Clark Lake Dam dam
Clark Lake Dam
Clark Lake Dam, located in Springfield, Ohio, is a state-owned structure built in 1957 by Dodson, Kinney & Lindblom. The dam, situated on Sinking Creek, serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a storage capacity of 2107 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 453 acre-feet. With a height of 23 feet and a length of 1425 feet, the dam plays a crucial role in regulating water flow and providing water-based activities for enthusiasts.
Despite its recreational significance, Clark Lake Dam poses a high hazard potential and has been rated as being in poor condition as of the last assessment in October 2019. The dam is under the regulatory jurisdiction of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure safety and compliance. With a maximum discharge capacity of 34,569.7 cubic feet per second, the dam's structural integrity and maintenance are critical for mitigating risks and safeguarding the surrounding community and environment.
In light of the dam's aging infrastructure and high hazard potential, ongoing monitoring, maintenance, and potential rehabilitation efforts are essential to enhance its safety and resilience. As a focal point for recreation and water resource management in the region, the Clark Lake Dam serves as a valuable asset that requires careful oversight and proactive measures to address any potential risks and ensure its continued functionality for future generations of water resource and climate enthusiasts.
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 Clark Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mad River At St Paris Pike At Eagle City Oh | 209 cfs | → |
| Mad River Near Springfield Oh | 338 cfs | → |
| Mad River Near Urbana Oh | 120 cfs | → |
| Massies Creek At Wilberforce Oh | 45 cfs | → |
| Little Miami River Near Oldtown Oh | 105 cfs | → |
| Little Darby Creek At West Jefferson Oh | 85 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Clark Lake Dam.
Track Clark 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 Clark Lake Dam
Where does the data for Clark 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 Clark Lake Dam.