Muskingum River Lock And Dam No. 5 dam
Muskingum River Lock And Dam No. 5
Muskingum River Lock and Dam No. 5, also known as Swift's No. 5, is a state-owned structure located in Washington County, Ohio along the Muskingum River. Built in 1841 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, this timber crib dam stands at a height of 19.7 feet and has a dam length of 546 feet. The dam serves primarily for recreation purposes, providing a surface area of 328 acres and a maximum storage capacity of 2525 acre-feet.
Despite its historical significance and recreational value, Muskingum River Lock and Dam No. 5 faces challenges in terms of its condition assessment, which has been rated as poor. The hazard potential associated with the dam is classified as significant, highlighting the need for regular inspections and maintenance. The last inspection conducted in October 2018 revealed the dam's deteriorating state, prompting concerns about its long-term stability and safety.
Given its role in regulating the flow of the Muskingum River and providing recreational opportunities, the future of Muskingum River Lock and Dam No. 5 hinges on addressing its maintenance needs and ensuring it meets safety standards. With state regulatory oversight from the Department of Natural Resources, efforts to improve the dam's condition and reduce its hazard potential are essential to preserving this important water resource for both local communities and the 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 Muskingum River Lock And Dam No. 5 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Muskingum River At Beverly Oh | 5,490 cfs | → |
| Muskingum River At Mcconnelsville Oh | 5,220 cfs | → |
| West Fork Duck Creek At Macksburg Oh | 30 cfs | → |
| Duck Creek Below Whipple Oh | 54 cfs | → |
| East Fork Duck Creek Near Harrietsville Oh | 37 cfs | → |
| Sunday Creek Below Millfield Oh | 54 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Muskingum River Lock And Dam No. 5.
Boat launches
- Beverly Ramp
- Mcconnelsville Lock And Dam Ramp No.7
- Malta Ramp
- Cherry Blossom Lane Washington County
- Belpre Public Ramp
- Northwest Drive 598, Wood County
Campgrounds
- Woodgrove Campground H
- Area 31 Campsite
- Burr Oak State Park
- Burr Oak Cove Campground
- Lane Farm Campground
- Chestnut Grove Camp Site
Track Muskingum River Lock And Dam No. 5 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 Muskingum River Lock And Dam No. 5
Where does the data for Muskingum River Lock And Dam No. 5 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 Muskingum River Lock And Dam No. 5.