North Broadway Low Head Dam dam
North Broadway Low Head Dam
The North Broadway Low Head Dam in Columbus, Ohio, is a gravity dam completed in 1969 on the Olentangy River. With a height of 6.1 feet and a length of 190 feet, this dam serves multiple purposes, including flood control and water storage. Managed by the City of Columbus, the dam is regulated by the Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity.
The dam has a significant hazard potential, but its condition was assessed as fair during the last inspection in December 2020. With a storage capacity of 132.2 acre-feet and a drainage area of 522 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area. Despite the potential risks associated with the dam, its fair condition and regular inspections help mitigate these hazards and ensure the safety of the surrounding community.
The North Broadway Low Head Dam is a key feature on the Olentangy River, providing essential water management functions for the City of Columbus. As a gravity dam, it stands as a testament to engineering excellence and plays a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance of the river ecosystem. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, monitoring the condition and management of dams like North Broadway Low Head Dam is crucial for understanding the intersection of water infrastructure and environmental sustainability in urban areas like Columbus, Ohio.
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 North Broadway Low Head Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Olentangy River At J H Herrick Dr At Columbus Oh | 265 cfs | → |
| Scioto River At 5th Ave At Columbus Oh | 371 cfs | → |
| Olentangy River Near Worthington Oh | 404 cfs | → |
| Scioto River At Columbus Oh | 598 cfs | → |
| Big Walnut Creek At Central College Oh | 155 cfs | → |
| Scioto River Below O Shaughnessy Dam Nr Dublin Oh | 536 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near North Broadway Low Head Dam.
Boat launches
- Griggs Reservoir - Marina
- Dublin Road 853, Columbus
- Scioto River - Lower Scioto Park And Boat Launch
- Hoover Reservoir - Hoover Marina
- Hoover Reservoir - Boat Stake Area B
- Hoover Reservoir - Boat Stake Area D
Campgrounds
- Summer Camp Job
- Camp Ken-Jockety & Elam Environmental Center
- Recreation Unlimited
- Camp Marengo
- Lazy River At Granville
Track North Broadway Low Head 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 North Broadway Low Head Dam
Where does the data for North Broadway Low Head 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 North Broadway Low Head Dam.