Lockington Dam
Lockington Dam is an earth dam located in Shelby County, Ohio, built in 1922. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lockington Dam
The primary purpose of Lockington Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by The Miami Conservancy District (local government). It impounds the Loramie Creek near Lockington.
The dam stands 78 feet tall and stretches 6,400 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 165,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 255 square miles. Completed in 1922, the structure is over a century 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 10/23/2024.
At 78 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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 | Shelby |
| Nearest City | Lockington |
| River/Stream | Loramie Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.21417, -84.24444 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 78 ft |
| Dam Height | 78 ft |
| Dam Length | 6,400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1922 (104 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 165,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 165,000 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 255 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 25,000 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | The Miami Conservancy District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/23/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00391 |
| Federal ID | OH00391 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |