Donald Bowman Lake Dam dam
Donald Bowman Lake Dam
Donald Bowman Lake Dam, located in Jennings County, Indiana, was completed in 1952 and stands at a height of 16 feet, with a hydraulic height of 17 feet. This earth dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a serene surface area of 7.75 acres and a normal storage capacity of 35 acre-feet. The dam holds a maximum storage capacity of 64 acre-feet and has a low hazard potential rating.
Despite being privately owned and not regulated by the state, Donald Bowman Lake Dam has not been inspected since July 1979, with its condition currently marked as "Not Rated." The dam also lacks Emergency Action Plans and risk assessment measures. With a drainage area of 0.37 square miles and a maximum discharge of 5 cubic feet per second, this picturesque dam provides a tranquil recreational spot while posing minimal risk to its surroundings. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Donald Bowman Lake Dam offers a unique glimpse into a lesser-known water resource in 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 Donald Bowman Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Vernon Fork Muscatatuck River At Vernon | 2,320 cfs | → |
| East Fork White River At Seymour Ind | 6,250 cfs | → |
| Muscatatuck River Near Deputy | 2,110 cfs | → |
| Brush Creek Near Nebraska | 38 cfs | → |
| East Fork White River At Columbus | 7,760 cfs | → |
| Clifty Creek At Hartsville | 584 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Donald Bowman Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Indiana 3 3585, North Vernon
- North County Road 760 East 7248, Seymour
- North State Route 7 9340, Elizabethtown
- East 800 South 5449-5899, Columbus
- Indiana 258 5748, Seymour
- West Blake Road 15976, Deputy
Campgrounds
- Muscatatuck
- Hardy Lake State Rec Area
- Campground Gatehouse
- Jackson - Washington State Forest
- Clifty Falls State Park
- Starve Hollow State Rec Area
Paddle runs
Track Donald Bowman 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 Donald Bowman Lake Dam
Where does the data for Donald Bowman 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 Donald Bowman Lake Dam.