Senecaville Lake is within the Lower Tuscarawas section of the Muskingum Area and is one of a system of projects designed to provide flood control and water conservation in the Muskingum Watershed in southeastern Ohio. It was authorized by Section 4 of the Flood Control Act (FCA) of 1938, as amended by Section 4 of the FCA of 1939. Primary project purposes are flood damage reduction, recreation, and fish and wildlife.