Mount Gilead Lower Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Morrow County, Ohio, built in 2018. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 33 ft33 ft tall and 735 ft long, taller than 76% 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 Mount Gilead Lower Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Mount Gilead Lower 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 Sams Creek near Mt. Gilead.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 735 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 13 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 298 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8 square miles. Completed in 2018, the structure is relatively new.
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 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 04/19/2022.
At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 76% 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 | Morrow |
| Nearest City | Mt. Gilead |
| River/Stream | Sams Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.54917, -82.81722 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 735 ft |
| Year Completed | 2018 (8 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 298 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 298 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 90 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 13 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 16,000 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Odnr, Division of Parks & Watercraft |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/19/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00689 |
| Federal ID | OH00689 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |