Englewood Dam is an earthen embankment located across the Stillwater River in northern Montgomery County near the City of Englewood. U.S. 40 goes across the top of the dam. Construction of the dam began in February of 1918 and was completed in December of 1921. Miami Conservancy District’s flood protection system was awarded the 1922 Engineering Record’s distinguished “Project of the Year,” placing it in a category with other international engineering design feats like the Brooklyn Bridge, Eiffel Tower, Empire State Building, and Golden Gate Bridge.
The dam has two concrete conduits through the base of the embankment near the center of the valley. The conduits are sized to discharge floodwater at a rate that can be handled by the flood protection levees and channels downstream. The remainder of the floodwaters are temporarily stored behind the dam and released over time. An emergency spillway is located in the right abutment at the west end of the dam.
Learn more: How do dry dams work? | 1913 Flood History
Englewood MetroPark
Englewood Dam storage basin holding back floodwater.
Our partner Five Rivers MetroParks manages Englewood MetroPark on these lands, utilizing the Englewood storage basin to offer outdoor recreation opportunities when the land is not being used to store floodwater. This nature-filled park is one of the largest in the region, and loved by many. This park boasts three beautiful waterfalls, unique landscapes such as the pumpkin ash and swamp forest, has natural play areas for children, picnic shelters, fishing ponds, an 18-hole disc golf course, horseback riding trails, and amazing birding opportunities at the Benedict Blincoe Wildlife Area.
Stillwater Trail (Trail #7) passes through the park, which is one section of the nation's largest paved trail system. The Miami Conservancy District manages a section of the Stillwater Trail, from Gayle Price Bridge to Siebenthaler Avenue.
Englewood Dam Statistics
Elevation and Hydraulic Information
The City of Englewood operates production water wells downstream of the dam and east of the Stillwater River. The City’s wastewater treatment plant is located downstream of the dam, west of the river.
This website application allows you to search the MCD archives for a significant portion of MCD photos available. More photos can be researched and viewed in the Wright State Archives.
