Berkshire Lake Dam dam
Berkshire Lake Dam
Located in Galena, Ohio, the Berkshire Lake Dam is a privately owned structure designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 1967. The dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a serene environment for visitors to enjoy. Standing at a height of 28.3 feet and with a length of 575 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 43 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 4.1 acres.
Managed by the Department of Natural Resources, the Berkshire Lake Dam is regulated and inspected by the state of Ohio to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations. Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, the dam is subject to moderate risk, highlighting the importance of ongoing risk assessment and management measures. With its uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water levels and protecting the surrounding area, making it a valuable asset in the region's water resource and climate management efforts.
Overall, Berkshire Lake Dam stands as a vital piece of infrastructure in Delaware County, Ohio, contributing to water storage, recreational activities, and environmental protection. Its design, construction, and maintenance reflect a commitment to safety and sustainability, showcasing the collaboration between private ownership and state regulation in safeguarding water resources for present and future generations. As a site of both beauty and utility, Berkshire Lake Dam serves as a reminder of the essential role that dams play in managing water resources and adapting to changing climate conditions.
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 Berkshire Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Walnut Creek At Sunbury Oh | 30 cfs | → |
| Alum Creek At Africa Oh | 13 cfs | → |
| Alum Creek Near Kilbourne Oh | 45 cfs | → |
| Big Walnut Creek At Central College Oh | 155 cfs | → |
| Olentangy River Near Worthington Oh | 690 cfs | → |
| Olentangy River Near Delaware Oh | 626 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Berkshire Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Hoover Reservoir - Oxbow Road Launch Ramp
- Alum Creek State Park - New Galena
- Alum Creek State Park - Cheshire
- Hoover Reservoir - Baldridge Boat Ramp
- Berlin Township
- Alum Creek State Park - Howard Road
Campgrounds
- Recreation Unlimited
- Camp Marengo
- Summer Camp Job
- Lazy River At Granville
- Camp Ken-Jockety & Elam Environmental Center
Fishing spots
Track Berkshire 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 Berkshire Lake Dam
Where does the data for Berkshire 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 Low 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 Berkshire Lake Dam.