Flatbelly Lake Dam dam
Flatbelly Lake Dam
Flatbelly Lake Dam, located in Kosciusko, Indiana, is a captivating structure designed by Lawson Fisher in 1962. This earth-type dam serves as a vital Fish and Wildlife Pond with a storage capacity of 3300 acre-feet and a surface area of 2.72 acres. The dam stands at a height of 17 feet, with a hydraulic height of 14 feet, and a length of 162 feet, providing essential water resources for the local ecosystem.
Managed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Flatbelly Lake Dam is situated on an unnamed tributary of Papakeechie Lake, showcasing the state's commitment to regulating, inspecting, and enforcing safety measures for this high-hazard structure. Despite being classified as having a very high risk level, the dam is currently deemed to be in satisfactory condition following its last assessment in 2008. With a controlled spillway and no outlet gates, the dam plays a crucial role in flood control and wildlife conservation efforts in the region.
As a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts, Flatbelly Lake Dam offers a fascinating look into the intersection of infrastructure, ecology, and public safety. Its strategic location, design features, and operational history highlight the importance of sustainable dam management practices in safeguarding both natural habitats and human communities in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Flatbelly Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tippecanoe River At North Webster | 35 cfs | → |
| Tippecanoe River At Oswego | 96 cfs | → |
| Nb Elkhart River At Cosperville | 153 cfs | → |
| Elkhart River At Goshen | 581 cfs | → |
| Eel River At North Manchester | 206 cfs | → |
| Pigeon River Near Scott | 326 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Flatbelly Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Hammond Road 8567, Syracuse
- North Turkey Creek Road 9719-9999, Syracuse
- East 750 North, North Webster
- North 850 East 7100-7198, North Webster
- Indiana 5 716-844, Cromwell
- East Epworth Forest Road 9232-9498, North Webster
Campgrounds
- Harper Lake Campsite
- Pike Lake County Campground
- Kosciusko County Fairgrounds
- Hidden Diamonds City Park
- Chain Olakes State Park
- Elkhart County Fairgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Flatbelly 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 Flatbelly Lake Dam
Where does the data for Flatbelly 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 Flatbelly Lake Dam.