Chopper's Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Washington County, Ohio, built in 1948. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 17 ft17 ft tall and 378 ft long. 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 Chopper's Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Chopper's Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Lakeside, Inc. (private). It impounds the Sugar Run near Coal Run.
The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 378 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 11 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 123 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1948, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 10/19/2023.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Ohio |
| County | Washington |
| Nearest City | Coal Run |
| River/Stream | Sugar Run |
| Coordinates | 39.55444, -81.61250 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 378 ft |
| Year Completed | 1948 (78 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 123 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 123 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 82 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 11 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 70 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Lakeside, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 10/19/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00088 |
| Federal ID | OH00088 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |