Lake Ralph Dam dam
Lake Ralph Dam
Lake Ralph Dam in Howard, Ohio, is a private-owned structure regulated by the Department of Natural Resources, with a significant hazard potential and poor condition assessment. This earth dam, standing at 18.2 feet high and 344 feet long, serves primarily for recreation purposes, offering a storage capacity of 32.6 acre-feet and covering a surface area of 4.5 acres. Situated in Knox County, the dam is a tributary to the Kokosing River, providing scenic views and water-based activities for enthusiasts.
Despite its recreational value, Lake Ralph Dam's poor condition raises concerns about its safety and structural integrity. With the last inspection conducted in November 2019, it is essential for stakeholders to address the dam's maintenance needs promptly to ensure public safety and prevent potential disasters. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the importance of proper dam management and maintenance is crucial to preserving the ecological balance and safeguarding the community's well-being. Additionally, staying informed about regulatory measures and risk assessment protocols can help mitigate potential hazards associated with aging infrastructure like Lake Ralph Dam.
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 Lake Ralph Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kokosing River At Mount Vernon Oh | 131 cfs | → |
| North Fork Licking River At Utica Oh | 27 cfs | → |
| Clear Fork Mohican River At Bellville Oh | 93 cfs | → |
| Killbuck Creek At Killbuck Oh | 640 cfs | → |
| Wakatomika Creek Near Frazeysburg Oh | 46 cfs | → |
| Licking River Near Newark Oh | 171 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Ralph Dam.
Boat launches
- Mohican State Park
- Buckhorn Drive 1160, Clark
- Summit Road Southeast Newark
- East Muskingum Avenue Dresden
Campgrounds
- Camp Mohaven
- Camp Falling Rock Boy Scout Reservation
- Camp Toodik Family Campground
- Lazy River At Granville
- Camp Marengo
- Colonial Campground
Fishing spots
Track Lake Ralph 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 Lake Ralph Dam
Where does the data for Lake Ralph 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 Lake Ralph Dam.