Deer Lake Dam dam
Deer Lake Dam
Deer Lake Dam in Muskingum, Ohio, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1957 for recreational purposes. The dam stands at a height of 30 feet and spans 450 feet, providing a storage capacity of 138 acre-feet. Situated on a tributary to Jonathan Creek, this dam is regulated by the Department of Natural Resources in Ohio and undergoes regular state inspections, with a high hazard potential and poor condition assessment reported in the last inspection in 2018.
Despite its poor condition, Deer Lake Dam continues to be a popular spot for recreation, offering a surface area of 9 acres for activities like boating and fishing. The dam's drainage area is relatively small at 1.06 square miles, but it has a maximum discharge capacity of 527 cubic feet per second. With a high hazard potential, it is crucial for the owners to prioritize maintenance and risk management measures to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and downstream areas in case of emergencies.
While Deer Lake Dam provides valuable recreational opportunities, its deteriorating condition and high hazard potential raise concerns for its long-term safety and effectiveness. As a privately owned structure, it is essential for the owners to work closely with state regulatory agencies and implement necessary maintenance and risk management measures to mitigate potential risks and ensure the continued enjoyment of this water resource by enthusiasts in the region.
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 Deer Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Creek Near Chandlersville Oh | 16 cfs | → |
| Muskingum River At Dresden Oh | 4,570 cfs | → |
| Wakatomika Creek Near Frazeysburg Oh | 40 cfs | → |
| Licking River Near Newark Oh | 149 cfs | → |
| South Fork Licking River At Heath Oh | 60 cfs | → |
| N. Fk. Licking River At E. Main St. At Newark Oh | 75 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Deer Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- East Muskingum Avenue Dresden
- Rush Creek Lake
- Summit Road Southeast Newark
- Buckeye Lake State Park - Fairfield Beach
- Malta Ramp
- Mcconnelsville Lock And Dam Ramp No.7
Campgrounds
- Area 31 Campsite
- Camp Falling Rock Boy Scout Reservation
- Burr Oak Cove Campground
- Burr Oak State Park
- Woodgrove Campground H
- Camp Akita
Fishing spots
Track Deer 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 Deer Lake Dam
Where does the data for Deer 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 Deer Lake Dam.