Pine Creek Structure No. 8 Dam
Pine Creek Structure No. 8 Dam is an earth dam located in Lawrence County, Ohio, built in 1972. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Pine Creek Structure No. 8 Dam
The primary purpose of Pine Creek Structure No. 8 Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Lawrence County Commissioners (local government). It impounds the Tributary To Sperry Fork near Pine Grove.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 12 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 613 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1972, 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/24/2020.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 83% 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 | Lawrence |
| Nearest City | Pine Grove |
| River/Stream | Tributary To Sperry Fork |
| Coordinates | 38.60722, -82.71250 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 613 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 613 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 25 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 12 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,732 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Lawrence County Commissioners |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/24/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00703 |
| Federal ID | OH00703 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |