Castle Lake & Hills West Dam dam
Castle Lake & Hills West Dam
Castle Lake & Hills West Dam, located in Henry County, Indiana, stands as a recreational oasis for water resource and climate enthusiasts alike. Built in 1972, this earth dam boasts a height of 31 feet and a length of 400 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 114 acre-feet. The dam sits on an unnamed tributary of the Big Blue River, offering a serene 7.5-acre surface area for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and birdwatching.
Despite its age, Castle Lake & Hills West Dam has a low hazard potential and is classified as having a poor condition as of its last assessment in 2000. The dam lacks a spillway and outlet gates, presenting a potential risk in the event of increased discharge. However, with regular inspections every five years and state regulatory oversight from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, measures are in place to ensure the safety and integrity of the dam. The risk assessment for the dam is currently rated as high, indicating a need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to mitigate any potential issues.
As a private-owned structure primarily used for recreation, Castle Lake & Hills West Dam symbolizes the intersection of human ingenuity and natural beauty. Its picturesque location offers a tranquil setting for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy the wonders of water resources while also highlighting the importance of responsible dam management in the face of changing climate 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 Castle Lake & Hills West Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| White River At Anderson | 674 cfs | → |
| Fall Creek Near Fortville | 1,070 cfs | → |
| White River At Raible Avenue At Anderson | 686 cfs | → |
| Sugar Creek At New Palestine | 510 cfs | → |
| Whitewater River Near Economy | 135 cfs | → |
| White River At Muncie | 1,300 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Castle Lake & Hills West Dam.
Track Castle Lake & Hills West 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 Castle Lake & Hills West Dam
Where does the data for Castle Lake & Hills West 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 Castle Lake & Hills West Dam.