Lake Hope Dam dam
Lake Hope Dam
Lake Hope Dam, located in Vinton, Ohio, stands as a significant earth dam completed in 1939 for recreational purposes along the Sandy Run river. With a height of 33.8 feet and a length spanning 750 feet, the dam boasts a normal storage capacity of 1040 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 2461 acre-feet. Despite being classified as having a "fair" condition assessment, the dam is considered to have a "significant" hazard potential, prompting regular inspections every 5 years to ensure its structural integrity.
Owned and regulated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Lake Hope Dam offers a vital source of recreation for locals and visitors, with a surface area of 130 acres and a drainage area of 9.9 square miles. The dam's location in the picturesque town of Hope, Ohio, provides a tranquil escape for water resource and climate enthusiasts, offering opportunities for boating, fishing, and hiking in the surrounding wooded areas. Although no spillway type is specified, the dam's maximum discharge capacity stands at 21,747 cubic feet per second, further highlighting its importance in managing water resources in the region.
Despite its age, Lake Hope Dam continues to play a crucial role in water resource management in Ohio, serving as a key recreational hub while also posing a significant hazard potential. With ongoing inspections and maintenance efforts, the dam remains a focal point for environmental enthusiasts and climate advocates seeking to understand the complex interplay between human-made structures and natural water systems in the face of changing climate conditions.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Lake Hope Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Raccoon Creek Near Bolin Mills Oh | 47 cfs | → |
| Monday Creek At Doanville Oh | 48 cfs | → |
| Hocking River At Athens Oh | 272 cfs | → |
| Sunday Creek Below Millfield Oh | 54 cfs | → |
| Hocking River At Enterprise Oh | 163 cfs | → |
| Little Raccoon Creek Near Ewington Oh | 18 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Hope Dam.
Track Lake Hope Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Lake Hope Dam
Where does the data for Lake Hope Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Significant hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Lake Hope Dam.