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 The MWCD system of dams and reservoirs works as a coordinated network to protect the hills and valleys of 18 Ohio counties. Once ravaged by uncontrolled floodwater, the region now benefits from MWCD programs to help conserve land, timber and minerals, and protect precious water quality. How the Muskingum River Basin Reservoir System Works: The Reservoir System consists of 14 dams and was completed in 1938. The result was the creation of a coordinated system that conserves water and reduces flooding problems downstream and throughout the region. Operation of the dam system involves a strong partnership between the MWCD and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The system requires constant monitoring to efficiently regulate the water levels at each reservoir and release appropriate flow downstream. The Corps of Engineers now owns and operates the dams, while MWCD is responsible for maintaining its 14 reservoirs for watershed management, including water quality initiatives throughout the region. In addition to the original 14 dams, the Corps of Engineers constructed and operates two other dams and reservoirs – Dillon and North Branch Kokosing. |
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