Lake Lucerne Dam dam
Lake Lucerne Dam
Lake Lucerne Dam, located in Geauga, Ohio, stands as a testament to engineering prowess with a construction date as far back as 1922. This private-owned earth dam, towering at a height of 30.3 feet and stretching 575 feet in length, serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a serene escape for water resource and climate enthusiasts. With a storage capacity of 160 acre-feet and a surface area of 15.1 acres, the dam harnesses the waters of McFarland Creek, forming a picturesque reservoir that covers a drainage area of 4.89 square miles.
Despite its historical significance and recreational appeal, Lake Lucerne Dam poses a high hazard potential due to its poor condition assessment as of June 2018. This raises concerns for the safety of the dam and the surrounding community, calling for frequent inspections every five years to ensure its structural integrity. The dam's enforcement and regulatory oversight fall under the purview of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, signifying a collaborative effort to manage and maintain this vital water resource. As the dam continues to age, efforts to address its deteriorating condition and implement risk management measures become imperative to safeguard its longevity and protect downstream areas from potential inundation.
Lake Lucerne Dam's critical role in water storage and flood control underscores the importance of proactive maintenance and emergency preparedness. The dam's high hazard classification and outdated condition assessment highlight the pressing need for risk assessment, hazard mitigation, and the development of an effective Emergency Action Plan (EAP) to address potential safety concerns. As stakeholders work towards enhancing the dam's resilience and ensuring public safety, the collaboration between regulatory agencies, owners, and the surrounding community becomes paramount in safeguarding this iconic structure for future generations of water resource and climate enthusiasts.
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 Lucerne Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Unnamed Tributary To Chagrin R At Pepper Pike Oh | 3 cfs | → |
| Tinkers Creek At Bedford Oh | 121 cfs | → |
| Cuyahoga River At Hiram Rapids Oh | 198 cfs | → |
| Indian Creek Near Macedonia Oh | 4 cfs | → |
| Unnamed Trib To Chagrin R At Mayfield Village Oh | 1 cfs | → |
| Brandywine Creek Near Macedonia Oh | 18 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Lucerne Dam.
Boat launches
- Auburn Launch Ramp
- La Due Reservoir - Boat House
- Punderson State Park
- Eldon Russell Park
- Hudson Springs Park
- Lakeview Road Munson Township
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Lake Lucerne 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 Lucerne Dam
Where does the data for Lake Lucerne 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 Lake Lucerne Dam.