Bellwood Lake Dam dam
Bellwood Lake Dam
Bellwood Lake Dam, located in Geauga, Ohio, is a private dam completed in 1960 primarily for recreational purposes. The dam stands at a height of 26.8 feet and has a length of 450 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 34.7 acre-feet. Despite its recreational focus, the dam is regulated by the Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular inspections, with a significant hazard potential and a poor condition assessment as of the last inspection in June 2018.
Situated on a tributary to Silver Creek, Bellwood Lake Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region. The dam has a drainage area of 0.19 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 23 cubic feet per second. However, concerns have been raised about its condition, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and functionality of the structure. With its proximity to Russell Center and its designation as a significant hazard dam, stakeholders and enthusiasts in water resources and climate must stay informed about the dam's status and any potential risks it may pose.
As an Earth-type dam, Bellwood Lake Dam presents both opportunities for recreational enjoyment and challenges in terms of safety and maintenance. With a focus on recreation, the dam attracts visitors to its 3-acre reservoir surface area for activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife observation. However, the dam's poor condition assessment underscores the need for continued oversight and potential upgrades to address any deficiencies. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Bellwood Lake Dam serves as a case study in the intersection of infrastructure, natural resource management, and public safety, highlighting the complex considerations involved in maintaining and operating dams in a sustainable manner.
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 Bellwood Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Unnamed Tributary To Chagrin R At Pepper Pike Oh | 3 cfs | → |
| Unnamed Trib To Chagrin R At Mayfield Village Oh | 1 cfs | → |
| Cuyahoga River At Hiram Rapids Oh | 185 cfs | → |
| Tinkers Creek At Bedford Oh | 57 cfs | → |
| Euclid Creek At South Euclid Oh | 7 cfs | → |
| East Branch Euclid Creek At Richmond Heights Oh | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bellwood Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Punderson State Park
- Auburn Launch Ramp
- La Due Reservoir - Boat House
- Eldon Russell Park
- Lakeview Road Munson Township
- Berkshire Drive Aquilla
Campgrounds
- Camp Site A
- Camp Site B
- Punderson State Park
- Headwaters Park Camping
- Camp Asbury
- Kool Lakes Family Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Bellwood 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 Bellwood Lake Dam
Where does the data for Bellwood 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 Bellwood Lake Dam.