Ritz Lake Dam dam
Ritz Lake Dam
Ritz Lake Dam, also known as Culbertson Farm Lake, is a private dam located in Guernsey, Ohio, that serves primarily for recreational purposes. Constructed in 1973 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 30.3 feet and has a length of 335 feet, holding a maximum storage capacity of 48.9 acre-feet. The dam is regulated by the Department of Natural Resources in Ohio, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and compliance.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2017 was reported as poor. With a moderate risk rating, it is essential for proper risk management measures to be implemented to address any potential safety concerns. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, and it is equipped with uncontrolled outlet gates. Regular inspections are conducted every five years to assess its condition and ensure its integrity. As a tributary to Wills Creek, Ritz Lake Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
Overall, Ritz Lake Dam serves as a vital infrastructure for recreation and water management in the area, highlighting the importance of proper maintenance and risk mitigation strategies for sustainable water resource management. With its scenic location and significant storage capacity, efforts to improve its condition and safety measures are crucial to ensure its long-term functionality and resilience in the face of changing climate conditions. Collaboration between private owners, state agencies, and federal regulators is essential to address the challenges and opportunities associated with this important water resource infrastructure.
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 Ritz Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wills Creek At Cambridge Oh | 51 cfs | → |
| Leatherwood Creek Near Kipling Oh | 14 cfs | → |
| Tuscarawas River At Newcomerstown Oh | 1,900 cfs | → |
| Seneca Fork Bl Senecaville Dam Near Senecaville Oh | 14 cfs | → |
| Muskingum River Near Coshocton Oh | 4,080 cfs | → |
| Salt Creek Near Chandlersville Oh | 20 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ritz Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Morning Glory Ramp
- Salt Fork State Park - Cabin Area
- Salt Fork State Park - North Salem Ramp
- Salt Fork State Park - Campground Ramp
- Salt Fork State Park - Salt Fork Marina
- Us 22 Wildlife Acess Ramp
Campgrounds
Track Ritz 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 Ritz Lake Dam
Where does the data for Ritz 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 Ritz Lake Dam.