Harvey's Lake Dam dam
Harvey's Lake Dam
Harvey's Lake Dam, located in Geauga, Ohio, stands as a significant recreational structure completed in 1952. The earth dam, with a height of 18.5 feet and a length of 310 feet, serves primarily for recreation purposes, offering a serene surface area of 4.2 acres and a drainage area of 0.58 square miles. Managed by a private owner, the dam is regulated by the Department of Natural Resources in Ohio and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity.
Despite its picturesque setting and recreational appeal, Harvey's Lake Dam poses a significant hazard potential and has received a poor condition assessment as of March 2017. With a normal storage capacity of 19.39 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 495 cubic feet per second, the dam requires diligent risk management measures to mitigate potential risks. The dam's emergency action plan status, inundation maps, and risk assessment details remain unspecified, raising concerns about the readiness for potential emergencies and the overall safety of the surrounding area.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts explore Harvey's Lake Dam and its tributary to the Cuyahoga River, attention is drawn to the dam's historical significance, structural design, and operational challenges. With its outdated condition assessment and lack of specific risk management details, the dam presents a compelling case for improved maintenance and emergency preparedness to safeguard both the recreational opportunities it offers and the surrounding ecosystem. The collaboration between private owners, state regulators, and relevant agencies is essential in ensuring the long-term sustainability and safety of Harvey's Lake Dam for future generations to enjoy.
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 Harvey's Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cuyahoga River At Hiram Rapids Oh | 185 cfs | → |
| Eagle Creek At Phalanx Station Oh | 50 cfs | → |
| Unnamed Tributary To Chagrin R At Pepper Pike Oh | 3 cfs | → |
| Unnamed Trib To Chagrin R At Mayfield Village Oh | 1 cfs | → |
| Mahoning River At Leavittsburg Oh | 431 cfs | → |
| West Branch Mahoning River At Wayland Oh | 127 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Harvey's Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Eldon Russell Park
- Punderson State Park
- La Due Reservoir - Boat House
- Auburn Launch Ramp
- Berkshire Drive Aquilla
- Lakeview Road Munson Township
Campgrounds
- Punderson State Park
- Headwaters Park Camping
- Kool Lakes Family Campground
- Camp Site B
- Camp Site A
- Camp Asbury
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Harvey's 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 Harvey's Lake Dam
Where does the data for Harvey's 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 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 Harvey's Lake Dam.