Brimfield Lake Dam dam
Brimfield Lake Dam
Brimfield Lake Dam, located in Kent, Ohio, is a privately owned recreational structure constructed in 1959 with a primary purpose of providing recreational opportunities. The dam stands at a height of 16 feet and stretches 800 feet in length, with a normal storage capacity of 80 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 227 acre-feet. The dam is situated along a tributary to Plum Creek, covering a surface area of 12.8 acres and draining an area of 2.55 square miles.
Despite its recreational value, Brimfield Lake Dam poses a high hazard potential and has been assessed to be in poor condition as of June 2017. The dam is regulated by the Department of Natural Resources in Ohio, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and compliance. The last inspection took place in June 2017, with a scheduled inspection frequency of 5 years. While the dam has not undergone modifications in recent years, its maintenance and emergency preparedness protocols are essential to mitigate risks associated with its structural integrity.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in Brimfield Lake Dam can appreciate its role in providing recreational activities while acknowledging the importance of ongoing maintenance and monitoring efforts to ensure public safety. The dam's location within the Huntington District and its association with a high-profile hazard potential highlight the need for proactive risk management measures. As a focal point for water management in Portage County, Ohio, Brimfield Lake Dam serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between human enjoyment of water resources and the need for responsible stewardship to protect both people and the environment.
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 Brimfield Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cuyahoga River At Old Portage Oh | 417 cfs | → |
| Tuscarawas River Above Barberton Oh | 24 cfs | → |
| West Branch Mahoning River At Wayland Oh | 132 cfs | → |
| Brandywine Creek Near Macedonia Oh | 5 cfs | → |
| Indian Creek Near Macedonia Oh | 1 cfs | → |
| Cuyahoga River At Jaite Oh | 675 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Brimfield Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Palm Road Brimfield Township
- Lake Hodgson
- Canfield Road 2300, Sawyerwood
- Lakemore Park - James B Dodds Lakefront Park
- West Branch State Park - Fishermans Lot
- Portage Lakes State Park - Long Lake
Campgrounds
- Silver Springs - Stow
- West Branch State Park
- Portage Lakes State Park
- Camp Asbury
- Camp Christopher
- Towpath Campsite
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Brimfield 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 Brimfield Lake Dam
Where does the data for Brimfield 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 High 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 Brimfield Lake Dam.