Alum Creek Dam
Alum Creek Dam is a gravity dam located in Delaware County, Ohio, built in 1974. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Alum Creek Dam
The primary purpose of Alum Creek Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Usace - Huntington District (federal). It impounds the Alum Creek Of Big Walnut Crk. near Westerville.
The dam stands 93 feet tall and stretches 10,200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3,387 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 134,800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 123 square miles. Completed in 1974, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/13/2021.
At 93 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Delaware |
| Nearest City | Westerville |
| River/Stream | Alum Creek Of Big Walnut Crk. |
| Coordinates | 40.18724, -82.96335 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 93 ft |
| Dam Length | 10,200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1974 (52 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 134,800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 134,800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 81,700 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3,387 acres |
| Drainage Area | 123 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 61,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Huntington District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 05/13/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00931 |
| Federal ID | OH00931 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |