Lake Viering Dam
Lake Viering Dam is an earth dam located in Knox County, Ohio, built in 1964. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Lake Viering Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Viering Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Chris & Beth Maisenbacher (private). It impounds the Little Jelloway Creek near Howard.
The dam stands 47 feet tall and stretches 800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 29 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 504 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1964, 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/05/2024.
At 47 feet, this dam is taller than 92% 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 | Knox |
| Nearest City | Howard |
| River/Stream | Little Jelloway Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.53139, -82.37000 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Length | 800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 504 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 504 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 389 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 29 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 254 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Chris & Beth Maisenbacher |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/05/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00346 |
| Federal ID | OH00346 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |