Wills Creek Dam dam
Wills Creek Dam
Wills Creek Dam, also known as Wills Creek Lake, is a Federal-owned structure located in Coshocton, Ohio. Built in 1936 by the US Army Corps of Engineers, the dam serves multiple purposes including flood risk reduction, fish and wildlife pond, and recreation. With a hydraulic height of 65 feet and a structural height of 87 feet, Wills Creek Dam has a storage capacity of 196,000 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 900 acres.
The dam is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway and six slide (sluice gate) outlet gates. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam is well-maintained and meets all necessary guidelines for emergency preparedness. The US Army Corps of Engineers actively manages dam-related flood risks by monitoring the dam's condition, prioritizing risk-reducing activities, and collaborating with local emergency managers to ensure public safety in the event of a dam-related emergency. Overall, Wills Creek Dam stands as a vital infrastructure for flood control and water resource management in the region.
As a water resource and climate enthusiast, one can appreciate the engineering prowess behind Wills Creek Dam and its role in mitigating flood risks while supporting wildlife habitat and recreational activities. By understanding the dam's design, operation, and emergency response measures, enthusiasts can gain a deeper appreciation for the complex interplay between water resources, infrastructure, and environmental stewardship in managing our nation's waterways.
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 Wills Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Muskingum River Near Coshocton Oh | 4,110 cfs | → |
| Muskingum River At Dresden Oh | 4,450 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Coshocton Oh | 5 cfs | → |
| Tuscarawas River At Newcomerstown Oh | 1,890 cfs | → |
| Wakatomika Creek Near Frazeysburg Oh | 39 cfs | → |
| Wills Creek At Cambridge Oh | 43 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wills Creek Dam.
Boat launches
- East Muskingum Avenue Dresden
- Morning Glory Ramp
- Salt Fork State Park - North Salem Ramp
- Salt Fork State Park - Cabin Area
- Salt Fork State Park - Rocky Fork Access
- Salt Fork State Park - Campground Ramp
Campgrounds
- Colonial Campground
- Forest Hills Lake Camp
- Camp Falling Rock Boy Scout Reservation
- Area 31 Campsite
- Camp Mohaven
Track Wills 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 Wills Creek Dam
Where does the data for Wills 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 Wills Creek Dam.