Leesville Lake (Ohio)

Leesville Lake

Dam on left, north branch ahead
Location Orange, Monroe and Perry Township, Carroll County, Ohio
Coordinates 40°28′06″N 81°11′41″W / 40.46833°N 81.19472°W / 40.46833; -81.19472Coordinates: 40°28′06″N 81°11′41″W / 40.46833°N 81.19472°W / 40.46833; -81.19472[1]
Type reservoir
Primary inflows McGuire Creek and others
Primary outflows McGuire Creek
Catchment area 48 sq mi (120 km2)[2]
Basin countries United States
Max. length 4.6 mi (7.4 km) to 5.5 mi (8.9 km)[2]
Surface area 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) to 1,470 acres (5.9 km2) [2]
Water volume 19,500 to 37,400 acre feet (24,100,000 to 46,100,000 m3)
Surface elevation 963 ft (294 m) to 977.5 ft (297.9 m)[2]

Leesville Lake is a reservoir located near Ohio State Route 212 and Leesville, Ohio.[3] The lake is formed by Leesville Dam 40°28′6″N 81°11′41″W / 40.46833°N 81.19472°W / 40.46833; -81.19472 (Leesville Dam)[4] across McGuire Creek,[5] a tributary of Conotton Creek . The lake is named for the village of Leesville.

The McGuire Creek forms the south branch of the C shaped lake, while the north branch is formed by the North Fork McGuire Creek and Bear Hole Run. The Dam was completed in October, 1936 at a cost of $941,000 by the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District.[2] The operation of the lake and dam, along with the property immediately surrounding the dam site, was transferred to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District, after the approval of the Flood Control Act of 1939 by Congress. The MWCD continues to be responsible for the management of much of the reservoir areas behind the dam, serving as a partner to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for flood reduction. In addition to operating a number of recreation facilities, the MWCD cooperates with the Ohio Division of Wildlife for fishing and hunting management.

Leesville Dam

The Leesville Dam is a rolled earth fill with impervious core, maximum height 74 ft, top length 1695 ft, top width 25 ft, base width about 450 ft. With a 4.1 ft parapet wall on top of the dam with a top elevation of 995.1.
Spillway: Uncontrolled concrete lined saddle spillway near left (south) abutment, crest elevation 977.5, length of crest 150 ft, design discharge 19,700 cu ft/s (560 m3/s) with surcharge of 12.6 ft and freeboard of 5 ft.
Outlet Works: Intake structure with three sluices controlled by 3.5 ft x 7 ft gates and discharges through a 7 ft diameter horseshoe tunnel through the right abutment into a stilling basin. Two 1.5 ft diameter siphons, located in front of the gates of the two outer sluices and discharging into the center sluice, are provided for maintaining the minimum pool.
Other Structures: none
Maximum flow of record at the dam site: 2,300 cu ft/s (65 m3/s) (04-20-1940)
Reservoir design flood peak flow: 4,600 cu ft/s (130 m3/s).[2]

The normal pool level of the lake is 963 feet (294 m), at which a 1,000-acre (4.0 km2) reservoir is formed. During times of excessive rain and snow melt, the corps of engineers can impound more water, up to a maximum possible level of 977.5 feet (297.9 m) with 1,470 acres (5.9 km2). The highest pool of record is 970.77 feet (295.89 m) on 03-17-2011. Levels above normal can cause road closures near the lake. In November of each year the lake is lowered to winter pool of 958 feet (292 m) to allow more flood capacity, and to freeze and kill the roots of aquatic weeds. Levels are returned to summer pool in the spring.

Recreation

Camping

Petersburg Marina & Campground is located on the north fork, a few miles off of Ohio State Route 332.

Summer camps

The Salvation Army runs Camp Neosa at the lake.

The United Methodist Church runs Camp Aldersgate on the north side of the lake.

Camp Wakonda is run by the Christ Presbyterian Church on the north side of the lake between NEOSA & Firebird Roosevelt.

The Ohio FFA runs Camp Muskingum on the south side of the north fork of the lake.

Camp Firebird and Roosevelt is located on the north side of the lake.

Falcon Camp is across from Firebird & Roosevelt between the two forks.

Community

The Leesville Lake POA is becoming active for the first time in many years. It's meeting place is on Autumn Rd just off of the lake.

Fishing and boating

Leesville lake continues to be the top Muskellunge lake in the state of Ohio, with several record muskies caught over the years. Both Petersburg Marina and Leesville South Fork Marina service the lake in addition to providing camping.

References

  1. ↑ "Geographic Names Information System entry for Leesville Lake". Retrieved 2010-01-15.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 MWCD Leesville Lake Data Sheets
  3. ↑ US ACE Huntington District Leesville Lake Page
  4. ↑ Geographic Names Information System. "GNIS entry for Leesville Dam (Feature ID #1077635)". Retrieved 2010-01-07.
  5. ↑ Geographic Names Information System. "GNIS entry for McGuire Creek (Feature ID #1066093)". Retrieved 2010-01-07.

Leesville Lake Facts: This Lake is # 1 in Ohio for musky fishing! It is an Electric motor or 10 hp gas motor only. This lake has a great community of people here and a laid back style of long ago. So if your looking for a slow-paced get away this is it! Mark Sedlock

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