St. Clairsville Reservoir No. 1 Dam is an earth dam located in Belmont County, Ohio, built in 1929. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 36 ft36 ft tall and 285 ft long, taller than 82% 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 St. Clairsville Reservoir No. 1 Dam
The primary purpose of St. Clairsville Reservoir No. 1 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 St. Clairsville (local government). It impounds the Little Mcmahon Creek near Echo.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 285 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 16 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 346 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1929, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 10/11/2022.
At 36 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 | Belmont |
| Nearest City | Echo |
| River/Stream | Little Mcmahon Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.06528, -80.92167 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 285 ft |
| Year Completed | 1929 (97 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 346 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 346 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 157 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 16 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,479 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of St. Clairsville |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/11/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00793 |
| Federal ID | OH00793 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |