Highlandtown Lake Dam
Highlandtown Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Columbiana County, Ohio, built in 1966. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Highlandtown Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Highlandtown 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 Little Yellow Creek near Wellsville.
The dam stands 44 feet tall and stretches 1,476 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 184 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,710 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1966, 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 06/27/2019.
At 44 feet, this dam is taller than 90% 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 | Columbiana |
| Nearest City | Wellsville |
| River/Stream | Little Yellow Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.63778, -80.74861 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,476 ft |
| Year Completed | 1966 (60 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,710 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,710 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,700 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 184 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 13,450 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | ODNR, Division of Wildlife |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 06/27/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00635 |
| Federal ID | OH00635 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |