General Motors Secondary Lagoon dam
General Motors Secondary Lagoon
General Motors Secondary Lagoon, located in Defiance, Ohio, serves as a vital tailings facility for the automotive giant. Managed by a private entity, this earth dam stands at a height of 29 feet and spans a length of 3300 feet, with a storage capacity of 368 acre-feet. Despite its importance, the dam is currently assessed as being in poor condition, with a significant hazard potential. The last inspection in November 2017 revealed the need for improvements to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure.
The dam is regulated by the Department of Natural Resources in Ohio, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place, highlighting the commitment to maintaining environmental standards and safeguarding water resources in the region. The Maumee River serves as the offstream drainage area for the lagoon, emphasizing the interconnectedness of water systems in the area. The dam's location in Independence, Ohio, adds to its significance in the local ecosystem and underscores the importance of proactive management to prevent any potential risks or hazards.
With a storage capacity of 368 acre-feet and a surface area of 19 acres, General Motors Secondary Lagoon plays a crucial role in managing tailings and ensuring environmental protection. As the primary purpose of the dam, it is essential to prioritize maintenance and improvements to address the current poor condition and significant hazard potential. By adhering to state regulations and implementing necessary risk management measures, the owners can enhance the safety and resilience of this critical water resource infrastructure for the benefit of the community and the environment.
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 General Motors Secondary Lagoon -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Maumee River Near Defiance Oh | 2,770 cfs | → |
| Auglaize River Near Defiance Oh | 1,070 cfs | → |
| Tiffin River Near Evansport Oh | 192 cfs | → |
| Little Flatrock Creek Near Junction Oh | 2 cfs | → |
| South Turkeyfoot Creek Near Shunk Oh | 23 cfs | → |
| Platter Creek Near Sherwood Oh | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near General Motors Secondary Lagoon.
Boat launches
- Oxbow Lake Wildlife Area
- Five Mile Creek Wildlife Access
- Oakwood Ramp
- West Main Street Ottawa
- Mary Jane Thurston State Park
- County Road 63 Saint Joe
Track General Motors Secondary Lagoon 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 General Motors Secondary Lagoon
Where does the data for General Motors Secondary Lagoon 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 General Motors Secondary Lagoon.