Sunnyhill Freshwater Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Perry County, Ohio, built in 1959. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 45 ft45 ft tall and 670 ft long, taller than 90% 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 Sunnyhill Freshwater Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Sunnyhill Freshwater Reservoir Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Charles & Kathy Owen (private). It impounds the Tributary to Moxahala Creek near Moxahala.
The dam stands 45 feet tall and stretches 670 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 23 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 827 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1959, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 12/06/2023.
At 45 feet, this dam is taller than 90% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Ohio |
| County | Perry |
| Nearest City | Moxahala |
| River/Stream | Tributary to Moxahala Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.67333, -82.18667 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Length | 670 ft |
| Year Completed | 1959 (67 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 827 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 827 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 202 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 23 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 11,409 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Charles & Kathy Owen |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 12/06/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00650 |
| Federal ID | OH00650 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |