Clark Lake Dam
Clark Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Clark County, Ohio, built in 1957. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Clark Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Clark 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 Sinking Creek near Springfield.
The dam stands 23 feet tall and stretches 1,425 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 97 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,107 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7 square miles. Completed in 1957, 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 10/29/2024.
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 | Clark |
| Nearest City | Springfield |
| River/Stream | Sinking Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.94833, -83.66000 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,425 ft |
| Year Completed | 1957 (69 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,107 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,107 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 453 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 97 acres |
| Drainage Area | 7 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 34,569 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | ODNR, Division of Wildlife |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 10/29/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00444 |
| Federal ID | OH00444 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |