Salerno Lake Dam dam
Salerno Lake Dam
Salerno Lake Dam, located in Medina, Ohio, is a privately owned structure with a primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1982, this earth dam stands at 26 feet tall and spans 450 feet in length, creating a storage capacity of 176 acre-feet. Despite its recreational appeal, the dam poses a high hazard potential and is currently rated as being in poor condition, as assessed in October 2018.
Managed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Salerno Lake Dam is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement. It is situated on a tributary to the West Branch Rocky River, contributing to a drainage area of 0.32 square miles. With a maximum discharge capacity of 1438 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the area. However, its poor condition warrants attention and potential risk management measures to ensure the safety of surrounding communities and the integrity of the structure.
As a focal point for recreational activities, Salerno Lake Dam not only provides a picturesque setting for visitors but also serves as a vital infrastructure for water storage and management. With its unique design and historical significance, the dam stands as a testament to the intersection of human ingenuity and environmental stewardship. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the complexities and importance of structures like Salerno Lake Dam is essential in fostering a sustainable relationship with our natural surroundings.
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 Salerno Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chippewa Creek At Miller Rd At Sterling Oh | 25 cfs | → |
| Tuscarawas River Above Barberton Oh | 24 cfs | → |
| Cuyahoga River At Old Portage Oh | 417 cfs | → |
| East Branch Rocky River Near Strongsville Oh | 27 cfs | → |
| Baldwin Creek At Strongsville Oh | 2 cfs | → |
| Cuyahoga River At Jaite Oh | 675 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Salerno Lake 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 Salerno 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 Salerno Lake Dam
Where does the data for Salerno 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 Salerno Lake Dam.