Birk Lake Dam dam
Birk Lake Dam
Birk Lake Dam, located in Dubois, Indiana, was completed in 1957 and serves as a vital water resource for the area. The dam stands at a height of 22 feet and has a storage capacity of 77 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 56 acre-feet. The primary purpose of the dam is for recreation, providing a surface area of 6.4 acres for activities such as boating and fishing.
Despite its important role in providing recreational opportunities and water storage, Birk Lake Dam is currently assessed to be in poor condition, with a high risk level of 2 out of 5. The dam has a low hazard potential, but improvements are needed to ensure its long-term safety and functionality. The last inspection date was in 2015, with an inspection frequency of every 5 years.
As a privately owned dam, Birk Lake Dam is regulated by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and is subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement. With its location on Straight River and the support of the local community, there is potential for the dam to undergo necessary repairs and upgrades to enhance its resilience to climate change impacts and ensure continued water resource availability for future generations.
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 Birk Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Patoka River At Jasper | 103 cfs | → |
| Middle Fork Anderson River At Bristow | 2 cfs | → |
| Patoka River At Winslow | 274 cfs | → |
| East Fork White River At Shoals | 7,450 cfs | → |
| White River Above Petersburg | 1,220 cfs | → |
| White River At Petersburg | 18,000 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Birk Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- North 325 East 721, Dubois County
- Jasper Riverwalk, Jasper
- South 600 East 7985, Ferdinand
- East 14th Street 961-999, Ferdinand
- Indiana 164 11146, Celestine
- East Lick Fork Marina 10387-10399, Celestine
Campgrounds
- Dubois County Park
- Ferdinand State Forest
- Fishermen's Campground
- Newton Stewart State Rec Area - Patoka Lake
- Modern Campground
- North Face Camping
Paddle runs
- State Road 56 Bridge To Forest Purchase Boundary At Roland, In
- State Road 337 Bridge To State Road 56 Bridge At Prospect, In
- City Limits Of English, In To Carnes Mill Site In Ne1/4ne1/4 Of Sec 13, T3s, R1w
- Carnes Mill Site To 7.65 Miles Above Confluece With Ohio River At Confluence With Turkey Creek
- Junction Of North/South Forks Of Lost River To State Road 337 Bridge, Approx 4 Miles Southeast Of Orleans, In
Track Birk 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 Birk Lake Dam
Where does the data for Birk 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 Birk Lake Dam.