Nimisila Reservoir Dam
Nimisila Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Summit County, Ohio, built in 1936. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Nimisila Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Nimisila Reservoir 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 Odnr, Division Of Parks & Watercraft (state). It impounds the Nimisila Creek near Canal Fulton.
The dam stands 44 feet tall and stretches 10,630 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 672 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 17,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 15 square miles. Completed in 1936, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/20/2020.
At 44 feet, this dam is taller than 90% 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 | Canal Fulton |
| River/Stream | Nimisila Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.92667, -81.52333 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Length | 10,630 ft |
| Year Completed | 1936 (90 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 17,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 17,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 9,400 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 672 acres |
| Drainage Area | 15 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 9,926 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | ODNR, Division of Parks & Watercraft |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/20/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00584 |
| Federal ID | OH00584 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |