Santa Fe River Ranch Dam dam
Santa Fe River Ranch Dam
The Santa Fe River Ranch Dam, located in Alachua County, Florida, was completed in 1963 and serves as a private structure regulated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. This earth dam stands at a height of 11 feet and has a length of 490 feet, with a primary purpose of recreation. With a storage capacity of 54 acre-feet and a surface area of 244 acres, the dam is designed to control the flow of Reeves Branch, a tributary of the Santa Fe River. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition has not been rated, and no emergency action plan has been prepared.
Managed by private owners, the Santa Fe River Ranch Dam is situated in a picturesque setting near High Springs, Florida, where it provides opportunities for recreational activities such as fishing and boating. The dam's location in S2 T7S R18E offers visitors a chance to appreciate the natural beauty of the surrounding area while enjoying the reservoir created by the structure. While the dam has not undergone recent inspections or assessments, its low hazard potential indicates a relatively low risk to downstream communities in case of a failure.
As a vital component of the local water resource management system, the Santa Fe River Ranch Dam contributes to the overall water supply and recreational opportunities in the region. While the dam's condition assessment is pending, its presence underscores the importance of maintaining and monitoring these structures to ensure public safety and environmental sustainability. Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the role of the Santa Fe River Ranch Dam in balancing water control and recreational use in the beautiful landscape of Alachua County, Florida.
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 Santa Fe River Ranch Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe River At Worthington Springs | · | → |
| Santa Fe River At O'Leno State Park Fla | 33 cfs | → |
| Santa Fe River At River Rise Nr High Springs | 40 cfs | → |
| New River Nr Lake Butler Fla | · | → |
| Santa Fe River Near Fort White | 594 cfs | → |
| Santa Fe River Near Graham | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Santa Fe River Ranch Dam.
Boat launches
- Southwest Us Highway 27 Columbia County
- Northwest 2nd Avenue 265, Lake Butler
- Southwest Rum Island Terrace Columbia County
- Highway 47 22430, Fort White
- Southeast Boat Ramp Glen 120, Lake City
- Southwest 75th Avenue 14218, Starke
Campgrounds
- O'Kemp Group Camp
- Dogwood Campsite
- Oleno State Park
- The Group Landing
- Hog Pen Landing
- Ocean Pond Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Ichetucknee Headspring To The First Powerline Crossing Over Ichetucknee River
- The First Powerline Crossing The Ichetuckee River To The Confluence With The Santa Fe River, Down The Santa Fe River To The Suwannee River
- The Little River Springs At River Mile 81 To The Mouth Of The River At The Gulf Of Mexico
- The Confluence Of The North Prong And Middle Prong To Trader's Hill
Track Santa Fe River Ranch 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 Santa Fe River Ranch Dam
Where does the data for Santa Fe River Ranch 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 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 Santa Fe River Ranch Dam.