Clay's Park Lake Dam dam
Clay's Park Lake Dam
Nestled in Stark, Ohio, Clay's Park Lake Dam stands as a vital structure regulating the flow of Fox Run. Completed in 1955, this private-owned Earth dam serves a primary purpose of recreation, with a storage capacity of 199.7 acre-feet and a surface area of 23.5 acres. Despite its low hazard potential, recent assessments have flagged its condition as poor, prompting concerns for its structural integrity.
Located in Crystal Springs, Ohio, this 14.5-foot high dam spans 525 feet in length, with a drainage area of 11.9 square miles. The Department of Natural Resources oversees its state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. However, with a condition assessment revealing vulnerabilities and a poor rating as of July 2020, there is an urgent need for maintenance and potentially an emergency action plan to mitigate risks to downstream communities.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the state of Clay's Park Lake Dam serves as a reminder of the critical role dams play in managing water resources for both recreational and safety purposes. With a history dating back to the mid-20th century, the dam's current state of disrepair raises important questions about the maintenance and upkeep of aging infrastructure in the face of evolving climate patterns. For stakeholders and regulators alike, addressing the poor condition of this dam is not just a matter of safety but a proactive step towards ensuring the resilience of our water systems in the years to come.
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 Clay's Park Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tuscarawas River At Massillon Oh | 281 cfs | → |
| Tuscarawas River Above Barberton Oh | 24 cfs | → |
| W Br Nimishillen Crk At Tuscarawas St At Canton Oh | 17 cfs | → |
| Middle Branch Nimishillen Creek At Canton Oh | 30 cfs | → |
| E Branch Nimishillen Crk At Trump Ave Nr Canton Oh | 8 cfs | → |
| Chippewa Creek At Miller Rd At Sterling Oh | 25 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Clay's Park Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Portage Lakes State Park - C 6
- Portage Lakes State Park - 2 Na
- Portage Lakes State Park - Cg
- Portage Lakes State Park - C 1
- Portage Lakes State Park - Turkeyfoot
- Old State Park
Campgrounds
- Towpath Campsite
- Portage Lakes State Park
- Camp Christopher
- Pride Valley Campgrounds
- Silver Springs - Stow
- Atwood Lake Campground (Main Gate)
Fishing spots
- Deer Creek Reservoir
- Berlin Lake
- Aurora Pond
- Charles Mill Lake
- East 72nd Street Fishing Area
- Clendening Lake
Paddle runs
Track Clay's Park 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 Clay's Park Lake Dam
Where does the data for Clay's Park 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 Clay's Park Lake Dam.