Prairie Cr. Dam No. 3 dam
Prairie Cr. Dam No. 3
Prairie Cr. Dam No. 3, located in Vigo County, Indiana, is a vital infrastructure designed by USDA NRCS in 1973 for flood risk reduction along the Prairie Creek tributary. With a height of 25 feet and a hydraulic height of 28 feet, this earth dam spans 600 feet and has a capacity to store 383 acre-feet of water. Despite its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, the dam serves as a crucial component in managing water resources in the area.
The dam's primary purpose of flood risk reduction is complemented by recreational benefits, making Prairie Cr. Dam No. 3 a multi-functional structure serving the local community in Prairie Creek. While the dam has no spillway, it ensures the safety and stability of the surrounding area by managing maximum discharge levels of up to 1970 cubic feet per second. The dam's strategic location and design cater to both flood control needs and outdoor recreational activities for residents and visitors alike.
Maintained by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Prairie Cr. Dam No. 3 undergoes regular inspections every five years to ensure its operational effectiveness and safety. With a high-risk assessment rating of 2, the dam remains a critical asset in the region's water resource management efforts. As climate change continues to impact weather patterns, the role of structures like Prairie Cr. Dam No. 3 becomes increasingly significant in safeguarding communities and ecosystems from the threats of flooding and water scarcity.
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 Prairie Cr. Dam No. 3 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wabash River At Terre Haute | 12,400 cfs | → |
| Wabash River At Riverton Ind | 16,900 cfs | → |
| Busseron Creek Near Carlisle | 1,740 cfs | → |
| Eel River At Bowling Green | 3,610 cfs | → |
| Big Raccoon Creek At Coxville | 956 cfs | → |
| North Fork Embarras River Near Oblong | 3,540 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Prairie Cr. Dam No. 3.
Boat launches
- Apple Street Darwin
- Sullivan County
- North Co Road 300 East, Sullivan
- East Cherry Street 543, Hutsonville
- Poplar Street 8570, Merom
Track Prairie Cr. Dam No. 3 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 Prairie Cr. Dam No. 3
Where does the data for Prairie Cr. Dam No. 3 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 Low 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 Prairie Cr. Dam No. 3.