Lake Alma Dam
Lake Alma Dam is an earth dam located in Vinton County, Ohio, built in 1902. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Lake Alma Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Alma 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 Tributary To Little Raccoon Creek near City Of Wellston.
The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 1,500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 65 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 490 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1902, the structure is over a century old.
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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/27/2021.
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 | Vinton |
| Nearest City | City Of Wellston |
| River/Stream | Tributary To Little Raccoon Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.14444, -82.51750 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1902 (124 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 490 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 490 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 339 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 65 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 137 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | ODNR, Division of Parks & Watercraft |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/27/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00074 |
| Federal ID | OH00074 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |