Saddle Creek Sc-7 dam
Saddle Creek Sc-7
Saddle Creek Sc-7 is a privately owned earth dam located in Polk, Florida, specifically in the city of Lakeland. Completed in 1979, this dam serves primarily for tailings storage along the Saddle Creek river/stream. With a height of 16 feet and a length of 17,100 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 10,080 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 630 acres. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition is currently not rated, and no inspections have been recorded to date.
Managed by the Jacksonville District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Saddle Creek Sc-7 plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region. Situated within a state-regulated and permitted area, this dam undergoes regular inspections, ensuring its structural integrity and safety. With its location in a high-risk climate area prone to extreme weather events, the dam's emergency action plan (EAP) status and risk management measures remain unspecified, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and preparedness in the face of potential challenges. As an essential component of the local water infrastructure, Saddle Creek Sc-7 underscores the importance of sustainable water resource management in the context of changing climatic conditions.
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 Saddle Creek Sc-7 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Saddle Creek At St.Hwy 542 Near Lakeland Fl | 0 cfs | → |
| Lake Parker Outlet At Lakeland Fl | 1 cfs | → |
| Saddle Creek At State Hwy 570 Near Eaton Park Fl | 0 cfs | → |
| Lake Lena Run Near Auburndale Fl | 0 cfs | → |
| Banana-Hancock Canal Nr Highland City | · | → |
| Fox Branch Near Socrum | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Saddle Creek Sc-7.
Boat launches
- Tenoroc Mine Road, Lakeland
- Braddock Road Polk County
- James Place 500, Auburndale
- Lake Lena Boulevard 400-498, Auburndale
- Highway 33 9939, Polk City
Campgrounds
- Saddle Creek County Park
- Wallaby Ranch (Can Camp If Hangliding)
- Gator Hole Primative Camp Site
- Youth Camp 2
- Pine Point Primative Campsite
- Youth Camp 3
Fishing spots
Track Saddle Creek Sc-7 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 Saddle Creek Sc-7
Where does the data for Saddle Creek Sc-7 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 Saddle Creek Sc-7.