Rocky Fork Lake Dam dam
Rocky Fork Lake Dam
Rocky Fork Lake Dam, located in McCoppin Mill, Ohio, is a gravity dam on the Rocky Fork of Paint Creek that was completed in 1952. With a height of 73.5 feet and a length of 380 feet, the dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, providing a surface area of 2100 acres for water activities. The dam has a storage capacity of 87,050 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 35,299 acre-feet.
Despite its important role in recreation, Rocky Fork Lake Dam has been assessed as having a high hazard potential and a poor condition as of the last inspection in May 2018. The dam is state-regulated by the Department of Natural Resources, with permitting, inspection, and enforcement responsibilities falling under state jurisdiction. In the event of an emergency, an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) may be activated, although details on its preparation and compliance with guidelines are not provided in the data.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts may be drawn to the Rocky Fork Lake Dam for its impact on the local ecosystem, as well as the management challenges it poses. With its scenic surroundings and importance for recreation, the dam serves as a focal point for understanding the intersection of human infrastructure and natural resources in the Highland County area of Ohio. Additionally, the dam's poor condition assessment highlights the ongoing need for maintenance and risk management to ensure the safety of downstream communities and the environment.
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 Rocky Fork Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Fork Near Barretts Mills Oh | 10 cfs | → |
| Paint Creek Near Greenfield Oh | 74 cfs | → |
| Paint Creek Near Bourneville Oh | 223 cfs | → |
| Scioto River At Piketon Oh | 4,110 cfs | → |
| Ohio Brush Creek Near West Union Oh | 111 cfs | → |
| Paint Creek At Chillicothe Oh | 358 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rocky Fork Lake Dam.
Track Rocky Fork 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 Rocky Fork Lake Dam
Where does the data for Rocky Fork 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 High 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 Rocky Fork Lake Dam.