Rio Grande Reservoir

Rio Grande Reservoir is an earth dam located in Gallia County, Ohio, built in 1959. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.

About Rio Grande Reservoir

The primary purpose of Rio Grande Reservoir is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Village Of Rio Grande (local government). It impounds the Tributary To Indian Creek near Rio Grande.

The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 325 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 135 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1959, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/17/2021.

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.

High HazardPoor ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateOhio
CountyGallia
Nearest CityRio Grande
River/StreamTributary To Indian Creek
Coordinates38.88389, -82.38917

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height30 ft
Dam Height30 ft
Dam Length325 ft
Year Completed1959 (67 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage135 acre-ft
Max Storage135 acre-ft
Normal Storage112 acre-ft
Surface Area7 acres
Drainage Area0 sq mi
Max Discharge562 cfs

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerVillage of Rio Grande
Owner TypeLocal Government
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Condition AssessmentPoor
Last Inspection06/17/2021
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDOH00285
Federal IDOH00285
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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