Guilford Lake Dam
Guilford Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Columbiana County, Ohio, built in 1933. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Guilford Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Guilford Lake 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 West Fork Little Beaver Creek near Guilford.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 3,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 330 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,650 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 10 square miles. Completed in 1933, 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 05/09/2024.
At 35 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 | Columbiana |
| Nearest City | Guilford |
| River/Stream | West Fork Little Beaver Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.79500, -80.87167 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 3,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1933 (93 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,650 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,650 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,870 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 330 acres |
| Drainage Area | 10 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 14,547 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | ODNR, Division of Parks & Watercraft |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 05/09/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00636 |
| Federal ID | OH00636 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |