Hickory Lake Dam dam
Hickory Lake Dam
Hickory Lake Dam, located in Holmes County, Ohio, was completed in 1967 for the primary purpose of recreation. The dam stands at a height of 39.2 feet and has a storage capacity of 150.1 acre-feet. Situated along a tributary to Doughty Creek, the dam is owned privately and regulated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place.
The dam has a low hazard potential and is currently assessed to be in fair condition as of the last inspection in October 2019. With a drainage area of 0.42 square miles and a maximum discharge of 802 cubic feet per second, Hickory Lake Dam provides both recreational opportunities and important water resource management functions. Despite its modest size, the dam plays a crucial role in the local water ecosystem and the surrounding community.
Designed by Donald R. Elewski and Slabe & Mackay of Cleveland, Ohio, Hickory Lake Dam serves as a significant element in the Buffalo District's infrastructure. As a key feature in the region's water management system, the dam exemplifies the importance of sustainable and effective dam operations for both recreational and environmental purposes.
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 Hickory Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Killbuck Creek At Killbuck Oh | 544 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Coshocton Oh | 7 cfs | → |
| Muskingum River Near Coshocton Oh | 4,080 cfs | → |
| Sugar Creek At Strasburg Oh | 265 cfs | → |
| Tuscarawas River At Newcomerstown Oh | 1,900 cfs | → |
| Tuscarawas River At New Philadelphia Oh | 1,360 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hickory Lake Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Colonial Campground
- Forest Hills Lake Camp
- Camp Mohaven
- Camp Toodik Family Campground
- Towpath Campsite
- Camp Falling Rock Boy Scout Reservation
Fishing spots
- Apple Valley Lake
- Charles Mill Lake
- Clendening Lake
- Clear Fork Reservoir
- Buckeye Lake
- Barnesville Lake #4
Paddle runs
Track Hickory 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 Hickory Lake Dam
Where does the data for Hickory 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 Hickory Lake Dam.