North Branch Kokosing Dam
North Branch Kokosing Dam is an earth dam located in Knox County, Ohio, built in 1972. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About North Branch Kokosing Dam
The primary purpose of North Branch Kokosing Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Usace - Huntington District (federal). It impounds the North Branch Of Kokosing near Fredericktown.
The dam stands 71 feet tall and stretches 1,400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 154 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 14,885 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 45 square miles. Completed in 1972, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/23/2023.
At 71 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Ohio dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Ohio |
| County | Knox |
| Nearest City | Fredericktown |
| River/Stream | North Branch Of Kokosing |
| Coordinates | 40.50574, -82.57652 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 71 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 14,885 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 14,885 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,043 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 154 acres |
| Drainage Area | 45 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 13,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Huntington District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 08/23/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00009 |
| Federal ID | OH00009 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |