Salter Lake Dam dam
Salter Lake Dam
Salter Lake Dam, located in Owen, Indiana, was completed in 1973 and serves primarily for recreation purposes. This private earth dam stands at a height of 22 feet and spans 450 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 177 acre-feet. The dam's reservoir covers a surface area of 16.23 acres and is situated on the Eel River.
Despite its low hazard potential, Salter Lake Dam is currently assessed to be in poor condition as of December 2012. The dam lacks a spillway and outlet gates, posing a potential risk in the event of high water levels. With a high risk assessment rating of 2, the dam requires ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its structural integrity and safety.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in Salter Lake Dam should be aware of its significance as a recreational feature in the area, while also staying informed about the dam's condition and risk assessment. As a privately owned structure regulated by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the dam presents a unique case study for understanding the intersection of water management, infrastructure maintenance, and environmental stewardship in the region.
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 Salter Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Eel River At Bowling Green | 1,430 cfs | → |
| White River At Newberry | 4,790 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Cataract | 173 cfs | → |
| Busseron Creek Near Carlisle | 155 cfs | → |
| Wabash River At Terre Haute | 8,510 cfs | → |
| Wabash River At Riverton Ind | 9,940 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Salter Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- 625 North Greene County
- Ten High Drive Owen County
- Brann Road Owen County
- Lake Shore Drive Owen County
- County Road 25 North, Dugger
- County Road 200 South, Dugger
Campgrounds
Track Salter 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 Salter Lake Dam
Where does the data for Salter 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 Salter Lake Dam.