Tuscarawas River Diversion Dam
Tuscarawas River Diversion Dam is an earth dam located in Summit County, Ohio, built in 1956. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Tuscarawas River Diversion Dam
The primary purpose of Tuscarawas River Diversion 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 Tuscarawas River near Portage Lakes.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 1,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 83 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,740 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 35 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/08/2025.
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 | Summit |
| Nearest City | Portage Lakes |
| River/Stream | Tuscarawas River |
| Coordinates | 41.01167, -81.51500 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1956 (70 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,740 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,740 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 443 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 83 acres |
| Drainage Area | 35 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 15,080 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | ODNR, Division of Parks & Watercraft |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/08/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00485 |
| Federal ID | OH00485 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |