C-18 dam
C-18
Located in Palm Beach, Florida, the C-18 dam, also known as the C18 Weir, was completed in 1952 with the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the Loxahatchee Slough. This state-regulated structure stands at 20 feet in height and has a hydraulic height of 9 feet, providing storage capacity of 220 acre-feet and serving a drainage area of 150 acres. The dam, constructed with roller-compacted concrete, spans 100 feet in length and covers a surface area of 22 acres.
Despite its low hazard potential and a lack of recent condition assessment, the C-18 dam remains maintained and inspected by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) with state jurisdiction, permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place. The structure is designed to handle a maximum discharge of 1000 cfs and features a spillway width of 100 feet. Although the last inspection date is outdated, with the structure not yet rated for condition assessment, the dam continues to serve its flood risk reduction purpose effectively in the region, under state regulatory oversight.
With Congressman Brian J. Mast representing the area, the C-18 dam remains a vital infrastructure component in managing flood risks along the Loxahatchee Slough in Palm Beach, Florida. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the data on this dam provides insight into its design, purpose, and operational parameters, highlighting the importance of maintaining and monitoring such structures for effective flood control and water resource management in the region.
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 C-18 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Loxahatchee River Near Jupiter | 20 cfs | → |
| St Lucie Canal Abv S-80 Nr Stuart Fl | 19 cfs | → |
| St. Lucie Canal Below S-308 | 60 cfs | → |
| Hillsboro Canal At S-6 Near Shawano | 128 cfs | → |
| Hillsboro Canal Below S351 Nr South Bay Fla | 57 cfs | → |
| N New River Canal Below S351 Nr South Bay Fla | 85 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near C-18.
⚓ Boat launches
- Pga Boulevard Palm Beach Gardens
- Burt Reynolds Park - West
- Bert Winters Park
- Juno Road 2097, Palm Beach County
- Teal Court 129, Royal Palm Beach
- North Australian Avenue West Palm Beach
⛺ Campgrounds
- River Camp
- Kitching Creek Primitive Camp
- Eaglesview Equestrian Camp
- Youth Camp
- Jonathan Dickinson State Park
- Scrubjay Camp Site
🎣 Fishing spots
- Earman River Canal (C-17)
- West Palm Beach Canal (C-51)
- North Canal (E-4) Lake Pine
- Lake Clarke
- Lake Osborne
- Central Canal (E-4)
🛡 More reservoirs
More reservoirs →Track C-18 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 C-18
Where does the data for C-18 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 Low 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 C-18.