Cooke Pond No. 1 Dam dam
Cooke Pond No. 1 Dam
Cooke Pond No. 1 Dam, located in Richland County, Ohio, is a privately owned structure with a primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1964 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 16.5 feet and has a length of 975 feet. With a storage capacity of 63.7 acre-feet, the dam serves as a recreational hotspot for locals and visitors alike, offering a surface area of 7.3 acres for various water activities.
Despite its recreational benefits, Cooke Pond No. 1 Dam has been assessed to be in poor condition, with a significant hazard potential. The dam is under state regulation and inspection, with the Department of Natural Resources overseeing its permitting, inspections, and enforcement. The last inspection in September 2016 revealed its poor condition, prompting the need for risk management measures to ensure public safety and prevent potential emergencies. With a moderate risk assessment rating, stakeholders are urged to address the dam's structural deficiencies and update emergency action plans to mitigate potential risks.
As a key component of the local water resource system, Cooke Pond No. 1 Dam plays a vital role in managing water levels and providing recreational opportunities to the community. With its unique design and historical significance, the dam serves as a focal point for water and climate enthusiasts interested in the intersection of human infrastructure and environmental conservation. As efforts continue to improve its condition and safety measures, the dam remains an important landmark that reflects the delicate balance between human development and natural resource management in the region.
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 Cooke Pond No. 1 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Black Fork Mohican River At Shelby Oh | 21 cfs | → |
| Sandusky River Near Bucyrus Oh | 35 cfs | → |
| Rock Creek Near Republic Oh | · | → |
| Honey Creek At Melmore Oh | 46 cfs | → |
| Clear Fork Mohican River At Bellville Oh | 93 cfs | → |
| Huron River At Milan Oh | 129 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cooke Pond No. 1 Dam.
Boat launches
- Bucyrus Reservoir No. 2
- Gay Street Bucyrus
- New London Reservoir Park/Campground
- Bellevue Reservoir
- Upper Sandusky Reservoir
Track Cooke Pond No. 1 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 Cooke Pond No. 1 Dam
Where does the data for Cooke Pond No. 1 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 Cooke Pond No. 1 Dam.