Frank Alexander Lake Dam dam
Frank Alexander Lake Dam
Frank Alexander Lake Dam, located in Rush County, Indiana, is a concrete structure completed in 1950 with a primary purpose of water supply. Standing at a height of 21.6 feet and a hydraulic height of 23 feet, the dam boasts a storage capacity of 59 acre-feet and serves as a crucial component of the local water management system. Despite its significant role in providing water to the surrounding area, the dam has been deemed to be in poor condition, with a low hazard potential but a high risk assessment rating of 2.
The dam, situated on an unnamed tributary of the Big Blue River, covers a surface area of 5.1 acres and has a drainage area of 0.43 square miles. With a normal storage capacity of 33 acre-feet, the dam plays a vital role in regulating water flow and ensuring a stable water supply for the region. Despite its age and poor condition assessment, the dam has not undergone any modifications in recent years and lacks certain safety features such as a spillway.
Given its critical importance in water supply and management, efforts to assess and address the dam's poor condition and high risk assessment are essential to prevent potential hazards and ensure the continued safety and reliability of Frank Alexander Lake Dam. Collaborative efforts between state regulatory agencies and private owners are crucial to implement necessary risk management measures and maintain the integrity of this vital water resource infrastructure in Rush County, Indiana.
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 Frank Alexander Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar Creek At New Palestine | 510 cfs | → |
| Big Blue River At Shelbyville | 4,110 cfs | → |
| Buck Creek At Acton | 952 cfs | → |
| Flatrock River At St. Paul | 2,150 cfs | → |
| Fall Creek Near Fortville | 1,070 cfs | → |
| Whitewater River Near Alpine | 6,930 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Frank Alexander Lake Dam.
Track Frank Alexander 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 Frank Alexander Lake Dam
Where does the data for Frank Alexander 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 Frank Alexander Lake Dam.