About the Dam Safety Program
The Dam Safety Program regulates the construction, operation, and maintenance of Ohio's dams and levees to protect life and property from damages due to failure. This is accomplished through periodic inspection, new dam construction permits, and regulation of improvements, maintenance and operation of existing dams.
24-Hour Emergency Number (614) 799-9538
Contact: Rodney Tornes, P.E., Program Manager (614) 265-6737
History of Dam Safety in Ohio
Construction of dams in Ohio dates back to the early 1800's when reservoirs such as Buckeye Lake and Grand Lake St. Marys were built to supply water to the canal system, which provided a means of transportation for agricultural trade and commerce. Dam construction continued at a modest pace for about the next 100 years with relatively few dams built by private entities. In the early part of the 19th century, several large municipally-owned dams and reservoirs were built for public water supply. Severe floods also prompted the formation of Conservancy Districts which constructed dams for flood control.
Although the true forerunner of current dam safety laws in Ohio was enacted in 1963, legislation pertaining to the construction of dams was enacted as early as 1937. This early set of laws aimed to encourage construction of dams for the storage of water, in response to recent drought periods in Ohio and the "dust bowl" days on the Great Plains. The regulatory agency responsible for the enforcement of these early laws was the Division of Conservation and Natural Resources in the State Department of Agriculture.
Due to the availability of large earthmoving equipment after World War II, Ohio saw a significant increase in the number of dams built by individuals and private companies. Although the water storage and recreational capabilities provided by these dams were important benefits, concern about the adequacy of design and construction was prompted by the loss of life and property damage resulting from dam failures. This led to a greater interest in dam safety.
The Division of Water, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, has been involved in dam safety since 1963. During this year, the first Ohio law requiring construction permits for building new dams was enacted. In addition, following the failure of several dams in northeast Ohio during the severe flood of 1969, the General Assembly revised the law to include periodic inspections of existing structures. This was done to help assure that the continued operation and use of a dam or levee does not pose a hazard to life, health, or property. In 1972, the failure of Buffalo Creek Dam in West Virginia, which caused great loss of life and severe property damage, led to the enactment of the National Dam Safety Act. This law, administered by the Corp of Engineers, called for an inventory of dams in the United States and the inspection of those that could create the most hazard if they failed. The Corps contracted with the Division of Water to inventory roughly 4500 non-federal dams in Ohio.