Lake Otto Dam dam
Lake Otto Dam
Lake Otto Dam, located in Licking, Ohio, was completed in 1959 and is owned privately. The dam, designed by LUBERG CONSTRUCTION CO., serves primarily for recreational purposes and spans 440 feet in length with a height of 24.9 feet. It holds a storage capacity of 63 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 7.6 acres, drawing water from the Painter Run river or stream.
Despite its recreational benefits, Lake Otto Dam poses a significant hazard potential with a poor condition assessment. It is regulated by the Department of Natural Resources in Ohio, with regular inspections conducted to ensure its safety. The dam's last inspection in December 2020 revealed its poor condition, prompting concerns about potential risks and the need for maintenance or upgrades to mitigate any potential threats.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Lake Otto Dam presents an interesting case study in dam management and safety. Its location in Rocky Fork, Ohio, within the Huntington District, highlights the importance of monitoring and maintaining infrastructure to prevent disasters and ensure the protection of surrounding communities. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the management of dams like Lake Otto Dam becomes crucial in ensuring both safety and sustainability for future generations.
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 Lake Otto Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wakatomika Creek Near Frazeysburg Oh | 43 cfs | → |
| North Fork Licking River At Utica Oh | 21 cfs | → |
| Licking River Near Newark Oh | 155 cfs | → |
| N. Fk. Licking River At E. Main St. At Newark Oh | 81 cfs | → |
| Raccoon Cr. Bl. Wilson Street At Newark Oh | 65 cfs | → |
| South Fork Licking River At Heath Oh | 46 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Otto Dam.
Boat launches
- Summit Road Southeast Newark
- East Muskingum Avenue Dresden
- Buckeye Lake State Park - Fairfield Beach
- Buckeye Lake State Park - Lieb
- Buckhorn Drive 1160, Clark
- Mohican State Park
Campgrounds
- Camp Falling Rock Boy Scout Reservation
- Lazy River At Granville
- Camp Mohaven
- Colonial Campground
- Forest Hills Lake Camp
- Camp Toodik Family Campground
Fishing spots
Track Lake Otto 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 Lake Otto Dam
Where does the data for Lake Otto 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 Lake Otto Dam.