Jackson Lake Dam
Jackson Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Jackson County, Ohio, built in 1939. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Jackson Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Jackson 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 Black Fork near Cadmus.
The dam stands 23 feet tall and stretches 296 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 220 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,404 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 18 square miles. Completed in 1939, 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 04/27/2021.
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 | Jackson |
| Nearest City | Cadmus |
| River/Stream | Black Fork |
| Coordinates | 38.89194, -82.60222 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Length | 296 ft |
| Year Completed | 1939 (87 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,404 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,404 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,173 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 220 acres |
| Drainage Area | 18 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 23,382 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | ODNR, Division of Parks & Watercraft |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/27/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00642 |
| Federal ID | OH00642 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |