Alligator Creek Salinity Barrier dam
Alligator Creek Salinity Barrier
The Alligator Creek Salinity Barrier, also known as Cha10, is a vital structure located in Punta Gorda, Florida, designed to regulate water flow and prevent saltwater intrusion along the Alligator Creek. Owned privately, this barrier is regulated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and plays a crucial role in flood risk reduction, recreation, and water supply management in the area. The barrier, constructed of concrete, stands at a height of 6 feet and spans 120 feet in length, with a controlled spillway width of 112 feet.
With a storage capacity of 23 acre-feet, the Alligator Creek Salinity Barrier serves as a significant flood control measure in Charlotte County, Florida. Despite being in fair condition as of its last inspection in June 2016, the barrier is deemed to have a very high risk potential (rated 1) due to its importance in managing water resources in the region. Emergency preparedness measures and risk management protocols are in place to ensure the barrier's effectiveness in mitigating flood risks and maintaining water quality in the surrounding areas. Climate and water resource enthusiasts would find this structure and its functions fascinating in the context of sustainable water management practices.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Alligator Creek Salinity Barrier -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Shell Creek Near Punta Gorda Fl | 9 cfs | → |
| Shell Creek On Cr 764 Near Punta Gorda Fl | 16 cfs | → |
| Prairie Creek On Cr 764 Near Punta Gorda Fl | 7 cfs | → |
| Gator Slough West Of Us-41 Near Ft. Myers Fl | 0 cfs | → |
| Shell Creek At Circle K Groves Near Ft Ogden Fl | 11 cfs | → |
| Horseshoe Canal At Cape Coral | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Alligator Creek Salinity Barrier.
Boat launches
- Tuckers Grade 29200, Punta Gorda
- Ponce De Leon Park
- Port Charlotte
- Washington Loop Road 35301, Punta Gorda
- Southwest Riverside Drive 8645, Arcadia
- Northeast 33rd Lane 1708, Cape Coral
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- A Point Approximately 1/2 Mile South Of Sr 771 At El Jobean To The River's Mouth In The Vicinity Of Hog Island
- A Point Just Upriver Of The Us 41 Highway Crossing To The Sarasota/Charlotte County Line
- Approximately River Mile 18 To A Point Just Upriver Of The Us 41 Highway Crossing
- Approximately At River Mile 23 Where Riverfront Residential Development Begins To The Vicinity Of Snook Haven Fish Camp At Approximately River Mile 18
- The Southern Boundary Of The Myakka River State Park To Ends Approximately At River Mile 23 Where Riverfront Residential Development Begins
- Begins Downstream Of The State Road 72 Bridge To The Southern Boundary Of Myakka River State Park
Track Alligator Creek Salinity Barrier in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Alligator Creek Salinity Barrier
Where does the data for Alligator Creek Salinity Barrier come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Significant hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Alligator Creek Salinity Barrier.