Puskarich Lake Dam dam
Puskarich Lake Dam
Puskarich Lake Dam, located in Carroll County, Ohio, stands as an essential structure for water supply in the region. Constructed in 1971 by CHARLES YOUNG ENGINEERING & SURVEYING, this earth dam reaches a height of 47.6 feet and spans 670 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 597.4 acre-feet, the dam primarily serves the purpose of water supply, supporting a normal storage level of 172.5 acre-feet.
Managed by a private owner, Puskarich Lake Dam is regulated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, ensuring state-permitted inspections and enforcement procedures are in place. The dam's last assessment in 2019 rated its condition as fair, with a high hazard potential due to its location along a tributary to Center Fork. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam remains a crucial resource for the surrounding community, with a surface area of 19.1 acres and a drainage area of 0.72 square miles.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Puskarich Lake Dam to be a fascinating subject of study, given its importance for water supply in the region. With its unique design and significant storage capacity, this dam plays a vital role in supporting the local ecosystem while also presenting challenges in terms of maintenance and risk management. As efforts continue to ensure the dam's safety and functionality, it stands as a symbol of human ingenuity in harnessing and managing water resources in harmony with the environment.
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 Puskarich Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mcguire Creek Near Leesville Oh | 41 cfs | → |
| Yellow Creek Near Hammondsville Oh | 82 cfs | → |
| Indian Fork Bl Atwood Dam Near New Cumberland Oh | 58 cfs | → |
| Sandy Creek At Waynesburg Oh | 242 cfs | → |
| Huff Run At Mineral City Oh | 16 cfs | → |
| Nimishillen Creek At North Industry Oh | 186 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Puskarich Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Atwood Lake Boat Launch
- Tappan Park Launch Ramp
- Jim Kenney Park
- Newburg Landing
- County Rd 6 Ramp
- Ohioville Borough
Campgrounds
- Harrison Hills Campground
- Petersburg Boat Landing
- Abc Country Camping And Cabins
- Jefferson Lake State Park
- Atwood Lake Campground (Main Gate)
- Pride Valley Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Puskarich 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 Puskarich Lake Dam
Where does the data for Puskarich 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 Puskarich Lake Dam.