Forked Run Lake Dam
Forked Run Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Meigs County, Ohio, built in 1952. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Forked Run Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Forked 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 Parks & Watercraft (state). It impounds the Forked Run near Long Bottom.
The dam stands 56 feet tall and stretches 660 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 100 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,785 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8 square miles. Completed in 1952, 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 05/25/2022.
At 56 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 | Meigs |
| Nearest City | Long Bottom |
| River/Stream | Forked Run |
| Coordinates | 39.09167, -81.76778 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 56 ft |
| Dam Height | 56 ft |
| Dam Length | 660 ft |
| Year Completed | 1952 (74 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,785 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,785 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,103 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 100 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 11,811 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | ODNR, Division of Parks & Watercraft |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 05/25/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00440 |
| Federal ID | OH00440 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |