Chippewa Creek Structure Viii-D dam
Chippewa Creek Structure Viii-D
Chippewa Creek Structure Viii-D, also known as Holmes Brook, is a significant Earth dam located in Wadsworth, Ohio, with a height of 50.5 feet and a length of 525 feet. Completed in 1976, this dam serves as a crucial flood risk reduction structure in the region, with a storage capacity of 560 acre-feet and a drainage area of 1.94 square miles. The dam's primary purpose is to mitigate flood hazards along Holmes Brook, with a maximum discharge capacity of 4493 cubic feet per second.
Managed by the USDA NRCS, Chippewa Creek Structure Viii-D is under the jurisdiction of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, ensuring state-regulated permitting, inspection, and enforcement measures are in place. The dam's condition has been assessed as satisfactory, with a significant hazard potential due to its location and storage capacity. Despite this, the risk assessment deems the structure to have a moderate risk level (3), prompting ongoing risk management measures to be put in place to ensure the safety and integrity of the dam for the surrounding community.
With its stone core and soil foundation, the Chippewa Creek Structure Viii-D represents a vital component of flood mitigation efforts in Medina County, Ohio. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the technical specifications, regulatory oversight, and risk management strategies associated with this dam provides valuable insights into the intersection of infrastructure, environmental protection, and public safety in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Chippewa Creek Structure Viii-D -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chippewa Creek At Miller Rd At Sterling Oh | 29 cfs | → |
| Tuscarawas River Above Barberton Oh | 27 cfs | → |
| Cuyahoga River At Old Portage Oh | 442 cfs | → |
| Cuyahoga River At Jaite Oh | 722 cfs | → |
| Chippewa Creek In Chippewa Met Pk Near Brecksville | 7 cfs | → |
| East Branch Rocky River Near Strongsville Oh | 30 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Chippewa Creek Structure Viii-D.
Boat launches
- Chippewa Lake Boat Launch
- Portage Lakes State Park - Long Lake
- Portage Lakes State Park - North Reservoir
- Portage Lakes State Park - Turkeyfoot
- Old State Park
- Portage Lakes State Park - C 1
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Aurora Pond
- Deer Creek Reservoir
- East 72nd Street Fishing Area
- Berlin Lake
- Charles Mill Lake
- Clear Fork Reservoir
Paddle runs
Track Chippewa Creek Structure Viii-D 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 Chippewa Creek Structure Viii-D
Where does the data for Chippewa Creek Structure Viii-D 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 Chippewa Creek Structure Viii-D.