Varian Lake Dam dam
Varian Lake Dam
Varian Lake Dam, located in Stark County, Ohio, is a private dam primarily used for recreational purposes. Built in 1964 by the USDA Soil Conservation Service, this earth dam stands at 32 feet high and stretches 545 feet in length, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 61.6 acre-feet. The dam is situated on a tributary to Indian Run and is under the regulatory oversight of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
With a significant hazard potential, Varian Lake Dam has been rated as structurally sound and in satisfactory condition as of the last inspection in November 2020. The dam poses a risk to the surrounding area in the event of a failure, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance. Emergency action plans are presumably in place, although details about their preparation and guidelines compliance are not specified in the available data.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Varian Lake Dam serves as both a recreational asset and a critical piece of infrastructure requiring careful management and oversight. Its role in providing water storage and recreational opportunities underscores the need for continued vigilance in ensuring its safety and functionality for the community of Goodland Acres and beyond.
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 Varian Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nimishillen Creek At North Industry Oh | 161 cfs | → |
| E Branch Nimishillen Crk At Trump Ave Nr Canton Oh | 8 cfs | → |
| W Br Nimishillen Crk At Tuscarawas St At Canton Oh | 17 cfs | → |
| Sandy Creek At Waynesburg Oh | 219 cfs | → |
| Middle Branch Nimishillen Creek At Canton Oh | 34 cfs | → |
| Huff Run At Mineral City Oh | 16 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Varian Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Atwood Lake Boat Launch
- Portage Lakes State Park - C 6
- Beach City Dam Launch Ramp
- Portage Lakes State Park - Cg
- Portage Lakes State Park - 2 Na
- Portage Lakes State Park - C 1
Campgrounds
- Pride Valley Campgrounds
- Abc Country Camping And Cabins
- Towpath Campsite
- Harrison Hills Campground
- Atwood Lake Campground (Main Gate)
- Petersburg Boat Landing
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Varian 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 Varian Lake Dam
Where does the data for Varian 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 Significant 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 Varian Lake Dam.