South Montgomery County Low Dam dam
South Montgomery County Low Dam
The South Montgomery County Low Dam, located in West Carrollton, Ohio, along the Great Miami River, is a gravity dam primarily used for recreation purposes. Built in 1988 by the design firm Burgess & Niple Ltd., this dam stands at a height of 11 feet and spans 450 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 825 acre-feet. The dam's condition is assessed as satisfactory, with a significant hazard potential, requiring regular inspections every 5 years.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the South Montgomery County Low Dam serves as a popular spot for outdoor activities and water recreation in the Montgomery County area. With a surface area of 150 acres and a drainage area of 2,647 square miles, this dam plays a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities while also ensuring safety and compliance with state regulations.
Despite its relatively modest size, the South Montgomery County Low Dam serves as an important landmark along the Great Miami River, contributing to the local economy and offering a picturesque setting for residents and visitors to enjoy. With its satisfactory condition and regular maintenance, this gravity dam continues to be a vital asset for water resource and climate enthusiasts 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 South Montgomery County Low Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Holes Creek Near Kettering Oh | 11 cfs | → |
| Great Miami River At Miamisburg Oh | 1,510 cfs | → |
| Great Miami River Below Miamisburg Oh | 5,170 cfs | → |
| Wolf Creek At Dayton Oh | 39 cfs | → |
| Great Miami River At Dayton Oh | 1,480 cfs | → |
| Great Miami River At Franklin Oh | 1,910 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near South Montgomery County Low Dam.
Boat launches
- Caesars Creek Furnas Shores Boat Ramp
- Caesar Creek Wellman Meadows Boat Ramp
- Caesars Creek North Pool Boat Ramp
- Caesars Creek Haines Boat Ramp
- Caesar Creek State Park - Campground Ramp
- Rush Run Wildlife Area
Campgrounds
- Camp Stonybrook
- Camp Lebanon Retreat Center
- Woodland Trails Scout Reservation
- Windy Heights
- Berry Patch
- Beeches
Fishing spots
Track South Montgomery County Low 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 South Montgomery County Low Dam
Where does the data for South Montgomery County Low 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 South Montgomery County Low Dam.