Saddle Lake Dam dam
Saddle Lake Dam
Saddle Lake Dam, also known as Clem Lake Dam, is a privately owned structure located in Adams County, Indiana. Completed in 1938, this earth dam stands at a height of 16 feet and serves primarily for recreational purposes. With a normal storage capacity of 98 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 36 cubic feet per second, the dam impounds an unnamed tributary of the St. Marys River, creating a surface area of 24 acres.
Despite its significant hazard potential and poor condition assessment, Saddle Lake Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The dam lacks a spillway and outlet gates, raising concerns about its ability to safely manage water flow during periods of high discharge. With a risk assessment rating of high, efforts to improve the dam's safety and emergency preparedness measures may be necessary to mitigate potential risks to downstream communities and infrastructure.
As a notable feature in the region's water resource management infrastructure, Saddle Lake Dam's condition and maintenance play a vital role in ensuring the safety of its surroundings and the continued enjoyment of recreational activities by local residents and visitors. Ongoing monitoring, risk assessment, and potential upgrades or repairs can contribute to safeguarding this important dam for the future.
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 Saddle Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| St. Marys River At Decatur | 197 cfs | → |
| St Marys River At Walcot Street At Willshire Oh | 134 cfs | → |
| St. Marys River Near Fort Wayne | 270 cfs | → |
| Wabash River Near Bluffton Indiana | -999,999 cfs | → |
| Wabash River At Linn Grove | 84 cfs | → |
| Wabash River At Bluffton | 172 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Saddle Lake Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Saddle 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 Saddle Lake Dam
Where does the data for Saddle 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 Saddle Lake Dam.