Lake Salinda Dam Dam
Lake Salinda Dam
Lake Salinda Dam, also known as Old Salem Waterworks, is a vital structure located in Washington, Indiana, serving as a local government-owned water supply source. Completed in 1947, this earth-type dam stands at a height of 39 feet, with a hydraulic height of 37 feet and a structural height of 43 feet. It boasts a storage capacity of 1376 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 86 acres, providing essential water resources for the region.
Despite its significance in water supply, Lake Salinda Dam poses a high hazard potential with a poor condition assessment, indicating the need for maintenance and improvement. The dam's spillway, with a width of 150 feet, is uncontrolled, and it has an outlet gate system consisting of valves. The dam's inspection frequency is every two years, with the last assessment conducted in February 2019. Additionally, the dam is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Given its importance in water supply and recreation, Lake Salinda Dam serves as a crucial infrastructure in Washington, Indiana. However, with a moderate risk assessment and a high hazard potential, it is imperative to prioritize maintenance and risk management measures to ensure the safety and integrity of the dam for the surrounding communities and the environment. Climate and water resource enthusiasts will find Lake Salinda Dam's data and characteristics intriguing, highlighting the intersection of infrastructure, water management, and environmental stewardship.
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 Lake Salinda Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Fork Blue River At Salem | 5 cfs | → |
| Blue River At Fredericksburg | 124 cfs | → |
| East Fork White River Near Bedford | 1,620 cfs | → |
| Blue River Near White Cloud | 537 cfs | → |
| Silver Creek Near Sellersburg | 41 cfs | → |
| Muscatatuck River Near Deputy | 13 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Salinda Dam.
Boat launches
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Campgrounds
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Fishing spots
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River runs
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About Lake Salinda Dam
Where does the data for Lake Salinda 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 High 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.