Paradise Lakes - South Lake Dam dam
Paradise Lakes - South Lake Dam
Paradise Lakes - South Lake Dam, located in Ohio, is a privately owned structure with a primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1946, this earth dam stands at a height of 40 feet and spans 600 feet in length. It has a storage capacity of 86.6 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 71.9 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 6.4 acres and serving a drainage area of 0.11 square miles.
Despite its recreational appeal, Paradise Lakes - South Lake Dam poses a high hazard potential with a poor condition assessment as of the last inspection in 2016. The dam is regulated by the Department of Natural Resources in Ohio, ensuring state oversight for permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The dam's proximity to Elk Creek and its tributaries underscores the importance of maintaining its structural integrity to mitigate flood risks and protect the surrounding environment.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Paradise Lakes - South Lake Dam offers a case study in the intersection of recreation and dam safety. With a significant storage capacity and a history dating back to the mid-20th century, this dam serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges and responsibilities associated with managing water resources in a changing climate. Ongoing monitoring and potential rehabilitation efforts will be crucial to ensure the continued safety and functionality of this essential 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 Paradise Lakes - South Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Twin Creek Near Germantown Oh | 653 cfs | → |
| Sevenmile Creek At Camden Oh | 229 cfs | → |
| Great Miami River At Middletown Oh | 2,110 cfs | → |
| Great Miami River At Franklin Oh | 2,480 cfs | → |
| Great Miami River Below Miamisburg Oh | 5,170 cfs | → |
| Great Miami River At Miamisburg Oh | 2,170 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Paradise Lakes - South Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Rush Run Wildlife Area
- Kennedy Road Municipio De St. Clair
- Black St. Ramp - Combs Park
- Mckelvey Road Springfield Township
- Lakeview Drive Greenhills
- Whitewater Sp Ramp Union County
Campgrounds
- Woodland Trails Scout Reservation
- Camp Stonybrook
- Governor Bebb Preserve
- Camp Lebanon Retreat Center
- Windy Heights
- Berry Patch
Fishing spots
Track Paradise Lakes - South 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 Paradise Lakes - South Lake Dam
Where does the data for Paradise Lakes - South 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 Paradise Lakes - South Lake Dam.