Christmas Lake Dam dam
Christmas Lake Dam
Christmas Lake Dam, located in Spencer, Indiana, stands as a vital structure along an unnamed tributary of Crooked Creek. Built in 1967, this private dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a surface area of 200 acres and a maximum storage capacity of 4,520 acre-feet. With a height of 42 feet and a spillway width of 130 feet, the dam presents a high hazard potential but is currently rated in fair condition as of its last assessment in 2006.
Managed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Christmas Lake Dam undergoes regular inspections with a frequency of every two years. Despite its moderate risk rating, the dam's emergency action plan status, inundation maps, and risk management measures remain undisclosed. The dam's location in a picturesque setting underscores the importance of its preservation to sustain both the local ecosystem and recreational activities in the area. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Christmas Lake Dam stands as a significant example of human intervention in managing water resources for the benefit of the community.
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 Christmas Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Fork Anderson River At Bristow | 177 cfs | → |
| Ohio River At Cannelton Dam At Cannelton | 66,900 cfs | → |
| Patoka River At Jasper | 567 cfs | → |
| Patoka River At Winslow | 477 cfs | → |
| South Fork Panther Creek Near Whitesville | 18 cfs | → |
| Pigeon Creek Near Fort Branch | 81 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Christmas Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- North 300 East 15029, Lincoln City
- East 14th Street 961-999, Ferdinand
- Water Street 300, Troy
- South 600 East 7985, Ferdinand
- North 1st Street, Cannelton
- Hawesville
Campgrounds
- Buckhorn Primitive Campground/ Youth Tent Area
- Lake Lincoln Campground
- Gobbler's Run Non-Electric Campground
- Lincoln State Park
- Ferdinand State Forest
- Saddle Lake Rec Area
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 56 Bridge To Forest Purchase Boundary At Roland, In
- State Road 337 Bridge To State Road 56 Bridge At Prospect, In
- Junction Of North/South Forks Of Lost River To State Road 337 Bridge, Approx 4 Miles Southeast Of Orleans, In
Track Christmas 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 Christmas Lake Dam
Where does the data for Christmas 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 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 Christmas Lake Dam.