Veto Lake Dam dam
Veto Lake Dam
Veto Lake Dam, located in Washington County, Ohio, is a state-regulated earth dam completed in 1954 for the primary purpose of recreation. With a height of 38 feet and a length of 463 feet, it impounds the Little Hocking River to create a reservoir with a maximum storage capacity of 4,297 acre-feet. However, despite its recreational value, the dam poses a high hazard potential and has been assessed as being in poor condition as of April 2017.
Managed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Veto Lake Dam undergoes regular state inspections and enforcement measures to ensure its structural integrity and public safety. The dam's location in Twin Bridges, along with its proximity to the Huntington District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, highlights the importance of its maintenance and monitoring in the face of potential climate impacts. Climate enthusiasts and water resource experts can appreciate the data on Veto Lake Dam as a case study in the intersection of infrastructure, natural resources, and climate resilience.
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 Veto Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Muskingum River At Beverly Oh | 5,900 cfs | → |
| Duck Creek Below Whipple Oh | 58 cfs | → |
| West Fork Duck Creek At Macksburg Oh | 14 cfs | → |
| Shade River Near Chester Oh | 15 cfs | → |
| Muskingum River At Mcconnelsville Oh | 5,420 cfs | → |
| Hocking River At Athens Oh | 291 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Veto Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Belpre Public Ramp
- Cherry Blossom Lane Washington County
- Northwest Drive 598, Wood County
- Coolville Ramp
- Athens Boat And Ski Club
- Beverly Ramp
Campgrounds
- Lane Farm Campground
- Chestnut Grove Camp Site
- Burr Oak State Park
- Woodgrove Campground H
- Burr Oak Cove Campground
- Leith Run Recreation Area
Track Veto 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 Veto Lake Dam
Where does the data for Veto 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 Veto Lake Dam.