Lake Shawnee Dam
Lake Shawnee Dam is an earth dam located in Greene County, Ohio, built in 1963. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lake Shawnee Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Shawnee Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Shawnee Hills Property Owners Assn. (private). It impounds the Caesar Creek near Shawnee Hills.
The dam stands 45 feet tall and stretches 850 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 145 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,109 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 10 square miles. Completed in 1963, 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 05/23/2024.
At 45 feet, this dam is taller than 91% 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 | Greene |
| Nearest City | Shawnee Hills |
| River/Stream | Caesar Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.64583, -83.79306 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Length | 850 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,109 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,109 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,402 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 145 acres |
| Drainage Area | 10 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 23,024 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Shawnee Hills Property Owners Assn. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/23/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00206 |
| Federal ID | OH00206 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |