Wills Creek Dam
Wills Creek Dam is an earth dam located in Coshocton County, Ohio, built in 1936. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Wills Creek Dam
The primary purpose of Wills Creek 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 Usace - Huntington District (federal). It impounds the Wills Creek near Wills Creek.
The dam stands 87 feet tall and stretches 1,950 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 900 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 196,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 842 square miles. Completed in 1936, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/10/2021.
At 87 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Coshocton |
| Nearest City | Wills Creek |
| River/Stream | Wills Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.15639, -81.84706 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 87 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,950 ft |
| Year Completed | 1936 (90 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 196,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 196,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 6,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 900 acres |
| Drainage Area | 842 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 45,800 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Huntington District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 06/10/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00002 |
| Federal ID | OH00002 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |