Hinckley Lake Dam dam
Hinckley Lake Dam
Hinckley Lake Dam, located in Echo Lake Glen, Ohio, is a picturesque earth dam built in 1928 by the Cleveland Metropolitan Park District for recreational purposes. The dam stands at a height of 39.6 feet and spans a length of 750 feet, creating a storage capacity of 1,574 acre-feet and a surface area of 71.2 acres. However, recent inspections have revealed a poor condition assessment and a high hazard potential, prompting concerns for its structural integrity and the safety of downstream communities.
Managed by the Department of Natural Resources in Ohio, the Hinckley Lake Dam is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its safe operation. The dam controls the flow of the East Branch Rocky River, with a drainage area of 22.09 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 12,136 cubic feet per second. Despite its scenic beauty and recreational value, the dam's deteriorating condition underscores the importance of ongoing maintenance and risk management measures to prevent potential failures and protect surrounding ecosystems.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is crucial to monitor the maintenance and rehabilitation efforts of the Hinckley Lake Dam to safeguard its structural integrity and the safety of downstream communities. With its historical significance and recreational importance, the dam serves as a vital asset for water conservation and outdoor recreation in the region. By staying informed and advocating for responsible dam management practices, we can help preserve this iconic structure for future generations to enjoy while mitigating potential risks associated with its aging infrastructure.
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 Hinckley Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chippewa Creek In Chippewa Met Pk Near Brecksville | 7 cfs | → |
| Cuyahoga River At Jaite Oh | 675 cfs | → |
| East Branch Rocky River Near Strongsville Oh | 27 cfs | → |
| Baldwin Creek At Strongsville Oh | 2 cfs | → |
| Cuyahoga River At Old Portage Oh | 417 cfs | → |
| Brandywine Creek Near Macedonia Oh | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hinckley Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Chippewa Lake Boat Launch
- Hudson Springs Park
- Portage Lakes State Park - Long Lake
- Portage Lakes State Park - North Reservoir
- Canfield Road 2300, Sawyerwood
- Portage Lakes State Park - Turkeyfoot
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Hinckley 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 Hinckley Lake Dam
Where does the data for Hinckley 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 Hinckley Lake Dam.