Walton Lake Dam dam
Walton Lake Dam
Walton Lake Dam, located in LaPorte, Indiana, is a privately owned Earth dam completed in 1950 primarily for recreational purposes. With a height of 9 feet and a length of 225 feet, this dam provides a storage capacity of 180 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 18.6 acres. The dam is situated on an unnamed tributary of the Little Calumet River and is regulated by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the condition assessment of Walton Lake Dam is marked as unsatisfactory, with the last inspection conducted in May 2018. The risk assessment for the dam indicates a high risk level of 2. Emergency action plans and inundation maps are yet to be prepared, raising concerns about the response capability in the event of a breach or failure. It is crucial for the owners and regulatory agencies to address the unsatisfactory condition and ensure the implementation of risk management measures to mitigate potential hazards.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Walton Lake Dam presents an intriguing case study of a privately owned recreational dam in Indiana. The dam's historical significance, design features, and current condition raise questions about its long-term sustainability and the need for proactive maintenance and risk management strategies. As the dam is a vital component of the local water infrastructure, stakeholders must prioritize safety and resilience to protect both the environment and public safety in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Walton Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Trail Creek At Michigan City | 51 cfs | → |
| Trail Creek At Michigan City Harbor | 106 cfs | → |
| Little Calumet River At Porter | 38 cfs | → |
| Burns Ditch At Portage | 121 cfs | → |
| Kankakee River At Davis | 510 cfs | → |
| Deep River At Lake George Outlet At Hobart | 32 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Walton Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Stone Lake Public Boat Launch
- Wesley Road Porter County
- Lake Michigan, New Buffalo, Berrien County
- South Red Arrow Highway 16979, New Buffalo Township
- Grand Boulevard 2313, Lake Station
- W 100 N Starke County
Campgrounds
- Dunewood - Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
- Dunewood Campground
- State Park
- Indiana Dunes State Park
- Camp Lawrence
- Warren Dunes State Park
Fishing spots
Track Walton 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 Walton Lake Dam
Where does the data for Walton 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 Walton Lake Dam.