North Broadway Low Head Dam is a concrete dam located in Franklin County, Ohio, built in 1969. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 6 ft6 ft tall and 190 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About North Broadway Low Head Dam
The primary purpose of North Broadway Low Head Dam is debris control. The dam is designed to catch sediment, rocks, and debris carried by flowing water — particularly important in areas prone to mudslides or heavy erosion. The dam is owned by City of Columbus (local government). It impounds the Olentangy River near City of Columbus.
The dam stands 6 feet tall and stretches 190 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 65 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 132 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 522 square miles. Completed in 1969, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/21/2020.
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Location
| State | Ohio |
| County | Franklin |
| Nearest City | City of Columbus |
| River/Stream | Olentangy River |
| Coordinates | 40.02944, -83.02389 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 6 ft |
| Dam Height | 6 ft |
| Dam Length | 190 ft |
| Year Completed | 1969 (57 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 132 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 132 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 132 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 65 acres |
| Drainage Area | 522 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 12,940 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Debris Control |
| Owner | City of Columbus |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 12/21/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH03029 |
| Federal ID | OH03029 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |