05/28/2025
Water level update:
The staff at Buckeye Lake State Park doesn't open and close the state route 79 spillway during the summer season. The gate is opened automatically based on the amount of head pressure against the gate. If the rain increases the volume of water in the lake it will mechanically open and close on its own. This is to prevent the Dam from overtopping during heavy rain events. This past week there was a log that got caught under the gate which prevented the gate from closing. Our staff freed the debris and the gate closed again. The gate is steel against concrete, so there is no perfect seal. There will always be some water spraying through the gate.
The Spillway along North bank Road will also allow water to escape from the lake if we are 8 inches above summer pool. That is the way it was designed to work, again preventing the dam from overtopping.
Drawdown schedule starts November 15th of each year and the gates are closed on March 1st of each year to allow the spring rains to fill up the lake.
You can monitor the lake levels in real time on the USGS Watkins Island site. https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/395540082291600/ =continuous-00045-0&period=P7D&showMedian=true
This site measures rainfall and lake levels. You can select which one you would like to view. under data type.
Summer pool is 891.63 ft
Winter pool elevation is 888.63 ft.
We are currently 2 inches below summer pool.
Have a great day!
Thanks,
Mark Hoffhines
Park Manager
Discover water data collected at monitoring location USGS-395540082291600, located in Licking County, Ohio and find additional nearby monitoring locations.
