and other aquatic wildlife. These aging structures trap sediment, degrade habitat, and prevent aquatic species from reaching critical spawning and feeding areas. Removing dams re-establishes stream connectivity and restores life to waterways once cut off by impoundments.
In September 2025, Ridgewater LLC began removing the dilapidated Chapeze Lane dam. Debris from the structure was used to shore up the stream bank, and boulders and sediment were added on top to create habitat and stability. In place of the dam, a long riffle, defined as a shallow and free flowing section, was created that allows water to flow through the site and fish and mussels to migrate up and down the creek.
Large pools above and below the dam were preserved and enhanced by the riffle’s flow; increasing oxygenation, macro invertebrate habitat, and connectivity. The site was also cleaned of old dump site debris, recontoured to allow access along the stream bank, and reseeded with native pollinator and riparian plant species.
As recreation deaths associated with low-head dams increase, concern from owners is driving interest in removing these structures.
“We use a comprehensive approach to these projects that enables us to help owners and communities raise the necessary funds to achieve the social, environmental, and economic benefits of river protection and restoration. We applaud the partners and dam owners for having the vision and ambition that these projects require,” said Rich Cogen, Executive Director of Ohio River Foundation (ORF).
Spanning 70,000 square miles, ORF’s Restoration Program has removed seven dams, planted more than 30,000 trees, and removed more than 800,000 invasive plants and trees.
“This project restores the water quality and connectivity of Long Lick Creek, an important stream for both people and wildlife in the Clermont community,” said Andrew Berry, Director of Conservation at Bernheim Forest and Arboretum. “This dam removal embodies what the James B. Beam Natural Water Sanctuary Alliance at Bernheim is intended to do.”
The Chapeze Dam Removal is one of many water-related projects at Bernheim supported by the James B. Beam Natural Water Sanctuary Alliance focused on improving water quality and wildlife across central Kentucky. Bernheim continues to protect over 18,000 acres of wildlife corridors and provides refuge for iconic species such as golden eagles, beavers, and a host of lesser-known plants and animals at a time when threats to natural lands and biodiversity are at an all-time high.
