Lake Forest Dam dam
Lake Forest Dam
Lake Forest Dam, located in Boston Heights, Ohio, is a privately owned structure regulated by the Department of Natural Resources. Built in 1952, this earth dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, creating a reservoir with a normal storage capacity of 143.5 acre-feet. The dam stands at a height of 16.3 feet and spans a length of 625 feet along Brandywine Creek, offering a surface area of 42.2 acres for outdoor activities.
Despite being classified with a significant hazard potential, Lake Forest Dam has been deemed to be in satisfactory condition during its last assessment in April 2017. Regular inspections are conducted every five years to ensure its structural integrity and safety. With a maximum discharge capacity of 4,887 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water in the surrounding area and protecting downstream communities from flooding.
As a key feature in the Buffalo District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Lake Forest Dam underscores the importance of proper maintenance and monitoring of water resources. Its strategic location and design contribute to the overall environmental and recreational landscape, making it a significant asset for both the local community and water resource 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 Forest Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Brandywine Creek Near Macedonia Oh | 12 cfs | → |
| Indian Creek Near Macedonia Oh | 2 cfs | → |
| Cuyahoga River At Jaite Oh | 866 cfs | → |
| Chippewa Creek In Chippewa Met Pk Near Brecksville | 7 cfs | → |
| Cuyahoga River At Old Portage Oh | 515 cfs | → |
| Tinkers Creek At Bedford Oh | 159 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Forest Dam.
Boat launches
- Hudson Springs Park
- Lake Hodgson
- Auburn Launch Ramp
- Canfield Road 2300, Sawyerwood
- Palm Road Brimfield Township
- Lakemore Park - James B Dodds Lakefront Park
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Lake Forest 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 Forest Dam
Where does the data for Lake Forest 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 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 Lake Forest Dam.