Kiser Lake Dam
Kiser Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Champaign County, Ohio, built in 1939. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Kiser Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Kiser 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 Mosquito Creek near Pasco.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 1,800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 387 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,450 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8 square miles. Completed in 1939, 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 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 11/19/2024.
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 | Champaign |
| Nearest City | Pasco |
| River/Stream | Mosquito Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.19722, -83.98194 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1939 (87 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,450 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,450 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,550 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 387 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,321 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | ODNR, Division of Parks & Watercraft |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/19/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00435 |
| Federal ID | OH00435 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |