Lake Rockwell Dam
Lake Rockwell Dam is an earth dam located in Portage County, Ohio, built in 1913. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Lake Rockwell Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Rockwell 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 City Of Akron (local government). It impounds the Cuyahoga River near Kent.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 490 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 810 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 18,250 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 208 square miles. Completed in 1913, the structure is over a century old.
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 04/20/2023.
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 | Portage |
| Nearest City | Kent |
| River/Stream | Cuyahoga River |
| Coordinates | 41.18278, -81.33111 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 490 ft |
| Year Completed | 1913 (113 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 18,250 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 18,250 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 8,172 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 810 acres |
| Drainage Area | 208 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 15,732 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Akron |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/20/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00668 |
| Federal ID | OH00668 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |