Overview
Clendening Lake is a 1,800-acre flood-control reservoir on Brushy Fork in Harrison County in eastern Ohio. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the federal project with recreation support from the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District. The Harrison County setting remains one of MWCD's more secluded lakes, with public lands and forest rather than dense lakeside development defining much of its shore.
The lake has about 40 miles of largely undeveloped, wooded shoreline in a long, narrow Brushy Fork valley. Wooded points, small coves, and the old creek course provide the principal navigation and fishing reference for boaters working the elongated basin. Its comparatively natural shoreline distinguishes it within the Muskingum system from busier recreation hubs such as Seneca Lake or Tappan Lake.
Clendening is used for fishing, camping, wildlife viewing, and quiet boating. A 10-horsepower limit preserves its quiet character for anglers, paddlers, and campers pursuing bass, crappie, and other warmwater species. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources provides fishery information for Ohio waters, while MWCD access points and campgrounds serve visitors seeking a lower-speed eastern Ohio reservoir experience away from high-traffic lakes.
Elevations are referenced to NGVD29, with a normal full pool of 898 feet and winter pool near 893 feet. Corps storage operations and watershed rainfall govern seasonal changes in the lake level. Seasonal lowering can reveal shoreline, change access at smaller facilities, and shift fish toward remaining channel edges, so monitoring current levels helps with ramp planning, cove navigation, and dock conditions.
Current Conditions
Clendening Lake is currently at full pool and has risen slightly over the past week.
- 7-day trendRisingLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeUp 0.01 ft
- 30-day changeDown 0.50 ft
- Drought conditionsNo Drought
- Active advisories2 active (Advisory)
About This Lake
Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.
Clendening Lake is a 1,800-acre reservoir on the Brushy Fork managed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers / Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District.