Bridge Creek Dam
Bridge Creek Dam is an earth dam located in Geauga County, Ohio, built in 1961. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Bridge Creek Dam
The primary purpose of Bridge Creek 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 Bridge Creek And Black Brook near Hiram Rapids.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 4,800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,420 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 41,505 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 35 square miles. Completed in 1961, 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 10/05/2021.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 87% 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 | Geauga |
| Nearest City | Hiram Rapids |
| River/Stream | Bridge Creek And Black Brook |
| Coordinates | 41.40000, -81.18333 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1961 (65 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 41,505 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 41,505 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 18,480 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,420 acres |
| Drainage Area | 35 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 23,080 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Akron |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 10/05/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00756 |
| Federal ID | OH00756 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |