Lake Hope Dam is an earth dam located in Vinton County, Ohio, built in 1939. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 34 ft34 ft tall and 750 ft long, taller than 78% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Lake Hope Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Hope Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Odnr, Division of Parks & Watercraft (state). It impounds the Sandy Run near Hope.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 750 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 130 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,461 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 9 square miles. Completed in 1939, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 05/13/2021.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 78% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Ohio |
| County | Vinton |
| Nearest City | Hope |
| River/Stream | Sandy Run |
| Coordinates | 39.32000, -82.35639 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 750 ft |
| Year Completed | 1939 (87 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,461 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,461 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,040 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 130 acres |
| Drainage Area | 9 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 21,747 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Odnr, Division of Parks & Watercraft |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/13/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00072 |
| Federal ID | OH00072 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |