Barnesville Reservoir No. 3 Dam
Barnesville Reservoir No. 3 Dam is an earth dam located in Belmont County, Ohio, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Barnesville Reservoir No. 3 Dam
The primary purpose of Barnesville Reservoir No. 3 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 Village Of Barnesville (local government). It impounds the Slope Creek near Malaga.
The dam stands 77 feet tall and stretches 525 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 100 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,250 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1965, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 11/14/2022.
At 77 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Belmont |
| Nearest City | Malaga |
| River/Stream | Slope Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.90889, -81.16028 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 77 ft |
| Dam Height | 77 ft |
| Dam Length | 525 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,250 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,250 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,050 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 100 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,951 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Village of Barnesville |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/14/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00753 |
| Federal ID | OH00753 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |