Osu Golf Course Lake Dam dam
Osu Golf Course Lake Dam
The OSU Golf Course Lake Dam in Upper Arlington, Ohio, is a state-regulated dam designed by the OSU Agricultural Engineering Department and completed in 1936. The dam serves primarily as a water supply source, with a storage capacity of 84 acre-feet and a drainage area of 1.37 square miles. Located on the Turkey Run river, the dam has a height of 16.8 feet and a length of 420 feet, providing a surface area of 8.6 acres.
With a significant hazard potential and a fair condition assessment as of the last inspection in December 2020, the OSU Golf Course Lake Dam is subject to regular state inspections, permitting, and enforcement by the Department of Natural Resources. The dam's emergency action plan was last revised in June 2020, and it meets guidelines for risk management measures. The dam's structure, while functional for its intended purpose, requires ongoing maintenance and monitoring to ensure its continued safety and effectiveness in managing water resources in the area.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the OSU Golf Course Lake Dam offers a fascinating example of how human-engineered structures can shape and control natural water systems. From its construction by the agricultural engineering department of Ohio State University to its current regulatory oversight by the state government, this dam on the Turkey Run river plays a crucial role in providing water supply to the surrounding area. As climate change impacts continue to affect water availability and quality, understanding and managing dams like this one will be essential for ensuring sustainable water resource management in the future.
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 Osu Golf Course Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Olentangy River At J H Herrick Dr At Columbus Oh | 461 cfs | → |
| Scioto River At 5th Ave At Columbus Oh | 568 cfs | → |
| Olentangy River Near Worthington Oh | 690 cfs | → |
| Scioto River Below O Shaughnessy Dam Nr Dublin Oh | 561 cfs | → |
| Scioto River At Columbus Oh | 940 cfs | → |
| Big Walnut Creek At Central College Oh | 155 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Osu Golf Course Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Griggs Reservoir - Marina
- Dublin Road 853, Columbus
- Scioto River - Lower Scioto Park And Boat Launch
- Twin Lakes Boat Ramp
- Hoover Reservoir - Hoover Marina
- Hoover Reservoir - Boat Stake Area B
Campgrounds
- Summer Camp Job
- Camp Ken-Jockety & Elam Environmental Center
- Recreation Unlimited
- Camp Marengo
- Lazy River At Granville
Track Osu Golf Course 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 Osu Golf Course Lake Dam
Where does the data for Osu Golf Course 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 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 Osu Golf Course Lake Dam.