Thunderbird Lake Dam Dam
Thunderbird Lake Dam
Thunderbird Lake Dam, also known as Thunderbird Mine Dam or Ayrshire Dam, is a private dam located in Sullivan, Indiana. Completed in 1957, this Earth-type dam stands at 27 feet tall and stretches 1450 feet in length along Turman Creek. With a normal storage capacity of 477 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 4749 acre-feet, it serves the purpose of water resource management in the area.
Owned privately, Thunderbird Lake Dam is regulated by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity. Despite being assessed as in fair condition, the dam poses a significant hazard potential due to its high-risk assessment rating. The dam does not have a spillway and no outlet gates, emphasizing the importance of proper risk management measures for this critical infrastructure.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the vital role Thunderbird Lake Dam plays in managing water flow in the region. Its strategic location and design contribute to flood control and water storage, highlighting the importance of maintaining and monitoring such infrastructure to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and environment.
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 Thunderbird Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wabash River At Riverton Ind | 6,420 cfs | → |
| Busseron Creek Near Carlisle | 41 cfs | → |
| Wabash River At Terre Haute | 5,120 cfs | → |
| Eel River At Bowling Green | 525 cfs | → |
| White River At Newberry | 2,450 cfs | → |
| Big Raccoon Creek At Coxville | 269 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Thunderbird Lake Dam.
Boat launches
See all →
About Thunderbird Lake Dam
Where does the data for Thunderbird 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 below 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.
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.