Candlewood Lake Dam dam
Candlewood Lake Dam
Candlewood Lake Dam, located in Mt. Gilead, Ohio, stands as a testament to the impressive engineering feats of Dodson-Lindblom & Associates, Columbus, Ohio, who designed the structure back in 1974. With a height of 58 feet and a length of 1170 feet, this earth dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a surface area of 200 acres and a maximum storage capacity of 7125 acre-feet. The dam overlooks Whetstone Creek and is under the regulatory oversight of the Department of Natural Resources in Ohio.
Despite its fair condition assessment and high hazard potential, Candlewood Lake Dam has undergone regular inspections, with the most recent one taking place on October 30, 2020. The dam is equipped with emergency action plans and adequate measures to mitigate risks and ensure public safety. Its location in Morrow County, Ohio, makes it a vital asset for water resource management and climate resilience in the region, with a drainage area of 12.3 square miles and the capability to discharge up to 46,230 cubic feet per second in case of emergencies.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the significance of Candlewood Lake Dam as a crucial infrastructure for recreation and water management in Ohio. Its strategic design and operational efficiency, coupled with regular inspections and emergency preparedness, highlight the commitment to ensuring the safety and sustainability of this essential water resource. With a rich history dating back to its completion in 1974, Candlewood Lake Dam continues to play a pivotal role in maintaining the balance between recreational enjoyment and environmental protection in the region.
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 Candlewood Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Whetstone Creek At Mt Gilead Oh | 27 cfs | → |
| Clear Fork Mohican River At Bellville Oh | 93 cfs | → |
| Sandusky River Near Bucyrus Oh | 28 cfs | → |
| Alum Creek Near Kilbourne Oh | 23 cfs | → |
| Black Fork Mohican River At Shelby Oh | 10 cfs | → |
| Kokosing River At Mount Vernon Oh | 108 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Candlewood Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Bucyrus Reservoir No. 2
- Gay Street Bucyrus
- Delaware State Park - East Ramp
- Kilbourne Hand Launch
- Panhandle Road Troy Township
- Delaware State Park - South Ramp
Track Candlewood 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 Candlewood Lake Dam
Where does the data for Candlewood 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 Candlewood Lake Dam.