Jenson Lake Dam dam
Jenson Lake Dam
Jenson Lake Dam, located in Brown County, Indiana, is a privately owned earth dam with a primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1970, this dam stands at a height of 32 feet and has a structural height of 36 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 250 acre-feet. The dam is situated on an unnamed tributary of the North Fork Salt Creek, with a drainage area of 0.42 square miles.
Despite its low hazard potential, Jenson Lake Dam is assessed as being in poor condition as of the last inspection in November 2010. With a high risk rating of 2, there are concerns about the dam's safety and the potential consequences of failure. While the dam does not have a spillway, it is equipped with outlet gates for water release. The dam's emergency action plan status and risk management measures are not currently documented.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Jenson Lake Dam serves as a notable structure in the region with its recreational significance and environmental impact. As discussions around dam safety and risk management continue, Jenson Lake Dam represents a critical piece of infrastructure that requires attention and evaluation to ensure the safety of surrounding communities and ecosystems.
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 Jenson Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Fork Salt Creek At Nashville | 2,890 cfs | → |
| East Fork White River At Columbus | 13,400 cfs | → |
| Flatrock River At Columbus | 3,500 cfs | → |
| Driftwood River Near Edinburgh Ind | 9,520 cfs | → |
| Sugar Creek Near Edinburgh | 4,340 cfs | → |
| White River Near Centerton | 9,200 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Jenson Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Monroe County
- East Stipp Road Monroe County
- Bartholomew County
- County Road North 325 West 4311, Bartholomew County
- Tannehill Road Bartholomew County
- Water Street 300-498, Columbus
Campgrounds
- Horseman's Camp
- Yellowwood State Forest
- Brown County State Park
- Primitive Campground
- B & D
- Paynetown State Rec Area - Monroe Lake
Track Jenson 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 Jenson Lake Dam
Where does the data for Jenson 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 Jenson Lake Dam.