Madison Lake Dam

Madison Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Madison County, Ohio, built in 1946. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.

About Madison Lake Dam

The primary purpose of Madison 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 Deer Creek near Mount Sterling.

The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 1,120 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 112 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,799 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 54 square miles. Completed in 1946, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.

This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. 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 11/16/2022.

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Significant HazardPoor ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateOhio
CountyMadison
Nearest CityMount Sterling
River/StreamDeer Creek
Coordinates39.86583, -83.37611

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height26 ft
Dam Height26 ft
Dam Length1,120 ft
Year Completed1946 (80 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage1,799 acre-ft
Max Storage1,799 acre-ft
Normal Storage653 acre-ft
Surface Area112 acres
Drainage Area54 sq mi
Max Discharge7,973 cfs

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerODNR, Division of Parks & Watercraft
Owner TypeState
Hazard ClassificationSignificant
Condition AssessmentPoor
Last Inspection11/16/2022
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDOH00439
Federal IDOH00439
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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