Papakeechie Lake dam
Papakeechie Lake
Papakeechie Lake, also known as Flathead Dam, is a private water resource located in Kosciusko, Indiana. This dam, completed in 1913, serves primarily as a recreational area with a normal storage capacity of 890 acre-feet and a surface area of 178.41 acres. The dam stands at a height of 10 feet and has a maximum discharge capacity of 291 cubic feet per second.
Despite its recreational purpose, Papakeechie Lake poses a high hazard potential with a poor condition assessment. The dam is state-regulated and has undergone inspections, with the last one conducted in May 2019. The spillway, with a width of 370 feet, is uncontrolled, adding to the risk associated with the dam. While the risk assessment indicates a moderate level of risk, there is no documented emergency action plan or inundation maps prepared for the area.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Papakeechie Lake presents an intriguing case study of a privately owned dam with both recreational and potential safety implications. With its historical significance and impact on the local environment, the future management and maintenance of this dam will be crucial in ensuring the safety of surrounding communities and preserving the beauty of this water resource in Indiana.
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 Papakeechie Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tippecanoe River At North Webster | 35 cfs | → |
| Tippecanoe River At Oswego | 96 cfs | → |
| Nb Elkhart River At Cosperville | 153 cfs | → |
| Elkhart River At Goshen | 581 cfs | → |
| Pigeon River Near Scott | 326 cfs | → |
| St. Joseph River At Elkhart | 3,770 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Papakeechie Lake.
Boat launches
- North Turkey Creek Road 9719-9999, Syracuse
- Hammond Road 8567, Syracuse
- Indiana 5 716-844, Cromwell
- East 750 North, North Webster
- North 850 East 7100-7198, North Webster
- East Epworth Forest Road 9232-9498, North Webster
Campgrounds
- Harper Lake Campsite
- Pike Lake County Campground
- Hidden Diamonds City Park
- Kosciusko County Fairgrounds
- Chain Olakes State Park
- Elkhart County Fairgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Papakeechie Lake 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 Papakeechie Lake
Where does the data for Papakeechie Lake 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 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 Papakeechie Lake.