Westerville Reservoir Dam dam
Westerville Reservoir Dam
Westerville Reservoir Dam, also known as Barnhard Reservoir, is a critical water supply infrastructure located in Westerville, Ohio. Built in 1960, this earth dam stands at a height of 47 feet and stretches 820 feet in length, holding a maximum storage capacity of 1,258 acre-feet. The dam serves primarily for water supply purposes, providing a normal storage capacity of 685 acre-feet spread over a surface area of 52.3 acres.
Managed by local government authorities and regulated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Westerville Reservoir Dam plays a vital role in the region's water management and flood control efforts. Despite being rated with a high hazard potential, the dam's condition is assessed as satisfactory, with regular inspections conducted every five years to ensure its structural integrity and safety. It is situated near Alum Creek and serves as a tributary to the creek, contributing to the overall water resource management in the area.
With its designer listed as Burgess and Niple, Ltd., from Columbus, Ohio, Westerville Reservoir Dam stands as a testament to engineering expertise and careful planning in water infrastructure development. The dam's strategic location and effective operation underscore its importance in maintaining a reliable water supply for the local community. As climate change impacts continue to affect water resources, the efficient management and maintenance of dams like Westerville Reservoir Dam are crucial for ensuring water security and resilience in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Westerville Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Alum Creek At Africa Oh | 12 cfs | → |
| Big Walnut Creek At Central College Oh | 157 cfs | → |
| Olentangy River Near Worthington Oh | 676 cfs | → |
| Big Walnut Creek At Sunbury Oh | 25 cfs | → |
| Scioto River Below O Shaughnessy Dam Nr Dublin Oh | 481 cfs | → |
| Olentangy River At J H Herrick Dr At Columbus Oh | 455 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Westerville Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Alum Creek State Park - New Galena
- Hoover Reservoir - Oxbow Road Launch Ramp
- Hoover Reservoir - Boat Stake Area D
- Hoover Reservoir - Baldridge Boat Ramp
- Hoover Reservoir - Boat Stake Area B
- Hoover Reservoir - Hoover Marina
Campgrounds
- Summer Camp Job
- Recreation Unlimited
- Camp Marengo
- Camp Ken-Jockety & Elam Environmental Center
- Lazy River At Granville
Track Westerville Reservoir 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 Westerville Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Westerville Reservoir 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 Westerville Reservoir Dam.