The city of Barberton received a $7.7 million award to rehabilitate the 100-year-old Wolf Creek Dam to reduce the threat of flooding and protect the city’s drinking water, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced April 24.
The award is the second phase of an $8.5 million grant, FEMA said in a news release. The funding is part of the more than $137 million that FEMA announced April 24 for more than 50 projects nationwide.
FEMA called the structure a “high-hazard dam” that plays a critical role in protecting lives, property and resources. It is a crucial component of delivering water to 29,000 people in the Barberton area.
The planned upgrades will reduce the risk of dam failure and strengthen the ability to handle heavy rain and flood events, FEMA said.
U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes, D-Akron, previously announced that she submitted the dam project for consideration in the fiscal year 2027 appropriations process.
Besides drinking water, waters from the dam supply 72 industrial facilities, across most of Barberton as well as portions of Norton and Akron, Sykes said.
The dam will be strengthened and safety systems will be updated. The work will extend the dam’s lifespan by about 50 years, Sykes said.
The award is distributed through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. FEMA will pay 90% of the cost and the remaining 10% will be provided by the city of Barberton. FEMA will also provide an additional $476,930 to assist Barberton in managing the grant.
The dam, which is 43 feet high with a 198-foot spillway, is located on the Barberton Reservoir. The reservoir is in Norton and Copley Township, and the dam is also in Norton.
Barberton officials who commented on the planned upgrades in 2023 said that replacing the dam would be much more costly – $20 million plus the costs to demolish the current dam.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Barberton gets $7.7 million from FEMA for Wolf Creek Dam upgrades
Reporting by Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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