Margaret Creek Structure No. 4 is an earth dam located in Athens County, Ohio, built in 1971. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 34 ft34 ft tall and 1,050 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 Margaret Creek Structure No. 4
The primary purpose of Margaret Creek Structure No. 4 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 Hocking Conservancy District (local government). It impounds the Biddle Creek near Fisher.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 1,050 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 28 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,413 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1971, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/04/2022.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 78% 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 | Athens |
| Nearest City | Fisher |
| River/Stream | Biddle Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.25278, -82.12444 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,050 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,413 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,413 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 89 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 28 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 11,037 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Hocking Conservancy District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/04/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00084 |
| Federal ID | OH00084 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |