Greenlawn Avenue Low Head Dam dam
Greenlawn Avenue Low Head Dam
Greenlawn Avenue Low Head Dam, located in Columbus, Ohio, is a concrete structure built in 1929 for the primary purpose of recreation on the Scioto River. Standing at a height of 11 feet and spanning 490 feet in length, this dam provides a storage capacity of 417 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 125 acres. With a drainage area of 1629 square miles, the dam has a maximum discharge of 54,233 cubic feet per second.
Managed by the Department of Natural Resources, the dam is state-regulated and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and safety. With a significant hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in December 2020 deemed it satisfactory. Emergency action plans are in place, although details on their preparedness and adherence to guidelines are not specified. The dam's location along the Scioto River makes it a crucial water resource for the surrounding area, attracting water resource and climate enthusiasts who appreciate its role in both recreation and flood control efforts.
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 Greenlawn Avenue Low Head Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Scioto River At Columbus Oh | 862 cfs | → |
| Olentangy River At J H Herrick Dr At Columbus Oh | 126 cfs | → |
| Scioto River At 5th Ave At Columbus Oh | 650 cfs | → |
| Big Walnut Creek At Rees Oh | 127 cfs | → |
| Hellbranch Run Near Harrisburg Oh | 4 cfs | → |
| Scioto River Near Commercial Point Oh | 1,400 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Greenlawn Avenue Low Head Dam.
Boat launches
- Scioto River - Lower Scioto Park And Boat Launch
- Dublin Road 853, Columbus
- Griggs Reservoir - Marina
- Hoover Reservoir - Hoover Marina
- Hoover Reservoir - Boat Stake Area B
- Hoover Reservoir - Boat Stake Area D
Campgrounds
- Summer Camp Job
- Camp Ken-Jockety & Elam Environmental Center
- Lazy River At Granville
- Recreation Unlimited
Track Greenlawn Avenue Low Head 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 Greenlawn Avenue Low Head Dam
Where does the data for Greenlawn Avenue Low Head 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 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 Greenlawn Avenue Low Head Dam.