Comet Lake Dam dam
Comet Lake Dam
Comet Lake Dam, located in Summit County, Ohio, is a privately owned structure built in 1922 for recreational purposes along Nimisila Creek. The dam stands at a height of 25.5 feet and has a storage capacity of 560.4 acre-feet, with a drainage area of 9.36 square miles. Despite its primary purpose for recreation, the dam poses a high hazard potential and has been assessed as being in poor condition as of August 2020.
The Department of Natural Resources in Ohio regulates Comet Lake Dam, ensuring that it undergoes regular inspections and meets state permitting and enforcement requirements. The dam's emergency action plan was last revised in January 2022, and while it is located in a rural area, its proximity to the city of Comet raises concerns about potential risks to the surrounding community in case of a failure. With a maximum discharge capacity of 1421 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and mitigating flood risks in the region.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in Comet Lake Dam will find its historical significance and structural characteristics intriguing. As a privately owned earth dam with a century-old history, its current condition and hazard potential highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety of both the dam and the local community. The dam's location along Nimisila Creek adds to its environmental significance, making it a key feature in the watershed management of Summit County, Ohio.
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 Comet Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tuscarawas River Above Barberton Oh | 94 cfs | → |
| Tuscarawas River At Massillon Oh | 300 cfs | → |
| Middle Branch Nimishillen Creek At Canton Oh | 36 cfs | → |
| W Br Nimishillen Crk At Tuscarawas St At Canton Oh | 17 cfs | → |
| E Branch Nimishillen Crk At Trump Ave Nr Canton Oh | 8 cfs | → |
| Cuyahoga River At Old Portage Oh | 581 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Comet Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Portage Lakes State Park - C 6
- Portage Lakes State Park - Cg
- Portage Lakes State Park - 2 Na
- Portage Lakes State Park - C 1
- Portage Lakes State Park - Turkeyfoot
- Old State Park
Campgrounds
- Portage Lakes State Park
- Towpath Campsite
- Silver Springs - Stow
- Camp Christopher
- Pride Valley Campgrounds
- West Branch State Park
Fishing spots
- Deer Creek Reservoir
- Berlin Lake
- Aurora Pond
- East 72nd Street Fishing Area
- Charles Mill Lake
- Clendening Lake
Paddle runs
Track Comet 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 Comet Lake Dam
Where does the data for Comet 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 Comet Lake Dam.