O'Shaughnessy Dam (Ohio)

This article is about the dam near Columbus, Ohio. For the one in the Sierra Nevada mountains, see O'Shaughnessy Dam.

O'Shaughnessy Dam and Bridge
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
View below the dam
Location:	Concord Township / Liberty Township, Delaware County, Ohio, USA
Nearest city:	Shawnee Hills, Ohio
Coordinates:	40°09′14″N 83°07′33″W / 40.15389°N 83.12583°W / 40.15389; -83.12583Coordinates: 40°09′14″N 83°07′33″W / 40.15389°N 83.12583°W / 40.15389; -83.12583
Built:	1922
Architect:	Packard,Franklin l.; Thompson-Starrett Co.
Architectural style:	Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Classical Revival, Second Renaissance Revival
Governing body:	Local
NRHP Reference#:	90000482[1]
Added to NRHP:	July 5, 1990

The O'Shaughnessy Dam is located on the Scioto River near Dublin, Ohio, 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).^[2] At the time, the reservoir was described as "the finest inland waterway in the United States." Located 10 miles (16 km) 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 6.3 billion US gallons (24,000,000 m³) over a surface area of 845 acres (3.42 km²).^[3] The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium 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.^[1]

Hydroelectricity

The city of Columbus installed a hydroelectric operation on the west side of the dam, which was completed in 1987.^[4] 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)^[5], the two turbines together produce 5 megawatts.^[4][6]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-13. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 
2. ^ "Water Sources". Department of Public Utilities (City of Columbus, Ohio): Division of Water. Archived from the original on 2006-10-08. http://web.archive.org/web/20061008234256/http://columbuswater.com/sources.htm. Retrieved 2006-10-28. 
3. ^ "2005 Annual Report" (PDF). Department of Public Utilities (City of Columbus, Ohio). http://utilities.columbus.gov/dosd/pdfs/Public-Utiliities-2005-Annual-Report.pdf. Retrieved 2006-10-28. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "Green Power: Turning Water Into Electricity - O'Shaughnessy Hydroelectric Plant". Department of Public Utilities (City of Columbus, Ohio): Division of Water. Archived from the original on 2006-10-09. http://web.archive.org/web/20061009182328/http://utilities.ci.columbus.oh.us/electricity/greenpower.htm. Retrieved 2006-10-28. 
5. ^ "Hydropower". Green Energy Ohio. http://www.greenenergyohio.org/page.cfm?pageID=54. Retrieved 2006-10-28. 
6. ^ "Hydroelectricity". Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel. Archived from the original on 2007-02-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20070216135106/http://www.pickocc.org/smartenergy/hydroelectric.shtml. Retrieved 2006-10-29. 

External links

• USGS Real-Time Water Data: Scioto River below O'Shaughnessy Dam
• Ohio DNR fishing map of O'Shaughnessy Reservoir