Basich Lake Dam
Basich Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Jefferson County, Ohio, built in 1963. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Basich Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Basich Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Louis & Mary Basich (private). It impounds the Trib-north Fork Short Creek near Belknap.
The dam stands 38 feet tall and stretches 480 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 135 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1963, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/03/2022.
At 38 feet, this dam is taller than 85% 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 | Jefferson |
| Nearest City | Belknap |
| River/Stream | Trib-north Fork Short Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.24889, -80.87667 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Length | 480 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 135 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 135 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 26 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 6,323 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Louis & Mary Basich |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/03/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00862 |
| Federal ID | OH00862 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |