West Lake Dam dam
West Lake Dam
West Lake Dam, also known as Waldhier Lake Dam, is a privately owned structure located in Brown County, Indiana. Completed in 1976, the dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a surface area of 3 acres and a maximum storage capacity of 76 acre-feet. The dam stands at a height of 30 feet and spans a length of 380 feet, holding back an unnamed tributary of Gnaw Bone Creek.
Despite its fair condition assessment in 2015, West Lake Dam is classified as having a significant hazard potential and a high risk level. The dam is regulated and inspected by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, with state jurisdiction and permitting in place. While there is no spillway present, the dam has a maximum discharge of 471 cubic feet per second, highlighting the importance of proper risk management measures for the surrounding area.
With its picturesque location and recreational offerings, West Lake Dam provides an important water resource for the community. However, ongoing monitoring and maintenance are crucial to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure, given its high risk level and potential impact on the surrounding area in case of a failure. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is essential to stay informed about the condition and management of dams like West Lake Dam to protect both the environment and public safety.
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 West Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Fork Salt Creek At Nashville | 101 cfs | → |
| Flatrock River At Columbus | 501 cfs | → |
| Driftwood River Near Edinburgh Ind | 995 cfs | → |
| East Fork White River At Columbus | 1,410 cfs | → |
| Sugar Creek Near Edinburgh | 295 cfs | → |
| Haw Creek Near Clifford | 18 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near West Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- County Road North 325 West 4311, Bartholomew County
- Tannehill Road Bartholomew County
- Bartholomew County
- Water Street 300-498, Columbus
- Us 31 Edinburgh
Campgrounds
- Happy Hollow’S Children Camp
- Heflen Co Park
- Brown County State Park
- Camp Atterbury Military
- Johnson County Park
- Irwin City Park
Track West 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 West Lake Dam
Where does the data for West 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 Significant 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 West Lake Dam.