Dawes Arboretum Lake Dam
Dawes Arboretum Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Licking County, Ohio, built in 1954. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Dawes Arboretum Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Dawes Arboretum Lake Dam is fish and wildlife pond. The dam creates habitat for fish and wildlife, supporting local ecosystems and potentially serving conservation goals. The dam is owned by The Dawes Arboretum (private). It impounds the Tributary To Dutch Fork near Heath.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 920 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 72 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1954, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/09/2020.
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 | Licking |
| Nearest City | Heath |
| River/Stream | Tributary To Dutch Fork |
| Coordinates | 39.96889, -82.41722 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 920 ft |
| Year Completed | 1954 (72 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 72 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 72 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 42 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 612 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fish and Wildlife Pond |
| Owner | The Dawes Arboretum |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/09/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00472 |
| Federal ID | OH00472 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |