Sharon Lake Improvement Project

Sediment is the buildup of fine soil particles that can reduce water quality and impair aquatic wildlife habitats. It comes from outside the boundaries of the park from erosion in tributaries.

Dredging is the process of removing sediment and other materials built up in a body of water. 

Great Parks dredged Sharon Lake because sediment accumulation, excess nutrients and aggressive aquatic vegetation reached the point of threatening recreational opportunities and aquatic habitats.

The collection of silt at the bottom of a manmade lake is a natural process in the lifespan of a reservoir. It is accelerated in Sharon Lake due to dense development in the watershed that is outside Great Parks' ownership. Sharon Lake has been previously dredged since it was built by the U.S. Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the 1930s.

Dredging Sharon Lake temporarily disturbed lake ecosystems as sediment was removed, but it will result in improved aquatic habitats and increased recreational opportunities for park guests, including increased educational opportunities through the new wetlands boardwalk.

The boathouse remains closed during the lake improvement project and will not reopen when the lake reopens. However, the playground and snack bar (during seasonal operating hours) remain open. Additional improvements to Sharon Lake Harbor and the boathouse are part of a separate project, with construction beginning after the lake project is complete.

After the new wetlands reconfigure the shape of the lake, future boating opportunities include kayaks, canoes and paddleboats. Motorboats are no longer permitted at Sharon Lake, but they can still be used at Winton Lake and Miami Whitewater Forest Lake.

Great Parks added pedestrian-activated rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFB), traffic calming features and crosswalk striping. This crossing was thoroughly evaluated by traffic engineers and was built in coordination with the City of Sharonville.

Involved parties include Great Parks, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

Great Parks held a widely promoted public open house in June 2023 at Sharon Center, and invited community feedback through direct mail, social media, email distribution and its website. Great Parks is committed to opening Sharon Lake and its trail with safe, high-quality amenities built to serve current and future generations.

To allow fish to repopulate, fishing is prohibited for several years after Sharon Lake refills. Great Parks must first finalize work on new habitats and restock the lake multiple times beginning in spring 2026. Fish introduced to the lake will be very small "fingerlings," roughly the size of human fingers. The fish will grow as food sources become more plentiful, including vegetation, insects and smaller fish. Great Parks will monitor the population as it expands, and once it demonstrates stability and sustainability, the lake will reopen to fishing.