Buffalo Hills Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Noble County, Ohio, built in 1973. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 15 ft15 ft tall and 387 ft long. 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 Buffalo Hills Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Buffalo Hills Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Buffalo Hills Rv Resort, LLC (private). It impounds the Tributary to Opossum Run near Walhonding.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 387 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 18 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1973, the structure is well into its service life at over 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 11/10/2022.
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Location
| State | Ohio |
| County | Noble |
| Nearest City | Walhonding |
| River/Stream | Tributary to Opossum Run |
| Coordinates | 39.88750, -81.43278 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 387 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 18 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 18 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 9 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 502 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Buffalo Hills Rv Resort, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/10/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH02234 |
| Federal ID | OH02234 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |