Apple Valley Lake Dam
Apple Valley Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Knox County, Ohio, built in 1971. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Apple Valley Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Apple Valley Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Apple Valley Property Owners Assn. (private). It impounds the Little Jelloway Creek near Howard.
The dam stands 91 feet tall and stretches 650 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 488 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 22,485 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 18 square miles. Completed in 1971, 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 11/12/2024.
At 91 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Knox |
| Nearest City | Howard |
| River/Stream | Little Jelloway Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.41944, -82.34306 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 91 ft |
| Dam Height | 91 ft |
| Dam Length | 650 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 22,485 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 22,485 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 11,900 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 488 acres |
| Drainage Area | 18 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 54,460 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Apple Valley Property Owners Assn. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/12/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00345 |
| Federal ID | OH00345 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |