O'BRIEN LAKE DAM - OH00398-3534
Dam Name: O'BRIEN LAKE DAM
State: OH
Downstream Hazard Potential: L
Incident Type: Non-Failure
Incident Date: 04/22/2022
Incident Driver: Deterioration or Poor Condition
Incident Mechanism 1: Spillway Pipe Failure
Incident Mechanism 2Sinkhole
Incident Mechanism 3Erosion
Incident IDOH00398-3534
Incident DescriptionCMP principal spillway riser failed and caused a sinkhole on the upstream slope and erosion into the crest. Outlet pipe was also severally deteriorated and there was a large erosion scrap on the downstream slope that almost reached the crest. The operability of the lake drain was unknow plus it could not be accessed due to the amount of water going into the riser. A channel was excavated into the emergency spillway to lower the water level by 4 feet. Once the water level was lowered to this elevation windows in the riser were cut out to completely drain the lake. The lake drain was eventually operated and opened completely.
Named Hydrologic Event
EAP Enacted (Y/N) due to IncidentNo
Fatalities (Number)
Number of People Evacuated0
Number of Habitable Structures Evacuated0
Number of Habitable Structures Flooded0
Other Infrastructure ImpactsNone
Economic Damages (in $)
ResponseNo EAP but local officials were notified. The dam owner was very cooperative. They were able to get a contractor on site relatively quickly and agreed with our plan of action. The County SWCD office keeped us up-to-date with the progess after the initial emergency was over.
Volume released at failure (ac-ft)
Additional Remarks or Updates
Owner TypeP
Dam TypeRE
Primary Purpose(s)R
EAPN
Dam Height24 ft
Max Storage (ac-ft)168.00
Surface Area (acres)20.00
Year Completed1968
NID NumberOH00398
River NameTRIBUTARY TO THREE BROTHERS CREEK
Latitude41.6575
Longitude-80.7983
Year Modified
Regulatory Agency(ies)DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Incident Time
Incident Duration2 weeks
Incident Report ProducedYes
Information SourcesOH Dam Safety
