Baker Lake Dam dam
Baker Lake Dam
Baker Lake Dam, located in Sycamore Valley, Ohio, is a privately owned earth dam with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam stands at a height of 36.8 feet and has a storage capacity of 57.9 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 38.4 acre-feet. Although the dam's drainage area is relatively small at 0.13 square miles, it plays a significant role in providing recreational opportunities in the area.
Despite its importance for recreation, Baker Lake Dam is categorized as having a significant hazard potential with a poor condition assessment as of December 2020. The dam has not been inspected since then, with a scheduled inspection frequency of every 5 years. It is regulated by the Department of Natural Resources in Ohio and is located in Monroe County. The dam's location near the Clear Fork tributary and its capacity to discharge up to 133 cubic feet per second make it a crucial structure in managing water resources in the region.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Baker Lake Dam presents an intriguing case study of the intersection between recreational infrastructure and water management. With its historical designer Mr. Baker and its unique characteristics, such as a surface area of 3.6 acres and a length of 365 feet, the dam offers insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with maintaining and regulating dams in a changing climate. As efforts to address the dam's poor condition continue, stakeholders and policymakers must consider the broader implications for water resource management and climate resilience in the region.
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 Baker Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Fork Duck Creek Near Harrietsville Oh | 21 cfs | → |
| West Fork Duck Creek At Macksburg Oh | 14 cfs | → |
| Little Muskingum River At Bloomfield Oh | 50 cfs | → |
| Seneca Fork Bl Senecaville Dam Near Senecaville Oh | 14 cfs | → |
| Duck Creek Below Whipple Oh | 58 cfs | → |
| Leatherwood Creek Near Kipling Oh | 14 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Baker Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Noble County Fish And Game
- Slope Creek Reservoir Ramp
- Barnesville Memorial Park
- New Matamoras Village Ramp
- West Adams Street Paden City
- Clarington Village Ramp
Campgrounds
- Lamping Homestead Recreation Area
- Ring Mill Campground
- Woodgrove Campground H
- Lane Farm Campground
- Leith Run Recreation Area
- Area 31 Campsite
Track Baker 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 Baker Lake Dam
Where does the data for Baker 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 Baker Lake Dam.