Salt Fork Lake Dam
Salt Fork Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Guernsey County, Ohio, built in 1968. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Salt Fork Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Salt Fork Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Odnr, Division Of Parks & Watercraft (state). It impounds the Salt Fork Creek near Kimbolton.
The dam stands 61 feet tall and stretches 1,500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3,010 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 152,900 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 160 square miles. Completed in 1968, 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 10/26/2022.
At 61 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 | Guernsey |
| Nearest City | Kimbolton |
| River/Stream | Salt Fork Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.10278, -81.55333 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 61 ft |
| Dam Height | 61 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1968 (58 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 152,900 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 152,900 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 41,100 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3,010 acres |
| Drainage Area | 160 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 28,903 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | ODNR, Division of Parks & Watercraft |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/26/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00433 |
| Federal ID | OH00433 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |