S-155 dam
S-155
S-155, also known as the West Palm Beach Lock and Dam, is a state-owned structure located in Palm Beach, Florida, along the C-51 Canal. This dam serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction in the area, with a significant hazard potential. Standing at a height of 21 feet, it provides storage of up to 7,000 acre-feet of water, with a normal storage capacity of 6,160 acre-feet.
Managed by the state of Florida, S-155 is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its structural integrity and functionality. Despite its critical role in flood risk reduction, the condition assessment of this dam is currently labeled as "Not Rated", highlighting the need for further evaluation and potential maintenance. With a notable hydraulic height of 14 feet and a surface area of 440 acres, S-155 plays a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
Located in West Palm Beach and under the jurisdiction of the Jacksonville District, this dam is a key infrastructure asset in the area, overseen by state agencies and officials. As climate change continues to pose challenges in terms of water management and extreme weather events, the maintenance and monitoring of structures like S-155 become increasingly vital in safeguarding communities and mitigating flood risks.
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 S-155 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Loxahatchee River Near Jupiter | 20 cfs | → |
| Hillsboro Canal At S-6 Near Shawano | 128 cfs | → |
| St Lucie Canal Abv S-80 Nr Stuart Fl | 19 cfs | → |
| Hillsboro Canal Below S351 Nr South Bay Fla | 57 cfs | → |
| N New River Canal Below S351 Nr South Bay Fla | 85 cfs | → |
| St. Lucie Canal Below S-308 | 60 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near S-155.
Boat launches
- Picower Boundless Park
- Stub Canal Park Boat Ramp
- Allegro Road, Lake Worth
- Currie Park
- Palm Beach County
- North Australian Avenue West Palm Beach
Campgrounds
- Quiet Waters Park
- River Camp
- Jonathan Dickinson State Park
- Eaglesview Equestrian Camp
- Kitching Creek Primitive Camp
- Youth Camp
Fishing spots
Track S-155 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 S-155
Where does the data for S-155 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.