Dead Lakes Dam dam
Dead Lakes Dam
Dead Lakes Dam, located in Wewahitchka, Florida, is a private dam on the Chipola River with a primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1962, this dam stands at a height of 22 feet and has a storage capacity of 40,600 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam has not been inspected since May 1994 and is currently rated as 'Not Rated' in terms of its condition assessment.
Owned privately and regulated by the NWFWMD, Dead Lakes Dam serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock maintenance, and recreation. With a surface area of 2,985 acres and a drainage area of zero, this dam plays a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities for water resource and climate enthusiasts. However, with limited data on its risk assessment and emergency preparedness, there is a need for further evaluation and monitoring to ensure the safety and functionality of this vital water infrastructure in Gulf County, Florida.
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 Dead Lakes Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Apalachicola R.Ab Chipola Conr Wewahitchka | 11,600 cfs | → |
| Apalachicola River Nr Sumatra | 13,000 cfs | → |
| New River Nr Sumatra Fla | 233 cfs | → |
| Apalachicola River Nr Blountstown | 11,100 cfs | → |
| Telogia Creek Nr Bristol | 82 cfs | → |
| Chipola River Nr Altha | 1,100 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dead Lakes Dam.
Boat launches
- West Reid Avenue 207, Wewahitchka
- Riverview Drive 216, Wewahitchka
- National Forest Road 115 Liberty County
- 188 Liberty County
- Sandy Creek Road Bay County
- Mallard Street Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Dead Lakes State Rec Area
- White Oak Landing
- Florida River Island
- Cotton Landing
- Big Gully Landing
- Wright Lake
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Segment B--Sh 65 To Carr Bridge On Fh 13
- Segment C--Mud Swamp/New River Wilderness Boundary To Mud Swamp/New River Wilderness (Southern) Boundary
- 2 Miles Below Dam On Lake Talquin To Ochlockonee Bay
- Segment D--Mud Swamp/New River Wilderness (Southern) Wilderness Boundary To Northern Boundary Of Town Of Carrabelle (Rm 4)
- Headwaters To Concrete Bridge (Burnt Bridge) On Fh 13 (Where River Enters Bradwell Ray Wilderness)
- Bradwell Bay Wilderness (Northern Boundary) To Bradwell Bay Wilderness Boundary At Trice Bridge On Fr 329
Track Dead Lakes Dam 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 Dead Lakes Dam
Where does the data for Dead Lakes Dam 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 Dead Lakes Dam.