Loyal Oak Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Summit County, Ohio, built in 1930. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 31 ft31 ft tall and 375 ft long, taller than 72% 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 Loyal Oak Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Loyal Oak Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Loyal Oak Lake Park, Inc. (private). It impounds the Van Hyning Run near Barberton.
The dam stands 31 feet tall and stretches 375 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 60 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1930, 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 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 | Barberton |
| River/Stream | Van Hyning Run |
| Coordinates | 41.06056, -81.66806 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Length | 375 ft |
| Year Completed | 1930 (96 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 60 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 60 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 26 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,471 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Loyal Oak Lake Park, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/08/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00487 |
| Federal ID | OH00487 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |