Julian Griggs Dam dam
Julian Griggs Dam
Julian Griggs Dam, located in Upper Arlington, Ohio, stands as a testament to efficient water resource management and climate adaptation. Built in 1905 by designer Julian Griggs, this gravity dam serves as a vital water supply infrastructure for the region, regulating the flow of the Scioto River. With a height of 52.4 feet and a length of 983 feet, the dam boasts a storage capacity of 16,412 acre-feet and a normal storage capacity of 4,322 acre-feet.
Despite its age, Julian Griggs Dam remains in fair condition, with a high hazard potential due to its critical role in water supply management. The dam undergoes regular inspections and is regulated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, ensuring its continued safe operation. In the event of emergencies, the dam is equipped with an emergency action plan, although its last revision date was in February 2020.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate resilience will appreciate the significance of Julian Griggs Dam in maintaining water supply stability in Franklin County, Ohio. With its historical importance and ongoing maintenance efforts, this dam serves as a key component in the region's water management infrastructure, safeguarding against potential hazards and ensuring sustainable water resource utilization for future generations.
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 Julian Griggs Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Scioto River At 5th Ave At Columbus Oh | 371 cfs | → |
| Olentangy River At J H Herrick Dr At Columbus Oh | 265 cfs | → |
| Olentangy River Near Worthington Oh | 404 cfs | → |
| Scioto River At Columbus Oh | 598 cfs | → |
| Scioto River Below O Shaughnessy Dam Nr Dublin Oh | 536 cfs | → |
| Little Darby Creek At West Jefferson Oh | 74 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Julian Griggs Dam.
Boat launches
- Griggs Reservoir - Marina
- Dublin Road 853, Columbus
- Scioto River - Lower Scioto Park And Boat Launch
- Twin Lakes Boat Ramp
- Riverside Drive Concord Township
- Hoover Reservoir - Hoover Marina
Campgrounds
Track Julian Griggs 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 Julian Griggs Dam
Where does the data for Julian Griggs 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 Julian Griggs Dam.