Shadow Hill Lake Dam dam
Shadow Hill Lake Dam
Shadow Hill Lake Dam, located in Kirtland, Ohio, is a private earth dam designed by Braun, Prenosil & Associates and completed in 1973. The dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, with a storage capacity of 35.3 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 18.9 acre-feet. With a height of 20.6 feet and a length of 200 feet, the dam sits on the tributary to the East Branch Chagrin River, contributing to a surface area of 3.6 acres and a drainage area of 0.13 square miles.
State-regulated by the Department of Natural Resources, Shadow Hill Lake Dam has a high hazard potential and is subject to regular inspections every 5 years, with the latest assessment in May 2018 rating its condition as satisfactory. Although there are no specific spillway details provided, the dam has a maximum discharge capacity of 1142 cubic feet per second. Despite the lack of associated structures or outlet gates, the dam remains a critical component for recreational activities in the area, highlighting the importance of its maintenance and adherence to state regulatory guidelines.
As a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts, Shadow Hill Lake Dam offers a glimpse into the intersection of human-made infrastructure and natural ecosystems. With its location within Geauga County, Ohio, and proximity to the Buffalo District of the USACE, the dam showcases the delicate balance between water management for recreation and the potential risks associated with high hazard dams. Through ongoing monitoring and inspections, stakeholders can ensure the safety and functionality of Shadow Hill Lake Dam for both present and future generations of outdoor enthusiasts and environmental stewards.
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 Shadow Hill Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Unnamed Trib To Chagrin R At Mayfield Village Oh | 1 cfs | → |
| Chagrin River At Willoughby Oh | 497 cfs | → |
| Unnamed Tributary To Chagrin R At Pepper Pike Oh | 3 cfs | → |
| East Branch Euclid Creek At Richmond Heights Oh | 5 cfs | → |
| Euclid Creek At South Euclid Oh | 7 cfs | → |
| Grand River Near Painesville Oh | 390 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Shadow Hill Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Lakeview Road Munson Township
- Berkshire Drive Aquilla
- Punderson State Park
- Eldon Russell Park
- Eastlake Port Authority Boat Ramp
- La Due Reservoir - Boat House
Campgrounds
- Camp Site B
- Camp Site A
- Punderson State Park
- Girdled Road Reservation Campsite
- Headwaters Park Camping
- Heritage Hills Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Shadow Hill 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 Shadow Hill Lake Dam
Where does the data for Shadow Hill 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 High 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 Shadow Hill Lake Dam.