Champagne Shores Pond Dam dam
Champagne Shores Pond Dam
Champagne Shores Pond Dam, located in Medina, Ohio, is a private earth dam completed in 1971 primarily for recreational purposes. With a height of 17.6 feet and a length of 350 feet, it holds a storage capacity of 62 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 7.6 acres. The dam is regulated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular inspections, with the last assessment conducted in December 2018 revealing a poor condition assessment and a significant hazard potential.
Situated along a tributary to the West Branch Rocky River, Champagne Shores Pond Dam presents both environmental and safety concerns due to its outdated infrastructure and lack of modern spillway systems. Despite its poor condition, the dam continues to be a popular spot for recreational activities in the area, attracting visitors to its scenic surroundings. Moving forward, there is a pressing need for maintenance and potential upgrades to ensure the safety of the dam and the surrounding community, especially in the face of changing climate patterns and increased risks of extreme weather events.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Champagne Shores Pond Dam serves as a case study highlighting the importance of proactive dam management and the need for investments in sustainable infrastructure to adapt to a changing climate. As discussions around resiliency and risk mitigation gain prominence, this dam stands as a reminder of the critical role that water infrastructure plays in ensuring the safety and well-being of communities, while also underscoring the challenges posed by aging dams in the face of evolving environmental pressures.
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 Champagne Shores Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chippewa Creek At Miller Rd At Sterling Oh | 67 cfs | → |
| Cuyahoga River At Old Portage Oh | 501 cfs | → |
| Tuscarawas River Above Barberton Oh | 55 cfs | → |
| East Branch Rocky River Near Strongsville Oh | 84 cfs | → |
| Baldwin Creek At Strongsville Oh | 2 cfs | → |
| Unnamed Tributary To W B Rocky R Near Berea Oh | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Champagne Shores Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Chippewa Lake Boat Launch
- Portage Lakes State Park - Long Lake
- Portage Lakes State Park - North Reservoir
- Portage Lakes State Park - Turkeyfoot
- Old State Park
- Portage Lakes State Park - C 1
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Aurora Pond
- East 72nd Street Fishing Area
- Deer Creek Reservoir
- Charles Mill Lake
- Berlin Lake
- Clear Fork Reservoir
Paddle runs
Track Champagne Shores Pond 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 Champagne Shores Pond Dam
Where does the data for Champagne Shores Pond 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 Champagne Shores Pond Dam.