Saddle Lake (Str. #1) dam
Saddle Lake (Str. #1)
Saddle Lake (Str. #1) is a federally owned dam located in Perry, Indiana, along the Middle Fork Anderson River. Built in 1965 by the USDA Forest Service, this earth dam stands at a height of 54 feet and serves primarily for flood risk reduction. With a storage capacity of 2750 acre-feet and a surface area of 39 acres, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow and protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding.
The dam's spillway, with a width of 200 feet, is designed to handle a maximum discharge of 13,780 cubic feet per second. Despite being categorized as having a high hazard potential, the dam has not been formally assessed for its condition and is currently rated as "Not Rated." Regular inspections are conducted, with the last inspection taking place in December 2018. The dam also has an emergency action plan in place, although details on its preparation and compliance with guidelines are not provided.
While Saddle Lake (Str. #1) primarily serves flood risk reduction purposes, it also offers recreational opportunities in the area. Managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the dam plays a vital role in water resource management in the region. With a moderate risk assessment rating, ongoing risk management measures are crucial in ensuring the safety and functionality of this important infrastructure in the face of climate change and shifting water resource dynamics.
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 Saddle Lake (Str. #1) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Fork Anderson River At Bristow | 2 cfs | → |
| Ohio River At Cannelton Dam At Cannelton | 84,100 cfs | → |
| Blue River Near White Cloud | 616 cfs | → |
| Patoka River At Jasper | 85 cfs | → |
| Buck Creek Near New Middletown | 11 cfs | → |
| South Fork Panther Creek Near Whitesville | 20 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Saddle Lake (Str. #1).
Boat launches
- Water Street 300, Troy
- Ohio River Scenic Byway 7941, Derby
- Sr 166 8699, Perry County
- North 1st Street, Cannelton
- Hawesville
- South Rome Road 5644, Rome
Campgrounds
Paddle runs
- Carnes Mill Site To 7.65 Miles Above Confluece With Ohio River At Confluence With Turkey Creek
- City Limits Of English, In To Carnes Mill Site In Ne1/4ne1/4 Of Sec 13, T3s, R1w
- State Road 337 Bridge To State Road 56 Bridge At Prospect, In
- State Road 56 Bridge To Forest Purchase Boundary At Roland, In
- Junction Of North/South Forks Of Lost River To State Road 337 Bridge, Approx 4 Miles Southeast Of Orleans, In
Track Saddle Lake (Str. #1) 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 Saddle Lake (Str. #1)
Where does the data for Saddle Lake (Str. #1) 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 Saddle Lake (Str. #1).