Heil Lake Dam dam
Heil Lake Dam
Heil Lake Dam is a privately owned structure located in Guernsey, Ohio, near the city of Lore City. Completed in 1991, this earth dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a surface area of 14.3 acres and a storage capacity of 296 acre-feet. Situated on a tributary to Leatherwood Creek, the dam stands at a height of 26 feet and spans a length of 590 feet.
Managed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Heil Lake Dam has been inspected regularly, with the most recent assessment in November 2017 rating its condition as fair and its hazard potential as low. Despite its low risk profile, the dam has a maximum discharge capacity of 2717 cubic feet per second in case of emergencies. The site is also subject to state regulations, with permitting, inspection, and enforcement overseen by the appropriate agencies.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Heil Lake Dam offers a fascinating case study in dam management and recreational use. With its modest size and low hazard potential, the dam provides valuable insights into the balance between water storage, environmental impact, and public enjoyment. As climate change continues to pose challenges to water resource management, structures like Heil Lake Dam highlight the importance of proactive monitoring and maintenance to ensure safety and sustainability for future generations.
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 Heil Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Leatherwood Creek Near Kipling Oh | 14 cfs | → |
| Seneca Fork Bl Senecaville Dam Near Senecaville Oh | 14 cfs | → |
| Wills Creek At Cambridge Oh | 51 cfs | → |
| Stillwater Creek At Piedmont Oh | 67 cfs | → |
| Boggs Fork At Piedmont Oh | 19 cfs | → |
| Brushy Fork Near Tippecanoe Oh | 35 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Heil Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Us 22 Wildlife Acess Ramp
- Salt Fork State Park - Campground Ramp
- Salt Fork State Park - Salt Fork Marina
- Noble County Fish And Game
- Salt Fork State Park - Cabin Area
- Morning Glory Ramp
Campgrounds
- Woodgrove Campground H
- Area 31 Campsite
- Lamping Homestead Recreation Area
- Forest Hills Lake Camp
- Colonial Campground
Track Heil 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 Heil Lake Dam
Where does the data for Heil 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 Low 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 Heil Lake Dam.