Peterson Lake Dam dam
Peterson Lake Dam
Peterson Lake Dam, located in Alliance, Ohio, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1954 with a primary purpose of recreation. Sitting on the tributary to Little Beech Creek, this dam stands at 16.5 feet high and spans 365 feet in length, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 52.4 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is rated as poor, indicating a need for maintenance and improvements.
Managed by the Department of Natural Resources in Ohio, the Peterson Lake Dam is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement to ensure public safety and environmental protection. The dam's last inspection in June 2016 revealed its poor condition, highlighting the urgency for rehabilitation work to address any structural deficiencies and mitigate potential risks. With a drainage area of 0.38 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 310 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region.
As a focal point for recreational activities and water storage, the Peterson Lake Dam serves as a vital asset for local communities in Stark County, Ohio. However, its poor condition assessment underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring, maintenance, and potential upgrades to safeguard its integrity and functionality. Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Peterson Lake Dam an intriguing subject for studying the intersection of infrastructure, environmental stewardship, and public safety in the context of dams and reservoirs.
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 Peterson Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mahoning River Bl Berlin Dam Nr Berlin Center Oh | 537 cfs | → |
| Middle Branch Nimishillen Creek At Canton Oh | 38 cfs | → |
| E Branch Nimishillen Crk At Trump Ave Nr Canton Oh | 8 cfs | → |
| West Branch Mahoning River At Wayland Oh | 310 cfs | → |
| Mahoning River At Pricetown Oh | 638 cfs | → |
| W Br Nimishillen Crk At Tuscarawas St At Canton Oh | 17 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Peterson Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Berlin Lake Boat Ramp
- Palm Road Brimfield Township
- West Ramp
- Lake Milton State Park - Robinson Point Ramp
- West Branch State Park - Fishermans Lot
- Lake Milton State Park Ramp
Campgrounds
- Mill Creek - Berlin Reservoir
- West Branch State Park
- Pride Valley Campgrounds
- Guilford Lake State Park
- Towpath Campsite
- Silver Springs - Stow
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
Track Peterson 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 Peterson Lake Dam
Where does the data for Peterson 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 Low 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 Peterson Lake Dam.