YOUNGSTOWN — If a flow study of the Mahoning River indicates businesses or residents who rely on it will be negatively impacted by the removal of dams, steps will be taken to mitigate those consequences first.

James Kinnick, executive director of the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, the agency leading the removal effort, made the pledge Monday.

The assistant director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources presented Kinnick a $2 million check to assist with funding the removal of the next three dams.

About $500,000 of the $2 million will pay for the flow study, a look at how the water levels of the river will be affected with the removal of dams from Lowellville — in progress — to Leavittsburg where residents have expressed concerns in public meetings about the Mahoning’s water levels if the dam is removed.

Kinnick said it will cost about $6 million to remove the next three dams, and the $1.5 million ODNR handed over — appropriated in the state’s budget — will serve as a local match while seeking funds from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program.

The entire dam removal project, to remove nine dams along the river, is expected to cost $26 million total. About $13 million in funds — half — has been acquired so far, Kinnick said. Eastgate is also looking at a U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s program for funding, he said. Eastgate still needs to secure about $10 million to complete the project.

“We continue our journey upstream,” Kinnick said.

Mindy Bankey, assistant director of ODNR, said Monday the state has an interest in supporting the removal project because of the anticipated improved water quality and water recreation activities that can be expected once it is complete.

But there are concerns about how the removal of the dam in Girard will impact operations at McDonald Steel, so although the project is mostly moving south to north, the Girard dam will be skipped over until the flow study is completed, Kinnick said.

If the study determines the company will be negatively impacted, steps will be taken to mitigate those effects, Kinnick said. The company, which owns the dam, draws water in from the river to cool steel, and there are concerns there won’t be enough water to pool from if the dam is removed. If the study shows the river level will be too low to support the company’s activities, the study will also identify solutions, Kinnick said. That could include installing a pump to increase flow in that area, he said.

The next three dams to be tackled are the ones in the Warren area — in Warren Township, the Warren dam at Summit Street NW and Mahoning Avenue in the city, and in Leavittsburg. The removal of the three could start in 2021, Kinnick said.

The dam in Leavittsburg comes with its own concerns that Kinnick said the flow study will address.

At a recent meeting about the potential dam removal, Frank Migliozzi, health commissioner of the Trumbull County Combined Health District, said some residents along the river have septic systems that drain into the river. If the the river level were to fall, it could create “stagnant water” and “nuisance problems,” Migliozzi said.

Residents have asked at meetings if people will really want to participate in water activities such as kayaking and fishing on the Mahoning River in that area if the water is low and afflicted with septic run off.

The dam, located at North Leavitt Road and West Market Street, is owned by Trumbull County MetroParks. The dam is not constructed with poured concrete or abutments, but with gravel, slag, natural rocks and concrete fragments mixed in.

The funds won’t just pay for removal of the dams, but also for the dredging away of soil contaminated after years of lax environmental requirements.

Kinnick said Eastgate is aware of the concerns, and the flow study will also look at the potential for problems that arise because of the septic issues.

Eastgate is working with the Ohio EPA and the county health district to identify solutions, Kinnick said. The flow study ought to shed light on the dynamics of the river and potential changes to the flow, and offer real solutions to mitigate the concerns of residents, while keeping the project on track.

After the dams are removed, Eastgate plans to move into other phases of development with the communities around the river.

Ohio Sen. Michal Rulli, R-Salem, said the river revitalization “will be huge.”

“Immediately, there will be outdoor activities — fishing on the banks, water sports on the river,” Rulli said.

And, the removal will help remove remaining contaminants, he said.

“Until we get the dams out of there, the river can’t heal to 100 percent,” Rulli said.

Ohio Sen . Sean O’Brien, D-Bazetta, said the money amounts to an investment in the future. “This $2 million check will pay huge dividends on this investment when we see the recreational and economic activity pick up around the river as a result,” O’Brien said.

rfox@tribtoday.com