By 1812Blockhouse
We are taking periodic looks at a variety of things in the Richland County area – some, like today, are geographic locations; other times, they will be organizations, or causes; or even events and happenings. Each time, we will collect details from across the Internet and combine them into a single list.
Today, we look at Clear Fork Reservoir – or should that be Clearfork Reservoir? Even the official reservoir page on the City of Mansfield website has both names listed. The original press coverage had the project as Clear Fork; whatever it’s called, here goes:
- Location – The reservoir is located in both Richland and Morrow Counties.
- Size – 997 acres
- Maximum depth – 25 to 40 feet; upper end is shallow, while the lower end is deeper
- Water visibility — 1 to 2 feet
- Average depth – 10 feet
- Shoreline – 14 miles
- Spillway elevation – 1202 feet above sea level
- Capacity – 4.4 billion gallons of water
- Date of dam construction — 1946-1947; contractor was the Roger J. Au Company
- Date of reservoir construction – 1949-1950
- Date opening to fishing — June 16, 1950
- Mayor during construction — Roy W. Vaughn
- Initial projected cost of construction — $800,000
- Actual cost of construction — $2,450,000
- Reasons given for change in cost — 1) Changes in specifications; 2) Delays in construction and awarding of contracts; 3) inflation
- Indebtedness paid off — 1972
- Original pumping capacity – 15,000,000 gallons a day
- Number of picnic areas – 3
- Surrounding acreage – 1000 acres
- Fish varieties – fishing is good for channel catfish, white bass, bluegill; black and white crappie; muskellunge; largemouth bass
- Fishing locations – anywhere except for within 500 feet of the dam
- Boat speed limit – 10 mph
- GPS location — N 40° 42′ 20.61″, W 82° 37′ 46.01″
Sources: City of Mansfield, Wikipedia, Mansfield News Journal; Photo: 1812Blockhouse
