Private Lake Dam dam
Private Lake Dam
Private Lake Dam, located in Ashtabula, Ohio, is a privately owned earth dam primarily used for recreation purposes. Built in 1964 by the USDA Soil Conservation Service, this dam stands at a height of 18.5 feet and has a length of 750 feet, creating a reservoir with a normal storage capacity of 37.6 acre-feet. The dam, managed by the Department of Natural Resources, is regulated and inspected by the state of Ohio to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
Despite its low hazard potential, Private Lake Dam received a poor condition assessment during its last inspection in May 2016. The dam's emergency action plan and risk management measures are currently not up to date, posing a potential risk to the surrounding area in case of a failure. With a drainage area of 0.37 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 230.5 cubic feet per second, it is crucial for the dam owners to prioritize maintenance and repairs to improve its overall condition and safety.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Private Lake Dam serves as a reminder of the importance of proper dam management and maintenance to ensure public safety and environmental protection. As a recreational structure in a tributary to Mill Creek, this dam plays a vital role in water storage and flood control in the region. Going forward, increased attention to the dam's condition, emergency preparedness, and risk assessment will be essential to mitigate any potential hazards and ensure the long-term sustainability of this important water resource 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 Private Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Conneaut Creek At Conneaut Oh | 164 cfs | → |
| Mosquito Creek Near Greene Center Oh | 23 cfs | → |
| Grand River Near Painesville Oh | 390 cfs | → |
| Shenango River At Pymatuning Dam | 205 cfs | → |
| Mosquito Creek Bl Mosquito Ck Dam Nr Cortland Oh | 47 cfs | → |
| Little Shenango River At Greenville | 116 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Private Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Ashtabula Recreational Unlimited
- Madison Twp. Park
- Red Cross Hand-Carry Boat Launch
- Wilson Road
- Alcatraz
- Tuttle Camp
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Private 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 Private Lake Dam
Where does the data for Private 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 Private Lake Dam.