Christal Lake Dam dam
Christal Lake Dam
Christal Lake Dam, located in Darbyville, Ohio, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1964 for recreational purposes. Situated on a tributary to Big Darby Creek, this dam stands at a height of 22.2 feet and has a storage capacity of 178 acre-feet. Despite its primary purpose for recreation, the dam's condition assessment is rated as poor, with a significant hazard potential.
The dam's poor condition raises concerns about its long-term safety and the potential risks it poses to the surrounding community. With a drainage area of 0.88 square miles and a maximum discharge of 282 cubic feet per second, there is a need for ongoing inspections and maintenance to mitigate any hazards. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources regulates this dam, ensuring that state permitting, inspection, and enforcement measures are in place to address any safety issues.
Given its outdated design and current condition, the Christal Lake Dam serves as a reminder of the importance of regular monitoring and maintenance of water infrastructure. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is essential to advocate for the proper management of dams like this one to safeguard not only recreational opportunities but also the safety of nearby communities and the surrounding 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 Christal Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hellbranch Run Near Harrisburg Oh | 8 cfs | → |
| Big Darby Creek At Darbyville Oh | 353 cfs | → |
| Scioto River Near Commercial Point Oh | 1,100 cfs | → |
| Deer Creek At Mount Sterling Oh | 71 cfs | → |
| Walnut Creek At Ashville Oh | 109 cfs | → |
| Big Walnut Creek At Rees Oh | 182 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Christal Lake Dam.
Track Christal 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 Christal Lake Dam
Where does the data for Christal 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 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 Christal Lake Dam.