Monroe Lake Dam
Monroe Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Monroe County, Ohio, built in 1956. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Monroe Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Monroe 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 Wildlife (state). It impounds the Baker Fork near Cameron.
The dam stands 58 feet tall and stretches 350 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 38 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,350 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1956, 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 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 04/09/2025.
At 58 feet, this dam is taller than 95% 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 | Monroe |
| Nearest City | Cameron |
| River/Stream | Baker Fork |
| Coordinates | 39.81833, -81.13806 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 58 ft |
| Dam Height | 58 ft |
| Dam Length | 350 ft |
| Year Completed | 1956 (70 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,350 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,350 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 499 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 38 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 25,243 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | ODNR, Division of Wildlife |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/09/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00441 |
| Federal ID | OH00441 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |