Lake Dorothy Dam is an earth dam located in Summit County, Ohio, built in 1929. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 36 ft36 ft tall and 468 ft long, taller than 82% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Lake Dorothy Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Dorothy Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Ppg Industries, Inc.. It impounds the Hudson Run near Barberton.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 468 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 114 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,320 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 10 square miles. Completed in 1929, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 06/04/2025.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 82% 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 | Summit |
| Nearest City | Barberton |
| River/Stream | Hudson Run |
| Coordinates | 41.01583, -81.64306 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 468 ft |
| Year Completed | 1929 (97 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,320 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,320 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,254 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 114 acres |
| Drainage Area | 10 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 9,660 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Ppg Industries, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Not Listed |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 06/04/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00486 |
| Federal ID | OH00486 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |