St. Clairsville Reservoir No. 1 Dam

St. Clairsville Reservoir No. 1 Dam is an earth dam located in Belmont County, Ohio, built in 1929. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.

About St. Clairsville Reservoir No. 1 Dam

The primary purpose of St. Clairsville Reservoir No. 1 Dam 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 St. Clairsville (local government). It impounds the Little Mcmahon Creek near Echo.

The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 285 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 16 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 346 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1929, 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 10/11/2022.

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.

High HazardSatisfactory ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateOhio
CountyBelmont
Nearest CityEcho
River/StreamLittle Mcmahon Creek
Coordinates40.06528, -80.92167

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height36 ft
Dam Height36 ft
Dam Length285 ft
Year Completed1929 (97 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage346 acre-ft
Max Storage346 acre-ft
Normal Storage157 acre-ft
Surface Area16 acres
Drainage Area1 sq mi
Max Discharge3,479 cfs

Ownership & Safety

PurposeWater Supply
OwnerCity of St. Clairsville
Owner TypeLocal Government
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Condition AssessmentSatisfactory
Last Inspection10/11/2022
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDOH00793
Federal IDOH00793
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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