Michael J. Kirwan Dam
Michael J. Kirwan Dam is an earth dam located in Portage County, Ohio, built in 1966. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Michael J. Kirwan Dam
The primary purpose of Michael J. Kirwan 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 - Pittsburgh District (federal). It impounds the West Branch Of The Mahoning near Wayland.
The dam stands 83 feet tall and stretches 9,900 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,650 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 124,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 81 square miles. Completed in 1966, 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 05/04/2021.
At 83 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Portage |
| Nearest City | Wayland |
| River/Stream | West Branch Of The Mahoning |
| Coordinates | 41.15654, -81.07931 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 83 ft |
| Dam Length | 9,900 ft |
| Year Completed | 1966 (60 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 124,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 124,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 56,700 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2,650 acres |
| Drainage Area | 81 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 38,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Pittsburgh District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 05/04/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00030 |
| Federal ID | OH00030 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |