Mohawk Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mohawk Dam |
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Mohawk Dam aerial view
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| Location | Jefferson Township, Coshocton County, Ohio |
| Coordinates | 40°21′06″N 82°05′18″W / 40.3518°N 82.0884°W |
| Construction began | April 1935 |
| Operator(s) | United States Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Walhonding River |
| Height | 111 feet (34 m) |
| Length | 2,330 feet (710 m) |
| Reservoir | |
| Total capacity | 285,000 acre-feet (352,000,000 m3) |
The Mohawk Dam is a special kind of dam called a dry dam. It is located in Jefferson Township, Coshocton County, Ohio. This important structure was built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in the 1930s. Its main job is to control floods on the Walhonding River.
The dam is a key part of a bigger project called the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD). This district covers 18 counties. The Mohawk Dam has been working for over 70 years. Recently, it was put on a special list by the USACE. This means it needs urgent attention to make sure it stays safe and strong. Plans are being made to fix and strengthen the dam.
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Building the Mohawk Dam
| Mohawk Dam bridge | |
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| Carries | 2 lanes of  SR 715 |
Work on the Mohawk Dam began in April 1935. It was finished just over two years later, in September 1937. The dam was officially approved by a law called the Flood Control Act of 1938.
The Mohawk Dam was built as a dry dam. This means it only holds back water when there is a flood. It was one of 14 dams built in the Muskingum River Watershed. All these dams were made to help control floods and save water. The dam was built right where the old Walhonding Canal used to be. This canal ran from Coshocton to Cavallo.
How the Mohawk Dam Works
The Mohawk Dam has always worked as a dry dam. It lets the river flow normally most of the time. But when heavy rains cause a flood, the dam holds back the extra water. Then, it slowly releases the water downstream. This helps prevent big floods in towns and cities.
The highest water level ever seen at the Mohawk Dam was in January 2005. During that flood, the water rose about 80.01 feet (24.39 m) above its usual level. This shows how much water the dam can hold back to protect the area.
Keeping the Dam Safe for the Future
The Mohawk Dam has been working for 70 years. However, it was originally expected to last about 50 years. Over time, things like dirt building up (sedimentation) and water wearing away parts of the dam (erosion) can make it weaker. Because of this, the dam has some safety concerns.
The USACE put the Mohawk Dam on its list of dams that are most at risk. In 2006, it was ranked as the seventh most at-risk dam in the nation. By 2007, its safety rating was changed to "Urgent." This is the second-highest level in the dam safety system. An "Urgent" rating means that fixing the dam is a very important federal priority. It also means there's a moderate chance of the dam failing during a flood.
The MWCD has estimated what could happen if the Mohawk Dam failed during a flood. They believe it could put 307 people's lives at risk. It could also cause up to $449 million in property damage.
One of the biggest issues with the Mohawk Dam is water seeping through it. This happens with most earthen dams, which are made of soil and rock. For the Mohawk Dam, this problem is worse because it was built on land that lets water pass through easily (highly permeable land). If too much water seeps through the lower part of the dam, it could become unstable.
Plans are being developed to fix and strengthen the dam. Congress set aside money in 2006 and 2007 to study the dam's condition. This money also helps gather information for a repair report. The MWCD is helping with these repair projects. They will pay a small part of the costs, about 3.45 percent. The rest will be paid by the federal government.
To pay their share, the MWCD will ask property owners in its 18-county district to help. This means people who own property in the area will contribute to the dam improvements. The total cost for the MWCD's share for work on four dams, including the Mohawk Dam, is estimated to be between $95 million and $135 million.
Images for kids
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Looking northwest from the top of the dam into the reservoir area behind the dam.
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An image from the top of the dam during the January 2005 flood when the water reached its highest point in the dam's history.
