Webster Lake Dam - West dam
Webster Lake Dam - West
Located in Kosciusko, Indiana, the Webster Lake Dam - West is a gravity dam completed in 1835 with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam stands at a height of 7 feet with a structural height of 6 feet, creating a reservoir with a normal storage capacity of 761 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 3804 acre-feet. The reservoir covers a surface area of 774 acres and drains a 49.2 square mile watershed, with a maximum discharge capacity of 69 cubic feet per second.
Despite its historical significance and recreational value, the Webster Lake Dam - West poses a high hazard potential and is currently in poor condition. The dam has not been inspected since October 2017 and is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. With no spillway and no outlet gates, the dam presents a potential risk to downstream communities in the event of a breach or failure, highlighting the importance of regular maintenance and inspection to ensure public safety and environmental protection.
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 Webster Lake Dam - West -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Tippecanoe River At North Webster | 26 cfs | → |
| Tippecanoe River At Oswego | 91 cfs | → |
| Nb Elkhart River At Cosperville | 156 cfs | → |
| Elkhart River At Goshen | 585 cfs | → |
| Eel River At North Manchester | 543 cfs | → |
| St. Joseph River At Elkhart | 3,450 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Webster Lake Dam - West.
Boat launches
- East Backwater Road 9025-9067, North Webster
- East Epworth Forest Road 9232-9498, North Webster
- North 850 East 7100-7198, North Webster
- East 750 North, North Webster
- Ems B6a Lane 68-72, Leesburg
- Grassy Creek Public Access
Campgrounds
- Harper Lake Campsite
- Pike Lake County Campground
- Kosciusko County Fairgrounds
- Hidden Diamonds City Park
- Chain Olakes State Park
- Elkhart County Fairgrounds
Fishing spots
Track Webster Lake Dam - West 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 Webster Lake Dam - West
Where does the data for Webster Lake Dam - West 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 Webster Lake Dam - West.