Terrace Lake Dam dam
Terrace Lake Dam
Terrace Lake Dam, located in Bartholomew County, Indiana, is a privately owned structure built in 1948 primarily for recreational purposes, including fish and wildlife pond management. The dam, standing at a height of 21.1 feet with a hydraulic height of 24 feet, impounds a maximum of 107 acre-feet of water in its reservoir. The dam's poor condition assessment and high hazard potential highlight the need for regular inspections and maintenance to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and ecosystem.
Despite its critical state, Terrace Lake Dam remains a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts seeking recreational opportunities in the area. The dam's spillway, with a width of 100 feet, serves as an uncontrolled outlet for excess water flow. However, the lack of outlet gates raises concerns about the dam's ability to effectively manage water levels during periods of heavy rainfall or flooding events. With a drainage area of only 0.11 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in regulating water flow in the unnamed tributary of Wolf Creek, emphasizing the importance of ongoing monitoring and risk management measures to prevent potential disasters.
As Greg Pence represents the area in Congress, there is hope that federal support and funding may be available to address the dam's deteriorating condition. The dam's location within the Louisville District of the US Army Corps of Engineers underscores the need for collaboration between local, state, and federal agencies to implement necessary improvements and ensure the long-term resilience of Terrace Lake Dam. By prioritizing safety measures and investing in infrastructure upgrades, stakeholders can protect both the dam's recreational value and the surrounding water resources for current and future generations to enjoy.
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 Terrace Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Fork White River At Columbus | 7,760 cfs | → |
| Flatrock River At Columbus | 2,000 cfs | → |
| Haw Creek Near Clifford | 320 cfs | → |
| Driftwood River Near Edinburgh Ind | 5,910 cfs | → |
| Sugar Creek Near Edinburgh | 3,580 cfs | → |
| East Fork White River At Seymour Ind | 6,250 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Terrace Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Water Street 300-498, Columbus
- County Road North 325 West 4311, Bartholomew County
- County Road 550 North Bartholomew County
- Tannehill Road Bartholomew County
- Bartholomew County
- East 800 South 5449-5899, Columbus
Campgrounds
- Heflen Co Park
- Happy Hollow’S Children Camp
- Irwin City Park
- Camp Atterbury Military
- Johnson County Park
- Brown County State Park
Track Terrace 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 Terrace Lake Dam
Where does the data for Terrace 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 Terrace Lake Dam.