Margaret Creek Subdistrict

Hocking College purchased Lake Snowden (Structure #2) from Le-Ax Water District in 1998. At which point Hocking  College replaced Le-Ax Water District as the local sponsor for the operations and maintenance of Lake Snowden The four dams, currently owned and operated by the Margaret Creek Subdistrict, were completed between 1966 and 1972 at a cost of $728,500. Using the ENR Cost Index this equates to a 2009 construction cost of $4,642.00. In 1989 the Conservancy Court for the MCCD ordered the merger of the Margaret Creek District with the Hocking Conservancy District as a Subdistrict of the Hocking Conservancy District. 

The system of five dams construted by the SCS, of which four are operated and maintained by the Margaret Creek Subdistrict, provide several benefits to property owners in the watershed and to residents of Athens County. The primary benefit is that they control the runoff from a large portion of the Margaret Creek Watershed and in doing so reduce the magnitude and frequency of flooding to property and infrastructure. This in turn reduces the inconvenience of road closings, damaged roads and bridges, emergency response to flooded homes and business and cleanup costs. It also reduces the cost of the local governments to replace and enlarge bridges.

While currently not used for municipal water supply, the lakes also provide the opportunity for future water supply requirements or as a back-up source during water emergencies. People can also enjoy the many varied recreational opportunities at Lake Snowden and Fox Lake. The dams store sediment, which reduces the cost of expensive sand bar removal downstream. Finally, the original construction of the dams and proposed safety improvements to two of the structures produce economic benefits to the local community by bringing in a significant amount of federal dollars, providing local construction jobs and the purchase of local materials and equipment, all of which benefits the local community.