Wetherall Lake Dam dam
Wetherall Lake Dam
Wetherall Lake Dam, located in Canal Winchester, Ohio, is a privately-owned structure with a primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1956 by the USDA Soil Conservation Service, this Earth-type dam stands at a height of 25 feet and spans 300 feet in length. It has a storage capacity of 58 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 23 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 4.3 acres and draining a 0.57 square mile watershed that feeds into Sycamore Creek.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Wetherall Lake Dam is regulated and inspected by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, with the last inspection conducted in November 2020. The dam has a maximum discharge capacity of 1051 cubic feet per second, but lacks spillway information. The surrounding area offers recreational opportunities and the dam serves as a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts in Fairfield County, Ohio.
With a history of over six decades, Wetherall Lake Dam continues to provide valuable recreational resources for the community while being subject to state regulatory oversight and periodic inspections to ensure its continued safety and functionality. Its strategic location near Sycamore Creek makes it an important component of the local watershed management system, highlighting the intersection of human infrastructure and natural ecosystems in the context of water resource and climate management.
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 Wetherall Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Licking River At Kirkersville Oh | 9 cfs | → |
| Big Walnut Creek At Rees Oh | 182 cfs | → |
| Scioto River At Columbus Oh | 598 cfs | → |
| Scioto River Near Commercial Point Oh | 1,100 cfs | → |
| Walnut Creek At Ashville Oh | 109 cfs | → |
| South Fork Licking River Near Hebron Oh | 32 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wetherall Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Greenfield Dam Wildlife Area
- Buckeye Lake State Park - Lieb
- Scioto River - Lower Scioto Park And Boat Launch
- Buckeye Lake State Park - Fairfield Beach
- A.W. Marion State Park - Boat Ramp
- Dublin Road 853, Columbus
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Wetherall Lake 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 Wetherall Lake Dam
Where does the data for Wetherall Lake 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 Low 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 Wetherall Lake Dam.