Payne Creek Settling Area No 3 dam
Payne Creek Settling Area No 3
Payne Creek Settling Area No 3 is a privately owned Earth dam located in Fort Meade, Florida. Completed in 1968, this dam serves the primary purpose of tailings management with a storage capacity of 5,600 acre-feet of water. With a height of 56 feet and a length of 10,000 feet, this dam helps control the flow of Payne Creek and provides essential water resource management for the surrounding area.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Payne Creek Settling Area No 3 is regulated by the state of Florida, with requirements for permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place. The dam has not been rated for its condition, and emergency preparedness measures such as an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) have not been reported. While the risk assessment and management measures for this dam are not specified, its importance in water resource management for the region cannot be understated.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, monitoring the condition and regulation of dams like Payne Creek Settling Area No 3 is crucial for understanding their impact on the environment and surrounding communities. With its significant storage capacity and role in managing tailings, this dam plays a vital role in the local water infrastructure and should be subject to ongoing assessment and maintenance to ensure its safety and effectiveness in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Payne Creek Settling Area No 3 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Whidden Creek Near Fort Meade Fl | 6 cfs | → |
| Payne Creek Near Bowling Green Fl | 9 cfs | → |
| South Prong Alafia River Near Ft Lonesome Fl | 19 cfs | → |
| Peace River At Bowling Green Fl | 13 cfs | → |
| Peace River At Fort Meade Fl | 6 cfs | → |
| Peace River Near Homeland Fl | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Payne Creek Settling Area No 3.
Boat launches
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Campgrounds
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Fishing spots
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River runs
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More reservoirs
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About Payne Creek Settling Area No 3
Where does the data for Payne Creek Settling Area No 3 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 below 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.
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.