Overview
William H. Harsha Lake, also called East Fork Lake, is a 2,160-acre reservoir on the East Fork Little Miami River in Clermont County. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District manages the project for flood control and recreation. Often known locally as East Fork Lake, it is the principal impoundment on the East Fork and a major Cincinnati-area Corps reservoir within the Little Miami River basin.
The lake has about 32 miles of shoreline and reaches about 113 feet deep, making it generally regarded as Ohio's second-deepest inland lake after Caesar Creek. Long wooded arms, steep valley banks, and the old river channel create a distinctly deep profile. That vertical relief, combined with tributary coves and points, gives boaters and anglers a wide range of structure from shallow flats to deep channel edges.
Boating, fishing, camping, and East Fork State Park recreation are major uses. Anglers pursue bass, crappie, saugeye, catfish, and other warmwater species, and should consult the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for regulations. East Fork State Park provides extensive ramps, camping, trails, and fishing access, making Harsha a popular water-sports and angling destination for the greater Cincinnati region.
Elevations use NGVD29, with full pool at 733 feet, winter pool near 729 feet, and flood storage to 795 feet. Corps operations respond to runoff from the East Fork watershed, and those operating changes are significant for docks, exposed banks, and upper-arm navigation. Monitoring current lake levels helps with boating safety, shoreline access, and planning trips during flood-storage events or seasonal drawdown.
Current Conditions
William H. Harsha Lake is currently 1.03 feet above full pool and has risen slightly over the past week.
- 7-day trendRisingLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeUp 0.56 ft
- 30-day changeUp 0.41 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.
William H. Harsha Lake is a 2,160-acre reservoir on the East Fork Little Miami River managed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.