Parsons Avenue Sludge Lagoons is an earth dam located in Franklin County, Ohio, built in 1978. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 28 ft28 ft tall and 5,150 ft long, taller than 62% 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 Parsons Avenue Sludge Lagoons
The primary purpose of Parsons Avenue Sludge Lagoons is tailings. Tailings dams contain waste material from mining operations — typically a slurry of finely ground rock left over after valuable minerals have been extracted. These structures require ongoing monitoring because tailings can contain heavy metals and other contaminants. The dam is owned by City of Columbus (local government). It impounds the Big Walnut Creek - Offstream.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 5,150 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 33 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 625 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1978, the structure is 48 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. 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 |
| River/Stream | Big Walnut Creek - Offstream |
| Coordinates | 39.84194, -82.98972 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 5,150 ft |
| Year Completed | 1978 (48 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 625 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 625 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 560 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 33 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Tailings |
| Owner | City of Columbus |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/21/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | OH03178 |
| Federal ID | OH03178 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |