Waller Lake Dam dam
Waller Lake Dam
Waller Lake Dam in Ohio stands as a vital water resource and recreational site, completed in 1955 with a primary purpose for recreation. The dam, located in Lawrence County, Ohio, along the Little Ice Creek, has a height of 24.4 feet and a length of 210 feet, providing a storage capacity of 39.9 acre-feet. Despite its recreational value, the dam poses a high hazard potential and is currently in poor condition, with the last inspection in November 2020 highlighting the need for improvements.
Managed by a private owner, the Waller Lake Dam is regulated by the Department of Natural Resources in Ohio, ensuring state jurisdiction, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The dam's location in Forestdale, Ohio, offers visitors a serene escape with a surface area of 4.1 acres and a drainage area of 0.6 square miles. However, with a hazard potential classified as high and a poor condition assessment, there is a pressing need for maintenance and risk management measures to safeguard both the dam's structural integrity and the surrounding community.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Waller Lake Dam serves as a case study in balancing the recreational benefits of dam infrastructure with the importance of maintaining safety and environmental sustainability. With its historical significance dating back to the 1950s and its crucial role in providing water storage and recreational opportunities, the dam presents a compelling opportunity for stakeholders to collaborate on improving its condition and mitigating potential risks to ensure its long-term viability and safety 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 Waller Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Symmes Creek At Aid Oh | 18 cfs | → |
| Ohio River At Ironton | 46,500 cfs | → |
| Ohio River At Greenup Dam Near Greenup | 53,200 cfs | → |
| Tygarts Creek Near Greenup | 14 cfs | → |
| Little Sandy River At Grayson | 64 cfs | → |
| Raccoon Creek At Adamsville Oh | 11,600 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Waller Lake Dam.
Track Waller 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 Waller Lake Dam
Where does the data for Waller 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 Waller Lake Dam.