Overview
Tappan Lake is a 2,350-acre reservoir on Little Stillwater Creek in Harrison County in eastern Ohio. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District operate it for flood storage and public recreation. Readily reached from the U.S. 250 corridor, the lake functions as a Harrison County recreation hub as well as a Little Stillwater Creek flood-control project within the Muskingum reservoir network.
The lake has about 30 miles of shoreline and reaches roughly 34 feet deep. Branching creek arms, timbered coves, and low ridges wrap the main basin, with the channel depth providing a recognizable route through open water for both anglers and through-traffic. Tappan's branching form is typical of the eastern Ohio reservoir landscape and pairs naturally with nearby MWCD waters such as Clendening and Piedmont.
Fishing, camping, and boating are principal activities. A 399-horsepower limit permits water skiing and faster boats while still leaving many coves suited to fishing, camping, and quieter family use for bass, crappie, and other warmwater species. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources provides current fishing guidance, and MWCD marinas, ramps, and campgrounds support launching, overnight stays, and shoreline access around the developed recreation areas.
Water levels are referenced to NGVD29, with normal full pool at 899.3 feet and winter pool near 894.3 feet. Corps seasonal storage operations affect the elevation through the year and can expose or inundate shallow cove edges. Checking MWCD and Corps level information is useful before trailering boats during spring runoff, drawdown, or after heavy rain on Little Stillwater Creek.
Tappan Lake Right Now
Tappan Lake is currently 0.35 feet above full pool and has stayed about the same over the past week. Today's forecast calls for sunny with a high around 68°F.
About This Lake
Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.
Tappan Lake is a 2,350-acre reservoir on the Little Stillwater Creek managed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers / Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District.