Sun Lake Dam dam
Sun Lake Dam
Sun Lake Dam, located in Johnson Crossroad, Florida, is a private dam primarily used for recreational purposes. Built in 1948, this earth dam stands at a height of 14 feet and spans 220 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 393 acre-feet. The dam overlooks TR-Open Creek and serves both irrigation and recreational needs in the area.
Despite being privately owned, Sun Lake Dam is regulated by the state of Florida, with inspections, enforcement, and permitting all managed by state agencies. The dam has a significant hazard potential, although its condition assessment is currently not rated. Emergency action plans and risk assessments for the dam are yet to be developed, highlighting the need for proactive management measures to ensure the safety and sustainability of this vital water resource in Holmes County.
With its picturesque location and important role in providing water for irrigation and recreation, Sun Lake Dam serves as a crucial infrastructure in the region. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding and advocating for the proper management and maintenance of Sun Lake Dam is essential to ensure the continued well-being of the community and environment it supports.
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 Sun Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Choctawhatchee River At Caryville | 3,410 cfs | → |
| Holmes Creek At Vernon | 752 cfs | → |
| Wrights Creek At Sh 177-A Nr Bonifay | 96 cfs | → |
| Choctawhatchee River Nr Pittman | 2,410 cfs | → |
| Bruce Creek At Sh 81 Nr Redbay | 23 cfs | → |
| Choctawhatchee River Nr Bruce | 5,500 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sun Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Blue Lake Earl Gilbert Landing
- Washington Boulevard, Chipley
- Little River Road 3998, Chipley
- Cavalier Drive 3884, Chipley
- Gap Boulevard 1950, Chipley
- Dead River Road 2207-2299, Ponce De Leon
Campgrounds
More reservoirs
Track Sun Lake 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 Sun Lake Dam
Where does the data for Sun Lake 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 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 Sun Lake Dam.