Chippewa Creek Structure Iv-a is an earth dam located in Medina County, Ohio, built in 1973. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 41 ft41 ft tall and 480 ft long, taller than 87% 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 Chippewa Creek Structure Iv-a
The primary purpose of Chippewa Creek Structure Iv-a is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Mwcd, Chippewa Subdistrict (local government). It impounds the Tributary to Chippewa Creek near Sterling.
The dam stands 41 feet tall and stretches 480 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 203 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1973, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. 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 05/27/2025.
At 41 feet, this dam is taller than 87% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Ohio |
| County | Medina |
| Nearest City | Sterling |
| River/Stream | Tributary to Chippewa Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.99944, -81.84222 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Length | 480 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 203 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 203 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 19 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,861 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Mwcd, Chippewa Subdistrict |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/27/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00612 |
| Federal ID | OH00612 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |