Efforts were made to use portions of the canal lands and save its structures over the years. Martin Quinlisk, Shelby County's representative in the General Assembly in Columbus, introduced a bill in 1915 to drain part of the Loramie reservoir and create a state park around the remaining lake. Thus, Lake Loramie and the park system there were developed.

Other efforts were largely unsuccessful because of lack of funding. Local and state efforts to repair and save the magnificent Turtle Creek Culverts in Washington Township were launched in 1978. A preliminary study projected the cost of repair at $240,000. Because the collapse of the culverts would result in flooding of adjacent farmlands, the decision was made to tear down the culverts in 1980.

Some restoration has taken place in Lockington, where a state park incorporates the five locks in the village. State funds were used in 1986 to shore up Lock No. 1 with wooden bracing.

Piqua residents, in cooperation with state and local officials, recently completed the renovation of Lock No. 9 in downtown Piqua. It is located in a city park on East Water Street one block east of Main Street, and is open to the public.

Many stretches of the canal remain relatively intact. Good examples of the canal can be seen in Washington Township and the Village of New Bremen. North of Lockington, the Buckeye Trail follows the canal for a number of miles.