Sah Fort Mead dam
Sah Fort Mead
Sah Fort Mead is a private dam located in Fort Meade, Florida, along the Peace River. Constructed in 1990 by Ardam & Associates, this earth dam stands at a height of 40 feet and has a storage capacity of 26,000 acre-feet. With a surface area of 710 acres and a drainage area of 1.11 square miles, the dam serves primarily for tailings storage purposes.
The dam's spillway is controlled with a width of 64 feet, and it has a significant hazard potential. While the condition assessment is currently not rated, the risk assessment for Sah Fort Mead is very high, categorized as a level 1 risk. The dam has not been inspected since January 2006, indicating a potential need for updated assessments and emergency action plans to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure in the face of climate variability and changing water resource management needs.
Located within the Jacksonville District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Sah Fort Mead presents a critical site for water resource and climate enthusiasts to monitor and study. With its significant hazard potential and very high risk assessment, this dam serves as a focal point for ongoing risk management and emergency preparedness efforts in the region. As climate change continues to impact water resources, maintaining the safety and resilience of structures like Sah Fort Mead will be vital for ensuring sustainable water management practices in the face of increasing variability and uncertainty.
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 Sah Fort Mead -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Peace River At Bowling Green Fl | 6 cfs | → |
| Payne Creek Near Bowling Green Fl | 3 cfs | → |
| Whidden Creek Near Fort Meade Fl | 7 cfs | → |
| Little Charlie Creek Near Mouth Near Wauchula Fl | 0 cfs | → |
| Peace River At Fort Meade Fl | 3 cfs | → |
| Little Charlie Creek Near Bowling Green Fl | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sah Fort Mead.
Boat launches
- Griffin Road 676, Wauchula
- Doc Lindsey Road 2215-2837, Fort Meade
- Keen Road 506, Frostproof
- Nautilus Drive 2712, Avon Park
- Livingston Lake Road, Frostproof
- Northwest Shore Drive 2100-2170, Avon Park
Campgrounds
- Alafia River State Park
- Alderman's Ford Park Campsite 4
- Alderman's Ford Park Campsite 1
- Alderman's Ford Park Campsite 3
- Alderman's Ford Park Campsite 2
- Highlands Hammock State Park
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
- Approximately At River Mile 23 Where Riverfront Residential Development Begins To The Vicinity Of Snook Haven Fish Camp At Approximately River Mile 18
- Approximately River Mile 18 To A Point Just Upriver Of The Us 41 Highway Crossing
- A Point Just Upriver Of The Us 41 Highway Crossing To The Sarasota/Charlotte County Line
Track Sah Fort Mead 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 Sah Fort Mead
Where does the data for Sah Fort Mead 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.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Sah Fort Mead.