Ahrens Lake Dam dam
Ahrens Lake Dam
Located in Lexington, Ohio, Ahrens Lake Dam is a privately-owned structure that serves as a crucial water resource for recreation purposes. Built in 1976, this earth dam stands at a height of 34.2 feet and has a storage capacity of 60.5 acre-feet, providing a surface area of 4.3 acres for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy. The dam is regulated by the Department of Natural Resources in Ohio and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its fair condition and significant hazard potential are managed effectively.
Ahrens Lake Dam plays a vital role in the local ecosystem, with its reservoir fed by the Trib-Clear Fork Reservoir. This dam not only offers recreational opportunities to visitors but also contributes to the overall water management and conservation efforts in the region. With a drainage area of 0.14 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 312.8 cubic feet per second, the dam serves as a key component in maintaining the water balance and flow in the area.
Despite its significant hazard potential, Ahrens Lake Dam continues to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for outdoor activities. With its fair condition and regular inspections, the dam ensures the surrounding community's safety while offering a picturesque setting for water and climate enthusiasts to explore. As a well-maintained structure in Richland County, Ohio, Ahrens Lake Dam stands as a testament to the importance of responsible water resource management and the preservation of natural habitats in the region.
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 Ahrens Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Clear Fork Mohican River At Bellville Oh | 93 cfs | → |
| Black Fork Mohican River At Shelby Oh | 21 cfs | → |
| Whetstone Creek At Mt Gilead Oh | 142 cfs | → |
| Sandusky River Near Bucyrus Oh | 35 cfs | → |
| Kokosing River At Mount Vernon Oh | 116 cfs | → |
| Alum Creek Near Kilbourne Oh | 73 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ahrens Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Bucyrus Reservoir No. 2
- Gay Street Bucyrus
- Mohican State Park
- New London Reservoir Park/Campground
- Delaware State Park - East Ramp
- Kilbourne Hand Launch
Campgrounds
Track Ahrens 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 Ahrens Lake Dam
Where does the data for Ahrens 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 Ahrens Lake Dam.