West Akins Dam dam
West Akins Dam
West Akins Dam, located in Polk, Florida, serves as a crucial structure for water resource management in the region. Built in 1963, this earth dam stands at a height of 37 feet and has a length of 17,000 feet, creating a storage capacity of 10,620 acre-feet. The primary purpose of this dam is to contain tailings, with a normal storage capacity of 7,050 acre-feet.
The dam is regulated by the state of Florida, with inspections and enforcement ensuring its structural integrity and safety. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the condition assessment in 2014 deemed it satisfactory. The dam is situated on an unnamed lake, serving as a protective barrier against potential flooding and water overflow, with a maximum discharge capacity of 250 cubic feet per second.
West Akins Dam, managed by the local government, plays a vital role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the area. Its strategic location and design contribute to the safe storage and controlled release of water, safeguarding the surrounding communities and ecosystems from potential hazards and ensuring the sustainable utilization of water resources 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 West Akins Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Prong Alafia River Near Nichols Fl | 23 cfs | → |
| Banana-Hancock Canal Nr Highland City | · | → |
| Peace River At Bartow Fl | 4 cfs | → |
| Saddle Creek At State Hwy 570 Near Eaton Park Fl | 0 cfs | → |
| Peace River Near Bartow Fl | · | → |
| Sixmile Creek At Bartow Fl | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near West Akins Dam.
Boat launches
- Highlands By The Lake Way 3184, Lakeland
- Sikes Boulevard Lakeland
- Lake Bonny Drive East 101-199, Lakeland
- East Memorial Boulevard 1800, Lakeland
- Saddle Creek Park Road 988, Polk County
- Saddle Creek Park Road 961, Polk County
Campgrounds
- Saddle Creek County Park
- Alderman's Ford Park Campsite 4
- Alderman's Ford Park Campsite 3
- Alderman's Ford Park Campsite 2
- Alderman's Ford Park Campsite 1
- Edward Medard
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- County Road 780 Bridge To State Road 72 Bridge
- Begins Downstream Of The State Road 72 Bridge To The Southern Boundary Of Myakka River State Park
- The Southern Boundary Of The Myakka River State Park To Ends Approximately At River Mile 23 Where Riverfront Residential Development Begins
Track West Akins 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 West Akins Dam
Where does the data for West Akins 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 High 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 West Akins Dam.