Suwannee Lake Dam dam
Suwannee Lake Dam
Suwannee Lake Dam, located in Live Oak, Florida, was completed in 1966 by the USDA NRCS and serves as a vital structure for flood risk reduction along the Suwannee Lake. The dam, primarily made of earth with a stone core and soil foundation, stands at a height of 18 feet and stretches 240 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 312 acre-feet and a drainage area of 1.1 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow and minimizing flood impacts in the region.
Despite being classified as low hazard potential, Suwannee Lake Dam is regulated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and undergoes regular state inspections, permitting, and enforcement. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 40 feet and is equipped with outlet gates for water release. While the condition assessment is currently not rated, the risk assessment for the dam is moderate, highlighting the importance of continued monitoring and risk management measures to ensure the safety and functionality of this essential infrastructure in the face of changing climate conditions and water resource challenges.
Overall, Suwannee Lake Dam stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts of local government and state agencies in safeguarding communities against flooding events. With its strategic location and design, the dam serves as a critical asset in water resource management and climate resilience in Suwannee, Florida. As enthusiasts in water resources and climate, it is essential to recognize and appreciate the significance of such infrastructure in mitigating the impacts of extreme weather events and preserving the ecological balance of the surrounding environment.
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 Suwannee Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Suwannee River At Suwannee Springs Fla | 117 cfs | → |
| Suwannee River At White Springs | 23 cfs | → |
| Suwannee River At Ellaville | 837 cfs | → |
| Withlacoochee River Nr Lee | 293 cfs | → |
| Suwannee River At Dowling Park | 961 cfs | → |
| Suwannee River At Luraville | 998 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Suwannee Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- County Road 249, Jasper
- Cone Bridge Boat Ramp
- Southwest Baya Drive 578, Lake City
- County Road 250, Live Oak
- Southeast Evergreen Drive 358, Lake City
- Highway 51 2291, Mayo
Campgrounds
- Stephen Foster State Park
- Gibson
- Suwannee River State Park
- Hog Pen Landing
- Ocean Pond
- Ocean Pond Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- The Little River Springs At River Mile 81 To The Mouth Of The River At The Gulf Of Mexico
- State Highway 6 To The Confluence With The Suwannee River
- Ichetucknee Headspring To The First Powerline Crossing Over Ichetucknee River
- The First Powerline Crossing The Ichetuckee River To The Confluence With The Santa Fe River, Down The Santa Fe River To The Suwannee River
- The Confluence Of The North Prong And Middle Prong To Trader's Hill
More reservoirs
Track Suwannee 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 Suwannee Lake Dam
Where does the data for Suwannee 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 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 Suwannee Lake Dam.