Margaret Creek Structure No. 5
Margaret Creek Structure No. 5 is an earth dam located in Athens County, Ohio, built in 1970. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Margaret Creek Structure No. 5
The primary purpose of Margaret Creek Structure No. 5 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 Athens.
The dam stands 29 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 416 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1970, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/04/2022.
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Location
| State | Ohio |
| County | Athens |
| Nearest City | Athens |
| River/Stream | Biddle Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.26111, -82.11667 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1970 (56 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 416 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 416 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 29 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 9,573 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Hocking Conservancy District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/04/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00085 |
| Federal ID | OH00085 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |