Ellis Lake Dam
Ellis Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Wyandot County, Ohio, built in 1961. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Ellis Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Ellis Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Ellis Lake Recreation Club, Inc. (private). It impounds the Cranberry Run And Porcupine Creek near Smithville.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 38 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 565 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8 square miles. Completed in 1961, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/18/2023.
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Location
| State | Ohio |
| County | Wyandot |
| Nearest City | Smithville |
| River/Stream | Cranberry Run And Porcupine Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.88583, -83.23056 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1961 (65 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 565 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 565 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 233 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 38 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,770 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Ellis Lake Recreation Club, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 05/18/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00734 |
| Federal ID | OH00734 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |