Cinnamon Lake Dam
Cinnamon Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Ashland County, Ohio, built in 1970. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Cinnamon Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Cinnamon Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Cinnamon Lake Association, Inc. (private). It impounds the Muddy Fork near West Salem.
The dam stands 45 feet tall and stretches 3,075 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 161 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,577 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1970, 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. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/30/2024.
At 45 feet, this dam is taller than 91% of dams nationwide.
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 | Ashland |
| Nearest City | West Salem |
| River/Stream | Muddy Fork |
| Coordinates | 40.98750, -82.18139 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,075 ft |
| Year Completed | 1970 (56 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,577 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,577 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,480 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 161 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 9,878 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Cinnamon Lake Association, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/30/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00095 |
| Federal ID | OH00095 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |