Houston Upground Reservoir dam
Houston Upground Reservoir
Houston Upground Reservoir in Ohio is a vital water resource infrastructure managed by the local government for water supply purposes. This earth dam, completed in 1935, stands at a height of 12.9 feet and has a storage capacity of 71.1 million gallons, serving the community's water needs with a normal storage level of 38.5 million gallons. The reservoir covers an area of 6 acres and is located in Clinton County, near the city of Westboro, along the West Fork East Fork - Offstream.
Despite its historical significance and essential role in water supply, the Houston Upground Reservoir is currently assessed to be in poor condition with a significant hazard potential. It is regulated by the Department of Natural Resources in Ohio, which oversees its permitting, inspection, and enforcement processes. The dam's last inspection in April 2019 highlighted its maintenance challenges, emphasizing the need for regular monitoring and potentially a rehabilitation plan to ensure the safety and reliability of the structure for the community it serves.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding and advocating for the upkeep and improvement of critical infrastructure like the Houston Upground Reservoir is paramount. Ensuring the resilience and efficiency of such water supply systems is essential in the face of changing climate patterns and increasing water demands. Collaborative efforts between local government, regulatory agencies, and the community can help address the challenges faced by aging infrastructure like the Houston Upground Reservoir and secure a sustainable water future for all.
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 Houston Upground Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| O'Bannon Creek Near Loveland Oh | 66 cfs | → |
| East Fork Little Miami River At Williamsburg Oh | 31 cfs | → |
| East Fork Little Miami River At Perintown Oh | 561 cfs | → |
| Little Miami River At Milford Oh | 3,810 cfs | → |
| White Oak Creek Above Georgetown Oh | 60 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek At Evendale Oh | 342 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Houston Upground Reservoir.
Boat launches
- Caesar Creek Wellman Meadows Boat Ramp
- Caesars Creek Furnas Shores Boat Ramp
- Caesars Creek North Pool Boat Ramp
- Caesar Creek State Park - Campground Ramp
- Caesars Creek Haines Boat Ramp
- East Fork State Park - Campground
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Houston Upground Reservoir 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 Houston Upground Reservoir
Where does the data for Houston Upground Reservoir 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 Houston Upground Reservoir.