Jordan Lake Dam dam
Jordan Lake Dam
Jordan Lake Dam, also known as Jordan Pekin Lake Dam, is a private-owned structure located in Washington, Indiana. Built in 1978 by Lawrence Trueblood, this earth dam stands at a height of 31 feet, with a length of 592 feet, and a storage capacity of 425 acre-feet. Situated on an unnamed tributary of the South Fork Blue River, the dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a surface area of 19.5 acres for water enthusiasts to enjoy.
With a high hazard potential and fair condition assessment, Jordan Lake Dam is regulated by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and integrity. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 70 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 6,350 cubic feet per second. Despite its moderate risk level, the dam has no associated emergency action plan (EAP) or inundation maps prepared, raising concerns about emergency preparedness in case of a catastrophic event.
Located within the Louisville District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Jordan Lake Dam serves as a vital recreational resource in the area. Its presence not only provides opportunities for outdoor activities but also highlights the importance of effective risk management and emergency planning to safeguard surrounding communities and the environment from potential hazards associated with dam failures.
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 Jordan Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Fork Blue River At Salem | 220 cfs | → |
| Blue River At Fredericksburg | 13,200 cfs | → |
| Silver Creek Near Sellersburg | 3,490 cfs | → |
| Blue River Near White Cloud | 11,300 cfs | → |
| Muddy Fk At Mockingbird Valley Rd At Louisville | 8 cfs | → |
| M Fk Beargrass Cr At Lexington Rd At Louisville | 23 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Jordan Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- North Elk Creek Road 3477-3501, Scottsburg
- West Main Street 106, Milltown
- Ohio River Greenway 100-598, New Albany
- County Road 775 South, Vallonia
- Harrison Avenue 1021, Clarksville
- North 27th Street Louisville
Campgrounds
- Clark State Forest
- Buffalo Trace Co Park
- Deam Lake Campground
- Deam Lake State Rec Area
- Delaney Creek Park
- Charlestown State Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Junction Of North/South Forks Of Lost River To State Road 337 Bridge, Approx 4 Miles Southeast Of Orleans, 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
- State Road 337 Bridge To State Road 56 Bridge At Prospect, In
- State Road 56 Bridge To Forest Purchase Boundary At Roland, In
Track Jordan 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 Jordan Lake Dam
Where does the data for Jordan 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 High 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 Jordan Lake Dam.