Alum Creek Dam dam
Alum Creek Dam
Alum Creek Dam, also known as Alum Creek Lake, is a gravity dam located in Westerville, Ohio. Completed in 1974 by the US Army Corps of Engineers, the dam's primary purpose is flood risk reduction, with additional benefits including fish and wildlife pond, recreation, and water supply. The dam stands at a structural height of 93 feet and has a hydraulic height of 81 feet, with a maximum storage capacity of 134,800 acre-feet.
Despite being classified as a moderate risk dam due to potential sliding failure of spillway monoliths during rare flood events, the US Army Corps of Engineers has implemented various risk management measures at Alum Creek Dam. These include regular inspections, monitoring systems, an Interim Risk Reduction Measures Plan, and emergency response training. The dam's Emergency Action Plan is regularly updated, and flood fighting materials are stored onsite to ensure preparedness for emergencies.
Overall, Alum Creek Dam serves as a critical infrastructure in managing flood risk in the region. Through ongoing risk management efforts and emergency preparedness, the dam continues to play a vital role in protecting communities and ecosystems from the impacts of potential flooding events.
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 Alum Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Alum Creek At Africa Oh | 14 cfs | → |
| Olentangy River Near Worthington Oh | 404 cfs | → |
| Big Walnut Creek At Sunbury Oh | 19 cfs | → |
| Big Walnut Creek At Central College Oh | 155 cfs | → |
| Scioto River Below O Shaughnessy Dam Nr Dublin Oh | 536 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Bellepoint Oh | 152 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Alum Creek Dam.
Boat launches
- Alum Creek State Park - New Galena
- Berlin Township
- Alum Creek State Park - Cheshire
- Hoover Reservoir - Oxbow Road Launch Ramp
- Hoover Reservoir - Baldridge Boat Ramp
- Hoover Reservoir - Boat Stake Area D
Campgrounds
- Recreation Unlimited
- Camp Marengo
- Summer Camp Job
- Camp Ken-Jockety & Elam Environmental Center
- Lazy River At Granville
Track Alum Creek 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 Alum Creek Dam
Where does the data for Alum Creek 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 Alum Creek Dam.