I.V. West Lake Dam dam
I.V. West Lake Dam
The I.V. West Lake Dam, located in Jefferson County, Indiana, is a privately-owned earth dam with a primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1961 by the USDA NRCS, this 35.5-foot tall structure spans 325 feet and has a storage capacity of 77 acre-feet. Situated on the Little Caney Fork River, the dam offers a serene 4.8-acre lake for recreational activities such as fishing and boating.
Despite its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, the I.V. West Lake Dam poses a high risk due to its proximity to residential areas. The dam lacks a spillway and outlet gates, which may increase the risk of flooding in case of heavy rainfall. The last inspection in 2015 revealed the need for periodic monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and stability of the structure.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the importance of maintaining the I.V. West Lake Dam to safeguard the surrounding community and preserve the ecological balance of the area. With its picturesque setting and recreational opportunities, this dam serves as a valuable resource for both locals and visitors alike.
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 I.V. West Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Muscatatuck River Near Deputy | 3,850 cfs | → |
| Vernon Fork Muscatatuck River At Vernon | 6,760 cfs | → |
| Harrods Creek At Highway 329 Nr Goshen | 136 cfs | → |
| Silver Creek Near Sellersburg | 3,880 cfs | → |
| Indian-Kentuck Creek Nr Canaan | 632 cfs | → |
| East Fork White River At Seymour Ind | 13,200 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near I.V. West Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- West Blake Road 15976, Deputy
- Milton Boat Ramp
- Bell Street Bethlehem
- Westport Park Boat Ramp
- Indiana 3 3585, North Vernon
- North Elk Creek Road 3477-3501, Scottsburg
Campgrounds
- Campground Gatehouse
- Hardy Lake State Rec Area
- Clifty Falls State Park
- Madison City Park
- Charlestown State Park
- Deam Lake Campground
Track I.V. West Lake 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 I.V. West Lake Dam
Where does the data for I.V. West Lake 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 I.V. West Lake Dam.