Howard Farm Dam
Howard Farm Dam is an earth dam located in Lucas County, Ohio, built in 2018. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Howard Farm Dam
The primary purpose of Howard Farm Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Metroparks Toledo (local government). It impounds the Wards Canal near Howard Farms Beach.
The dam stands 18 feet tall and stretches 22,500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 447 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,833 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 2018, the structure is relatively new.
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 10/02/2024.
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 | Lucas |
| Nearest City | Howard Farms Beach |
| River/Stream | Wards Canal |
| Coordinates | 41.64639, -83.26333 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Length | 22,500 ft |
| Year Completed | 2018 (8 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,833 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,833 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,225 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 447 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 86 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Metroparks Toledo |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/02/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH03218 |
| Federal ID | OH03218 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |