Votel Lake Dam dam
Votel Lake Dam
Votel Lake Dam, located in Lebanon, Ohio, is a privately owned structure regulated by the Department of Natural Resources. Completed in 1954, this earth dam serves primarily for water supply purposes and stands at a height of 38.5 feet, with a storage capacity of 97.3 acre-feet. The dam's normal storage level is 70.6 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 10.7 acres and draining a small watershed of 0.07 square miles.
With its significant hazard potential and fair condition assessment as of April 2019, Votel Lake Dam underscores the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its safety and reliability. The dam has a history of inspections dating back to 2015, with an inspection frequency of every five years. While the dam has not experienced any major modifications over the years, its emergency action plan status and risk management measures are not clearly defined, raising potential concerns for effective response in case of emergencies.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in Votel Lake Dam can appreciate its unique location on a tributary to Turtle Creek, its role in providing water supply to the region, and the ongoing regulatory oversight by the state authorities. The dam's structural features, storage capacity, and operational parameters offer valuable insights into the intersection of infrastructure, water management, and environmental stewardship in the context of Ohio's water resources and climate resilience efforts.
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 Votel Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Great Miami River At Franklin Oh | 1,910 cfs | → |
| Great Miami River At Middletown Oh | 2,180 cfs | → |
| O'Bannon Creek Near Loveland Oh | 10 cfs | → |
| Great Miami River Below Miamisburg Oh | 5,170 cfs | → |
| Holes Creek Near Kettering Oh | 11 cfs | → |
| Great Miami River At Miamisburg Oh | 1,510 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Votel Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Caesar Creek Wellman Meadows Boat Ramp
- Caesars Creek Furnas Shores Boat Ramp
- Caesars Creek North Pool Boat Ramp
- Caesar Creek State Park - Campground Ramp
- Caesars Creek Haines Boat Ramp
- Kennedy Road Municipio De St. Clair
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Votel 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 Votel Lake Dam
Where does the data for Votel 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 Votel Lake Dam.