Lake Hamilton Dam dam
Lake Hamilton Dam
Lake Hamilton Dam, located in Struthers, Ohio, is a concrete structure with a height of 70.1 feet and a length of 480 feet. Built in 1905, the dam serves a primary purpose of recreation and holds a storage capacity of 3,273.1 acre-feet. It is situated on Yellow Creek, with a drainage area of 33.5 square miles and a surface area of 104 acres.
Despite its historical significance, the dam is currently assessed as being in poor condition with a high hazard potential. The last inspection in May 2016 revealed the need for improvement, and the dam has been designated for regular inspections every five years. The Department of Natural Resources in Ohio regulates the dam, ensuring its continued safety and compliance with state permitting and inspection requirements.
Lake Hamilton Dam poses both a recreational attraction and a potential risk due to its condition. As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the importance of maintaining and upgrading dams like Lake Hamilton Dam becomes increasingly vital to safeguarding communities and the environment. Efforts to address the dam's poor condition and mitigate potential hazards are essential to ensuring the longevity and safety of this significant water resource in Mahoning 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 Lake Hamilton Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mahoning River At Lowellville Oh | 1,770 cfs | → |
| Mahoning River Below West Ave At Youngstown Oh | 1,630 cfs | → |
| Beaver River At Wampum | 3,260 cfs | → |
| Shenango River At Sharpsville | 480 cfs | → |
| Mosquito Creek Bl Mosquito Ck Dam Nr Cortland Oh | 191 cfs | → |
| Mahoning River At Leavittsburg Oh | 946 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Hamilton Dam.
Boat launches
- Bessemer Lake
- Pa 208;Pa 551 Pulaski
- West Middlesex Access
- Alduk Access
- Bevington Boat Access
- Mahaney Access
Campgrounds
- Shenango
- Mill Creek - Berlin Reservoir
- Beaver Creek State Park
- Mosquito Lake State Park
- Guilford Lake State Park
- Harts Content Campground
Paddle runs
Track Lake Hamilton 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 Hamilton Dam
Where does the data for Lake Hamilton 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 Lake Hamilton Dam.