Puskarich Lake Dam
Puskarich Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Carroll County, Ohio, built in 1971. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Puskarich Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Puskarich Lake Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Brian Wagner (private). It impounds the Tributary To Center Fork near Bergholz.
The dam stands 42 feet tall and stretches 670 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 19 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 547 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 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 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 06/18/2024.
At 42 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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 | Carroll |
| Nearest City | Bergholz |
| River/Stream | Tributary To Center Fork |
| Coordinates | 40.55000, -81.00222 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Length | 670 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 547 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 547 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 172 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 19 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,121 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Brian Wagner |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 06/18/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00462 |
| Federal ID | OH00462 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |