Piedmont Dam
Piedmont Dam is an earth dam located in Harrison County, Ohio, built in 1937. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Piedmont Dam
The primary purpose of Piedmont 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 Stillwater Creek near Freeport.
The dam stands 56 feet tall and stretches 1,750 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,312 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 66,700 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 86 square miles. Completed in 1937, 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 04/19/2024.
At 56 feet, this dam is taller than 94% 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 | Harrison |
| Nearest City | Freeport |
| River/Stream | Stillwater Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.19007, -81.21302 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 56 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,750 ft |
| Year Completed | 1937 (89 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 66,700 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 66,700 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 34,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2,312 acres |
| Drainage Area | 86 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 15,200 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 | 04/19/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00011 |
| Federal ID | OH00011 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |