Adams Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Adams County, Ohio, built in 1947. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 34 ft34 ft tall and 660 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 Adams Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Adams Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Odnr, Division of Parks & Watercraft (state). It impounds the Lick Fork near Dunkinsville.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 660 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 30 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 809 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1947, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 05/10/2023.
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 | Adams |
| Nearest City | Dunkinsville |
| River/Stream | Lick Fork |
| Coordinates | 38.81389, -83.52028 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 660 ft |
| Year Completed | 1947 (79 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 809 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 809 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 227 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 30 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 18,571 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Odnr, Division of Parks & Watercraft |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 05/10/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00259 |
| Federal ID | OH00259 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |