Idlewild Lake Dam dam
Idlewild Lake Dam
Idlewild Lake Dam, located in Jasper, Indiana, is a privately owned structure with a primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1940 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 22 feet and stretches 520 feet in length, creating a storage capacity of 113 acre-feet. Situated on the Patoka River, the dam has a drainage area of 0.8 square miles and a maximum discharge of 469 cubic feet per second.
Despite its fair condition assessment in 2013, Idlewild Lake Dam is classified as having a significant hazard potential, with a high risk rating of 2. The dam lacks a spillway and outlet gates, presenting challenges for managing potential flooding events. The last inspection in January 2019 recommended a 3-year inspection frequency, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and stability of the structure.
With its picturesque setting and recreational opportunities, Idlewild Lake Dam serves as a popular destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts. However, the dam's risk profile underscores the importance of continued oversight and risk management measures to protect both the dam and surrounding communities from potential hazards.
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 Idlewild Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Patoka River At Jasper | 567 cfs | → |
| Patoka River At Winslow | 477 cfs | → |
| East Fork White River At Shoals | 12,100 cfs | → |
| Middle Fork Anderson River At Bristow | 177 cfs | → |
| White River Above Petersburg | 1,500 cfs | → |
| White River At Petersburg | 20,900 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Idlewild Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- North 325 East 721, Dubois County
- Jasper Riverwalk, Jasper
- East Lick Fork Marina 10387-10399, Celestine
- Indiana 164 11146, Celestine
- Dubois County
- South 600 East 7985, Ferdinand
Campgrounds
- Dubois County Park
- Fishermen's Campground
- Ferdinand State Forest
- Newton Stewart State Rec Area - Patoka Lake
- Modern Campground
- Glendale State Fish And Wildlife Area
Paddle runs
- State Road 56 Bridge To Forest Purchase Boundary At Roland, In
- State Road 337 Bridge To State Road 56 Bridge At Prospect, In
- City Limits Of English, In To Carnes Mill Site In Ne1/4ne1/4 Of Sec 13, T3s, R1w
- Carnes Mill Site To 7.65 Miles Above Confluece With Ohio River At Confluence With Turkey Creek
- Junction Of North/South Forks Of Lost River To State Road 337 Bridge, Approx 4 Miles Southeast Of Orleans, In
Track Idlewild 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 Idlewild Lake Dam
Where does the data for Idlewild 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 Significant 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 Idlewild Lake Dam.