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Free the Falls: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Summit Metro Parks
What's all the dam commotion about? In a project of historic significance, Summit Metro Parks and a large coalition of community partners are working together to remove the Gorge Dam on the Cuyahoga River. Summit Metro Parks Chief of Conservation Mike Johnson and Watershed Specialist Elaine Marsh will take listeners behind the scenes of Free the Falls, the dam removal that will create a vibrant future for the river, its watershed and its people.
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- Apr 14, 20265 min
Come to the Dam Progress Report
Winter is over, spring ephemerals are blooming and dredging on the Cuyahoga River at Gorge Metro Park has resumed, so naturally, it’s time for a community update! Mike and Elaine share details about the upcoming Free the Falls Public Progress Report on Tuesday, April 28 at the Akron-Summit County Public Library – Main Library (60 S. High St., Akron). We hope to see you there! For more information about the progress report, including information about accessibility and parking, visit bit.ly/FTFppr. Free the Falls ➡️bit.ly/freethefalls Follow Summit Metro Parks: Facebook: summitmetroparks Instagram: summitmetroparks X: metro_parks
- Mar 27, 20261h 4m
Protect the Land, Protect the Water
Why is milk the worst, and what can “tighty whities” teach us about soil health? Find out with City of Akron Watershed Superintendent Jessica Glowczewski! Clean drinking water doesn’t start at the tap – it starts miles upstream. Jessica’s work stretches far beyond the treatment plant, across thousands of acres of forests, farms and streams in the Upper Cuyahoga River watershed. We dig into the history that shaped Akron’s water system – from a devastating 1904 fire to the creation of Lake Rockwell – and how that legacy still guides decisions today. Jessica walks us through why the city owns so much land, how her team tracks down pollution in real time and what it means to manage water quality in a largely rural landscape. This is a conversation about prevention over reaction. About solving problems before they reach the river. And about the quiet, often invisible work that keeps drinking water safe for hundreds of thousands of people. And yes… we also talk about burying “tighty whities” in the soil to test ecosystem health. (Trust us, it makes sense – and you won’t forget it.) Plus, learn how innovative programs like Project ACORN are planting trees, creating jobs and strengthening neighborhoods, all while improving water quality for generations to come. City of Akron Watershed Division ➡️ Akron, OH Free the Falls ➡️bit.ly/freethefalls Follow Summit Metro Parks: Facebook: summitmetroparks Instagram: summitmetroparks X: metro_parks
- Jan 22, 202645 min
Getting Sediment-al with Sevenson
It’s a dirty job, but someone’s got to do it. In this episode, Mike and Elaine talk with Project Manager Charlie Stein of Sevenson Environmental Services, the company responsible for dredging contaminated sediment as part of the Free the Falls dam removal project on the Cuyahoga River. Charlie walks us through how nearly one million cubic yards of sediment are being dredged, pumped, sorted and stabilized (yes, it’s as complicated as it sounds). Along the way, hear about surprise discoveries like century-old mussel shells, creative problem-solving and how a construction project can leave behind not just a free-flowing river, but a brand-new park. Dirt never sounded so interesting! Sevenson Environmental Services ➡️ sevenson.comFree the Falls ➡️bit.ly/freethefalls Follow Summit Metro Parks: Facebook: summitmetroparks Instagram: summitmetroparks X: metro_parks
- Oct 10, 202543 min
Sewers, Streams and Waterways Renewed
An engineer who talks to humans instead of just blueprints? That’s Heather Ullinger. You may have seen City of Akron Senior Engineer Heather Ullinger at a Free the Falls public meeting or heard her name in the news covering the city’s major water-related projects. However you know her, you’re in for a treat when you tune in to this episode. Heather talks about how she found her way into engineering and what it’s like to lead some of Akron’s most ambitious environmental projects, including the Aqueduct Street green improvements, the Northside Interceptor Tunnel (NSIT), and the long-awaited Gorge Dam removal. She also discusses the partnerships that make these projects successful and shares where she draws her inspiration to keep pushing forward – even when some projects feel as demanding as motherhood. And somehow, we made it through the entire episode without a single poop joke (we’re as surprised as you). Akron Waterways Renewed ➡️ akronwaterwaysrenewed.com Free the Falls ➡️ bit.ly/freethefalls Follow Summit Metro Parks: Facebook: summitmetroparks Instagram: summitmetroparks X: metro_parks
- Aug 21, 202545 min
The Lower 46.5
In this episode, Mike and Elaine are joined by Jennifer Grieser, Cleveland Metroparks director of natural resources and chair of the Cuyahoga River Area of Concern (AOC) Advisory Committee. The Cuyahoga River AOC is comprised of the lower 46.5 miles of the Cuyahoga River, including all the tributaries that drain to that section of river and the adjacent Lake Erie shoreline and its direct tributaries. Jennifer walks us through the Cuyahoga River’s incredible comeback, highlighting why public access makes it one of a kind. She dives into past and ongoing restoration projects that require collaboration, accountability and measurable progress. Plus, get a glimpse of what’s next when the AOC is delisted—a major milestone in the Cuyahoga’s journey. Cuyahoga River AOC ➡️ cuyahogaaoc.org Free the Falls ➡️ bit.ly/freethefalls Follow Summit Metro Parks: Facebook: summitmetroparks Instagram: summitmetroparks X: metro_parks
- Jul 23, 202559 min
Engineering a Healthier River
Is it true that it takes two really good mechanical engineers to make one average civil engineer? Once you sit down with Pat Gsellman, you’ll agree the answer is no. In this episode, Mike and Elaine chat with Pat about his journey from nature-loving kid to civil engineering leader behind Akron’s Waterways Renewed program. Discover how innovation, collaboration and a deep love for clean water transformed a federal mandate into a model for sustainability. For more, visit bit.ly/freethefalls Follow Summit Metro Parks: Facebook: summitmetroparks Instagram: summitmetroparks X: metro_parks
- Jun 11, 20251h 17m
Big Water, Small Table
Mike and Elaine reflect on years of grassroots advocacy, collaborative river restoration and environmental stewardship rooted in personal passion and long-term vision. Along the way, hear how a kitchen-table brainstorming session that started with “fat chance” evolved into a decades-long campaign to remove the Gorge Dam — because sometimes, big ideas start small. You’ll also find out how Elaine accidentally crashed a wedding in a wetsuit and why planting invasive trees isn’t the environmental silver bullet everyone hopes for. Plus, Mike and Elaine get real about how parks aren’t magical stormwater sponges (spoiler: we’re full of water already) and why saving clean water means thinking bigger than just timing your showers. This episode celebrates the resilience of the river and the people dedicated to its revival, reminding us that rivers know where they want to go – we just need to listen. For more, visit bit.ly/freethefalls Follow Summit Metro Parks: Facebook: summitmetroparks Instagram: summitmetroparks X: metro_parks
- May 16, 20258 min
Come to a Dam Meeting
After a period of quiet progress, big things are happening with the Free the Falls project! In this episode, Mike and Elaine share exciting news about the upcoming public meeting on Monday, May 19, marking the official start of sediment removal from behind the Gorge Dam. Hear what’s next for the project, who will be at the meeting – including local leaders and key partners – and why this moment is worth celebrating.For information about the public meeting and more, visit bit.ly/freethefalls Follow Summit Metro Parks: Facebook: summitmetroparks Instagram: summitmetroparks X: @metro_parks
About Free the Falls
What's all the dam commotion about? In a project of historic significance, Summit Metro Parks and a large coalition of community partners are working together to remove the Gorge Dam on the Cuyahoga River. Summit Metro Parks Chief of Conservation Mike Johnson and Watershed Specialist Elaine Marsh will take listeners behind the scenes of Free the Falls, the dam removal that will create a vibrant future for the river, its watershed and its people.
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