Candlewood Lake Dam
Candlewood Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Morrow County, Ohio, built in 1974. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Candlewood Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Candlewood Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Candlewood Lake Association Inc (private). It impounds the Whetstone Creek near Mt. Gilead.
The dam stands 58 feet tall and stretches 1,170 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 200 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,125 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 12 square miles. Completed in 1974, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/30/2020.
At 58 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Morrow |
| Nearest City | Mt. Gilead |
| River/Stream | Whetstone Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.61556, -82.78361 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 58 ft |
| Dam Height | 58 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,170 ft |
| Year Completed | 1974 (52 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,125 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,125 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,100 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 200 acres |
| Drainage Area | 12 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 46,230 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Candlewood Lake Association Inc |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/30/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00688 |
| Federal ID | OH00688 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |