Piedmont Lake Water Level
Piedmont Lake is at 913.06 ft today (Oct 31), 0.06 ft above its 913 ft full pool, down 0.11 ft this week.
Ohio · Stillwater Creek
Full pool is the summer level. Piedmont Lake is drawn down about 8 ft to roughly 905 ft over winter for flood storage, so a lower reading outside the summer season is usually scheduled rather than drought.
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Water level history
About Piedmont Lake
Piedmont Lake is a reservoir on the Stillwater Creek in Ohio, operated by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Its full summer pool sits at 913 ft above sea level. Live water levels come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CWMS) and update hourly.
Understanding Piedmont Lake's water level
Piedmont Lake fills a long, wooded valley on Stillwater Creek, a tributary of the Tuscarawas River, near Freeport in eastern Ohio. Most of its 2,270 acres lie in Kirkwood and Flushing townships of Belmont County, with a small piece in Moorefield Township of Harrison County, and the lake runs about ten miles end to end. It exists because of the March 1913 flood, one of the worst on record in the Muskingum basin. Arthur Morgan's flood control design for the Muskingum basin called for four reservoirs on Stillwater Creek, and "Piedmont on Stillwater" was one of them. The rolled earth dam was completed in 1937, though the lake did not reach its conservation pool until March 1942. Building it was not smooth: speculators cornered land around Freeport and demanded such prices that the district briefly looked at other dam sites before local pressure kept the project where it is.
Two agencies share the lake, and that explains most of what the level does. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers owns and operates the dam and decides how much water goes downstream, a role the Flood Control Act of 1939 handed to the federal government when it authorized transferring the fourteen original Muskingum dams to the United States. The conservancy district manages the lake and the land behind the dam, including the marina and campground. Normal summer pool is 913 feet. Every fall the level comes down so the reservoir has room for snowmelt and spring rain; in recent years the release has started November 1, and the district aims to have the lake back to normal pool in time for the summer season. When heavy rain arrives, the Corps holds water here to protect towns downstream, and the lake rises well above 913 until it can be let out safely.
That flood role was on full display in spring 2024. After historic rain, Reynolds Road on the Belmont County side sat under nearly six feet of water for weeks, cutting off about thirty houses from mail, trash pickup and normal emergency access while residents crossed by canoe. The gauge's highest reading of recent years, close to 920 feet, dates from that year. For anglers, Ohio's Division of Wildlife calls Piedmont the most productive saugeye lake in its area, and stocks both saugeye and muskellunge. The state record muskie, 55.13 pounds, came from here on April 12, 1972, caught by Joe D. Lykins of Piedmont. The lake averages about 15 feet deep with a 38 foot maximum, and outboards are limited to 10 horsepower, which keeps the water quiet even on summer weekends.
Piedmont Lake — frequently asked
What is Piedmont Lake's normal pool level?
Normal summer pool is 913 feet above sea level, the figure used by both the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District in its drawdown schedules and the Ohio Division of Wildlife on its lake map. Readings above that usually mean the Corps of Engineers is holding back floodwater, and readings a few feet below it between November and spring are the planned winter drawdown rather than a sign of drought.
Why is Piedmont Lake low in winter?
The conservancy district lowers the lake each fall to make room for snowmelt and spring rain, and uses the low water for shoreline and maintenance work. The drawdown normally begins November 1. In the winters of 2023 and 2024 the target was 908 feet, five feet below normal pool. For winter 2025 to 2026 the district took it down eight feet to 905 feet over 42 days, which is why the gauge dipped below 905 in early 2026.
Why was Piedmont Lake drawn down further for winter 2025 to 2026?
The extra depth lined up with a dredging project. The conservancy district planned to remove about 12,750 cubic yards of sediment from Essex Cove, the bay between Hilltop Drive and Lake Ridge Road, and the bay near the Akron Boat Club to improve water depth and navigation for boaters. The eight foot drawdown to 905 feet was tied for the largest on the district's schedule that winter.
When does Piedmont Lake refill?
Refilling starts after the winter drawdown with a target date of March 15. In the 2023 and 2024 schedules the district aimed for an intermediate level of 911 feet by mid March, two feet under normal pool, with the full 913 feet reached in time for the summer recreation season. Spring rain can push the lake up faster, and well past normal pool, in a wet year.
Who owns Piedmont Lake?
Both the federal government and a local district have a hand in it. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers owns and operates the dam and controls releases for flood protection. The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, which signed the original 1934 reservoir contract with the federal government, manages the lake area along with the marina, campground and cabins. Boaters work within a 10 horsepower motor limit.
Is there a horsepower limit on Piedmont Lake?
Yes. Outboard motors may not exceed 10 horsepower. Boats launch at Piedmont Marina off Marina Road at the north end of the lake, where boats and motors can also be rented, and at the Reynolds Road Launch Ramp, which has a fishing pier. The Ohio Division of Wildlife notes there is also shore access along the dam and around the marina.
What is the fishing like at Piedmont Lake?
State biologists rate Piedmont the most productive saugeye lake in southeastern Ohio, with several strong year classes. The old roadbed in the lower lake, gently sloping points and rocky banks are the spots to try; fish deep in spring and higher in summer. The daily limit is six saugeye. Muskie are stocked every fall, 2,370 of them in 2023, and the state record of 55.13 pounds came from here in 1972.
Other lakes near Piedmont Lake
- Pleasant Hill LakeOH
- Paint Creek LakeOH
- Senecaville LakeOH
- Leesville LakeOH
- Tappan LakeOH
- Dillon LakeOH
See current levels for all 16 Ohio lakes and reservoirs →
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