Rush Run Lake Dam
Rush Run Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Preble County, Ohio, built in 1970. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Rush Run Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Rush Run 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 Wildlife (state). It impounds the Rush Run near Somerville.
The dam stands 53 feet tall and stretches 1,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 54 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,526 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 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 05/05/2021.
At 53 feet, this dam is taller than 94% 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 | Preble |
| Nearest City | Somerville |
| River/Stream | Rush Run |
| Coordinates | 39.59389, -84.61222 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 53 ft |
| Dam Height | 53 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1970 (56 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,526 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,526 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 924 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 54 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 7,307 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | ODNR, Division of Wildlife |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/05/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00434 |
| Federal ID | OH00434 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |