Jefferson Lake Dam
Jefferson Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Jefferson County, Ohio, built in 1934. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Jefferson Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Jefferson 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 Town Fork near Hammondsville.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 236 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 18 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 321 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7 square miles. Completed in 1934, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/22/2024.
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 | Jefferson |
| Nearest City | Hammondsville |
| River/Stream | Town Fork |
| Coordinates | 40.46083, -80.79417 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 236 ft |
| Year Completed | 1934 (92 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 321 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 321 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 189 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 18 acres |
| Drainage Area | 7 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,480 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | ODNR, Division of Parks & Watercraft |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/22/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00497 |
| Federal ID | OH00497 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |