Lost Creek Upground Reservoir
Lost Creek Upground Reservoir is an earth dam located in Allen County, Ohio, built in 1917. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Lost Creek Upground Reservoir
The primary purpose of Lost Creek Upground Reservoir is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Lima (local government). It impounds the Ottawa River - Offstream near Lima.
The dam stands 38 feet tall and stretches 9,880 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 121 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,113 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1917, the structure is over a century 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 05/24/2022.
At 38 feet, this dam is taller than 85% 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 | Allen |
| Nearest City | Lima |
| River/Stream | Ottawa River - Offstream |
| Coordinates | 40.73694, -84.06667 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Length | 9,880 ft |
| Year Completed | 1917 (109 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,113 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,113 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,624 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 121 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Lima |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 05/24/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00522 |
| Federal ID | OH00522 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |