Lake Sylvan Dam dam
Lake Sylvan Dam
Lake Sylvan Dam, located in Harmony, Ohio, was completed in 1947 and serves as a vital resource for recreation in the area. This earth dam stands at a height of 21 feet and spans a length of 580 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 423 acre-feet. The dam is situated on a tributary to Beaver Creek and is regulated by the Department of Natural Resources in Ohio.
Despite its importance for recreational activities, Lake Sylvan Dam is facing significant challenges. A recent inspection in October 2019 revealed poor conditions and a hazardous potential, prompting concerns about its safety and structural integrity. The dam is categorized as significant in terms of hazard potential, indicating the need for urgent attention and potential risk management measures to ensure the safety of the surrounding community.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts monitor the developments surrounding Lake Sylvan Dam, it is crucial to address its current condition and implement necessary improvements to mitigate potential risks. With a drainage area of 1.45 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 1152 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a critical role in water management in the region. As efforts are made to enhance its safety and functionality, stakeholders must work together to safeguard this important water resource 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 Lake Sylvan Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mad River At St Paris Pike At Eagle City Oh | 209 cfs | → |
| Mad River Near Springfield Oh | 338 cfs | → |
| Mad River Near Urbana Oh | 120 cfs | → |
| Little Darby Creek At West Jefferson Oh | 85 cfs | → |
| Massies Creek At Wilberforce Oh | 45 cfs | → |
| Little Miami River Near Oldtown Oh | 105 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Sylvan Dam.
Boat launches
- Ute Trail New Jasper Township
- Griggs Reservoir - Marina
- Kiser Lake State Park - Sailing Club
- Twin Lakes Boat Ramp
- Dublin Road 853, Columbus
- Riverside Drive Concord Township
Track Lake Sylvan 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 Lake Sylvan Dam
Where does the data for Lake Sylvan 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 Significant 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 Lake Sylvan Dam.