Lake Mccoy Dam dam
Lake Mccoy Dam
Lake McCoy Dam, also known as Creswood Lake, is a captivating earth dam located in Decatur, Indiana, along the Cobbs Fork river. Built in 1900, this dam stands at a height of 24 feet and stretches 700 feet in length, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 986 acre-feet. The primary purpose of Lake McCoy Dam is for recreation, offering a surface area of 33.4 acres and a normal storage capacity of 132 acre-feet.
Despite its scenic beauty and recreational value, Lake McCoy Dam poses a significant hazard potential with a poor condition assessment. The last inspection in 2016 revealed that the dam requires attention, with a moderate risk assessment rating of 3. The dam lacks an emergency action plan (EAP) and updated inundation maps, raising concerns about its ability to withstand potential emergencies. The dam is regulated by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular inspections, but its condition suggests a need for maintenance and risk management measures to ensure public safety and protect the surrounding environment.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Lake McCoy Dam presents a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of infrastructure, recreation, and environmental stewardship. With its historical significance and potential risks, the dam serves as a reminder of the importance of proactive dam safety practices and the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to protect communities and ecosystems. As efforts continue to address the dam's condition and risk factors, Lake McCoy Dam remains a focal point for discussions on water resource management and the resilience of our built environment in the face of changing climates and increasing demands on water infrastructure.
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 Lake Mccoy Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Flatrock River At St. Paul | 277 cfs | → |
| Clifty Creek At Hartsville | 60 cfs | → |
| Brush Creek Near Nebraska | 2 cfs | → |
| Whitewater River At Brookville | 732 cfs | → |
| Whitewater River Near Alpine | 376 cfs | → |
| Haw Creek Near Clifford | 18 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Mccoy Dam.
Track Lake Mccoy 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 Lake Mccoy Dam
Where does the data for Lake Mccoy 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 Lake Mccoy Dam.