The O'Shaughnessy Dam is located on the

Scioto River The Scioto River ( ) is a river in central and southern Ohio more than in length. It rises in Hardin County, Ohio, Hardin County just north of Roundhead, Ohio, flows through Columbus, Ohio, where it collects its largest tributary, the Olent ...

near

Dublin, Ohio Dublin is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. A suburb of Columbus, Ohio, Columbus, it falls within the jurisdictions of Franklin County, Ohio, Franklin, Delaware County, Ohio, Delaware, Union County, Ohio, Union, and Madison County, Ohio, Madison ...

, United States. The dam forms O'Shaughnessy Reservoir, which is a major source of drinking water for the city of Columbus. It was completed in 1925 following recommendations of then superintendent Jerry O'Shaughnessy (for whom the dam was named). At the time, the reservoir was described as "the finest inland waterway in the United States." Located upstream of the smaller Griggs Dam, it provides a large area for various forms of recreation in addition to its water supply duties. The reservoir holds over a surface area of . The

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is a non-profit zoo located near Powell, Ohio, Powell in Liberty Township, Delaware County, Ohio, United States, north of the city of Columbus, Ohio, Columbus. The land lies along the eastern banks of the O'Shaughnes ...

is located on the east bank of the reservoir, near the dam. In 1990, the dam was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

Hydroelectricity

The city of Columbus installed a

hydroelectric Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is Electricity generation, electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies 15% of the world's electricity, almost 4,210 TWh in 2023, which is more than all other Renewable energ ...

operation on the west side of the dam, which was completed in 1987. The turbines can only be operated when there is sufficient flow, which means the dam cannot continuously produce electricity. With a head of 18 feet (5.5 m), the two turbines together produce 5 megawatts. Despite numerous repair attempts the Hydroelectric Turbines have remained offline for approximately three years (ostensibly as of August 2018). In January, 2021, The City of Columbus announced plans to repair the hydropower unit and restore the plant to full capacity by 2023.

References

External links

USGS Real-Time Water Data: "Scioto River below O'Shaughnessy Dam"Ohio DNR, "O'Shaughnessy Reservoir Fishing Map"
{{Portalbar, Ohio, Water, Renewable energy Hydroelectric power plants in Ohio Dams in Ohio Buildings and structures in Delaware County, Ohio National Register of Historic Places in Delaware County, Ohio Buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Ohio Road bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Ohio Neoclassical architecture in Ohio Dams completed in 1925 Energy infrastructure completed in 1925 United States local public utility dams 1925 establishments in Ohio