North Reservoir Dam dam
North Reservoir Dam
North Reservoir Dam, located in Summit County, Ohio, is a state-regulated structure owned by the State of Ohio and managed by the Department of Natural Resources. Built in 1840, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 12.7 feet and serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a storage capacity of 1111 acre-feet and a surface area of 166 acres. Despite its historical significance, the dam has been rated as having a high hazard potential and poor condition, last inspected in August 2015.
The dam, situated in the city of Portage Lakes and part of the Tuscarawas River's tributary system, poses a risk due to its outdated infrastructure and maintenance issues. With a drainage area of 1.34 square miles and a maximum discharge rate of 362 cubic feet per second, the dam's poor condition raises concerns for potential emergencies. Although an emergency action plan (EAP) was last revised in April 2019, the dam's risk assessment, management measures, and inundation maps remain unclear, highlighting the need for improved safety protocols and regular inspections to ensure the community's protection from any potential hazards.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is crucial to monitor the status of North Reservoir Dam closely, given its importance for recreation and potential risks associated with its condition. With a primary focus on public safety and environmental conservation, stakeholders must advocate for necessary upgrades, risk assessments, and emergency preparedness measures to safeguard the surrounding areas from any potential dam failures or flooding events. By staying informed and actively engaging in discussions around the dam's maintenance and regulatory oversight, we can work towards ensuring the long-term resilience of this critical water infrastructure in 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 North Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tuscarawas River Above Barberton Oh | 94 cfs | → |
| Cuyahoga River At Old Portage Oh | 581 cfs | → |
| Middle Branch Nimishillen Creek At Canton Oh | 36 cfs | → |
| Chippewa Creek At Miller Rd At Sterling Oh | 43 cfs | → |
| Tuscarawas River At Massillon Oh | 300 cfs | → |
| W Br Nimishillen Crk At Tuscarawas St At Canton Oh | 17 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near North Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Portage Lakes State Park - North Reservoir
- Portage Lakes State Park - Long Lake
- Old State Park
- Portage Lakes State Park - Turkeyfoot
- Portage Lakes State Park - C 1
- Portage Lakes State Park - 2 Na
Campgrounds
- Portage Lakes State Park
- Towpath Campsite
- Camp Christopher
- Silver Springs - Stow
- West Branch State Park
- Camp Asbury
Fishing spots
- Deer Creek Reservoir
- Aurora Pond
- Berlin Lake
- East 72nd Street Fishing Area
- Charles Mill Lake
- Clendening Lake
Paddle runs
Track North Reservoir 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 North Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for North Reservoir 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 North Reservoir Dam.