Old Man's Cave Lake Dam
Old Man's Cave Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Hocking County, Ohio, built in 1972. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Old Man's Cave Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Old Man's Cave Lake Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Odnr, Division Of Parks & Watercraft (state). It impounds the Tributary To Queer Creek near South Bloomingville.
The dam stands 64 feet tall and stretches 535 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 21 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 504 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1972, 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 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 11/14/2022.
At 64 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Hocking |
| Nearest City | South Bloomingville |
| River/Stream | Tributary To Queer Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.42500, -82.53806 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 64 ft |
| Dam Height | 64 ft |
| Dam Length | 535 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 504 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 504 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 391 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 21 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 936 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | ODNR, Division of Parks & Watercraft |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/14/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00249 |
| Federal ID | OH00249 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |