Ahrens Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Richland County, Ohio, built in 1976. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 34 ft34 ft tall and 290 ft long, taller than 78% 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 Ahrens Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Ahrens Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Dennis and Anne Reed (private). It impounds the Trib-clear Fork Reservoir near Lexington.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 290 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 60 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1976, the structure is 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 11/21/2024.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 78% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Ohio |
| County | Richland |
| Nearest City | Lexington |
| River/Stream | Trib-clear Fork Reservoir |
| Coordinates | 40.72222, -82.67167 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 290 ft |
| Year Completed | 1976 (50 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 60 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 60 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 44 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 255 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Dennis and Anne Reed |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/21/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH00976 |
| Federal ID | OH00976 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |