Willard Lake Dam dam
Willard Lake Dam
Willard Lake Dam, located in Huron County, Ohio, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1955 primarily for recreational purposes. The dam has a height of 22 feet and a length of 460 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 133 acre-feet. With a normal storage capacity of 56 acre-feet and a surface area of 12.58 acres, the dam serves as a popular spot for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife observation.
Managed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Willard Lake Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the state to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The dam has a low hazard potential and is currently assessed to be in fair condition based on a 2016 inspection. While the dam poses minimal risk, emergency action plans are in place and updated periodically to meet safety guidelines and ensure proper response in case of emergencies.
Situated along a tributary to the West Branch Huron River, Willard Lake Dam is a vital part of the local ecosystem and provides opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy nature and water-based activities. Climate and water resource enthusiasts can appreciate the careful management and maintenance of this dam to balance recreational uses with safety and environmental considerations in the region.
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 Willard Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Huron River At Milan Oh | 152 cfs | → |
| Black Fork Mohican River At Shelby Oh | 10 cfs | → |
| Rock Creek Near Republic Oh | · | → |
| Old Woman Creek At Berlin Rd Near Huron Oh | 10 cfs | → |
| Honey Creek At Melmore Oh | 43 cfs | → |
| Rock Creek At Tiffin Oh | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Willard Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Bellevue Reservoir
- New London Reservoir Park/Campground
- Resthaven Wildlife Area - Pond No. 8
- Cleveland Road East Vermilion Township
- Bucyrus Reservoir No. 2
- Gay Street Bucyrus
Campgrounds
- Freedom Valley Campground
- Crystal Rock Campground
- Zeller's Beach
- Camping Area E
- Group Area 1 Camping Area G Group
- Group Area 2 Camping Area G
Track Willard Lake 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 Willard Lake Dam
Where does the data for Willard Lake 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 Low 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 Willard Lake Dam.