Sunny Lake Dam

TRIBUTARY TO AURORA BRANCH OF CHAGRIN RIVER· Portage, Ohio· Earth· 10 ft tall
Low Hazard Recreation Local Government

Key Takeaway

Sunny Lake Dam is classified as low hazard in Ohio. Its primary use is recreation.

Physical Details

Dam Height 10 ft (taller than 2.3% in OH)
Dam Length350 ft
Dam TypeEarth
Max Storage350 acre-ft
Normal Storage180 acre-ft
Surface Area63 acres
Drainage Area3 sq mi
Max Discharge108 cfs
NID IDOH00673

Safety Information

Low Hazard

No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected.

Hazard potential describes downstream consequences of failure, not the dam's current condition. What does this mean?

Emergency Action Plan: Yes
Last Inspection: May 23, 2018
State Regulated: Yes
Regulatory Agency: Department of Natural Resources

Ownership

City of Aurora Parks & Rec.

Local Government

Nearby Dams

Roundup Lake Dam

Portage, OH

Significant Hazard 12 ft

Walden Lake Dam

Portage, OH

Significant Hazard 26 ft

Bear Town Lake Dam

Geauga, OH

Low Hazard 22 ft

Colebrook Lake No. 1 Dam

Portage, OH

Low Hazard 17 ft

Bainbridge Quarry Lake Dam

Geauga, OH

Low Hazard 13 ft

Hudson Springs Lake Dam

Summit, OH

Significant Hazard 18 ft

Tanglewood Lake Dam

Geauga, OH

High Hazard 37 ft

Tucaway Lake Dam

Portage, OH

High Hazard 25 ft

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Sunny Lake Dam?

Sunny Lake Dam is classified as Low Hazard. No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected. This classification refers to the potential downstream consequences of a failure, not the dam's current structural condition.

Who owns and operates Sunny Lake Dam?

Sunny Lake Dam is owned by City of Aurora Parks & Rec. (Local Government). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

What is the primary purpose of Sunny Lake Dam?

Sunny Lake Dam serves the following purposes: Recreation. Many dams in the U.S. are multi-purpose, supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, and other uses.

How tall is Sunny Lake Dam?

Sunny Lake Dam has a dam height of 10 ft. Dam height is measured from the natural streambed at the downstream toe to the top of the dam, and may differ from the visible height.

When was Sunny Lake Dam last inspected?

Sunny Lake Dam was last inspected on May 23, 2018. Inspection dates indicate when a formal review occurred, not the results of that inspection.

Data from the National Inventory of Dams (NID) maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Dam conditions may have changed since the last update. This site is not affiliated with USACE. Do not use for emergency planning — contact your local dam safety program.