Zion Lake Dam dam
Zion Lake Dam
Zion Lake Dam, also known as Wilson Smart Dam and Hickory Farm Lake Dam, is a private-owned structure in Jennings, Indiana, completed in 1957 for recreational purposes. Situated on an unnamed tributary of Graham Creek, the earth dam stands at 21 feet high and 560 feet long, with a storage capacity of 353 acre-feet. Despite a low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2015 rated as poor, reflecting the need for maintenance and rehabilitation to ensure its long-term safety and functionality.
With no spillway and outlet gates, the dam poses a risk of high consequence in the event of failure, prompting the need for ongoing inspections and risk management measures. The last inspection in October 2020 indicated a 5-year inspection frequency due to the dam's condition and associated risks. While the dam is regulated by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and meets state permitting and inspection requirements, its poor condition and high risk underscore the importance of timely and comprehensive maintenance to mitigate potential hazards and protect the surrounding community and environment. As a vital water resource in the area, Zion Lake Dam's upkeep is crucial for ensuring sustainable water management and climate resilience in the region.
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 Zion Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Vernon Fork Muscatatuck River At Vernon | 2,320 cfs | → |
| Muscatatuck River Near Deputy | 2,110 cfs | → |
| Brush Creek Near Nebraska | 38 cfs | → |
| East Fork White River At Seymour Ind | 6,250 cfs | → |
| Indian-Kentuck Creek Nr Canaan | 113 cfs | → |
| Clifty Creek At Hartsville | 584 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Zion Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Indiana 3 3585, North Vernon
- West Blake Road 15976, Deputy
- L Road Ripley County
- Milton Boat Ramp
- North County Road 760 East 7248, Seymour
- North State Route 7 9340, Elizabethtown
Campgrounds
- Muscatatuck
- Campground Gatehouse
- Hardy Lake State Rec Area
- Clifty Falls State Park
- Madison City Park
- Campground A
Paddle runs
Track Zion 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 Zion Lake Dam
Where does the data for Zion 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 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 Zion Lake Dam.