Christian Center Lake Dam dam
Christian Center Lake Dam
Christian Center Lake Dam, located in Kirkersville, Ohio, is a private dam managed by the USDA NRCS. Constructed in 1974, this earth dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, providing a surface area of 9 acres and a storage capacity of 96 acre-feet. The dam stands at a height of 27 feet and stretches 275 feet in length, with a drainage area of 0.24 square miles. Despite its significant hazard potential and poor condition assessment, the dam is regulated, inspected, and permitted by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, ensuring compliance with state jurisdiction and enforcement.
The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with an uncontrolled outlet gate system and a maximum discharge capacity of 228 cubic feet per second. Its foundation consists of soil, while the core material is made of stone. Although the dam has not been modified in recent years, regular inspections occur every 5 years, with the last assessment conducted in December 2020. The risk assessment for Christian Center Lake Dam indicates a moderate risk level (3), prompting the need for continued monitoring and potential risk management measures to ensure the safety of the surrounding area and downstream communities.
In the realm of water resource and climate enthusiasts, Christian Center Lake Dam presents an intriguing case study of a privately owned structure with public safety implications. With its historical significance dating back to the 1970s, the dam's design and construction by the NRCS reflect a balance between recreational benefits and potential risks associated with its condition assessment. As climate change continues to influence hydrological patterns and extreme weather events, the maintenance and management of dams like Christian Center Lake Dam become increasingly crucial in safeguarding water resources and mitigating hazards posed by aging infrastructure.
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 Christian Center Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Licking River At Kirkersville Oh | 6 cfs | → |
| Raccoon Creek Near Granville Oh | 19 cfs | → |
| South Fork Licking River Near Hebron Oh | 32 cfs | → |
| South Fork Licking River At Heath Oh | 49 cfs | → |
| Raccoon Cr. Bl. Wilson Street At Newark Oh | 60 cfs | → |
| N. Fk. Licking River At E. Main St. At Newark Oh | 66 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Christian Center Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Buckeye Lake State Park - Lieb
- Buckeye Lake State Park - Fairfield Beach
- Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area
- Summit Road Southeast Newark
- Hoover Reservoir - Hoover Marina
- Hoover Reservoir - Boat Stake Area B
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Christian Center 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 Christian Center Lake Dam
Where does the data for Christian Center 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 Christian Center Lake Dam.