Burgess Lake dam
Burgess Lake
Burgess Lake, located in Jackson, Indiana, is a private water source regulated by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. This man-made lake, completed in 1982, serves primarily for recreational purposes, with a surface area of 5.1 acres and a maximum storage capacity of 87 acre-feet. The dam, standing at a height of 26 feet and a length of 600 feet, poses a low hazard potential with fair condition assessment as of the last inspection in December 2015.
The lake is situated along an unnamed tributary of Horse Lick, within the Louisville District of the US Army Corps of Engineers jurisdiction. Despite having no spillway, Burgess Lake has a maximum discharge capacity of 445 cubic feet per second. With its close proximity to nature and its serene surroundings, Burgess Lake offers enthusiasts of water resources and climate a picturesque setting to appreciate the intersection of human intervention and natural beauty in maintaining a balanced ecosystem. The risk assessment for the dam is classified as high (2), calling for continued monitoring and risk management measures to ensure the safety and sustainability of the lake.
As a private water source in Indiana, Burgess Lake stands as a testament to the importance of responsible stewardship of natural resources. With its emphasis on recreation and leisure, the lake provides a sanctuary for water resource and climate enthusiasts to engage with the environment while also highlighting the need for ongoing maintenance and regulation to mitigate potential risks. By understanding and appreciating the delicate balance between human activity and ecological preservation, Burgess Lake serves as a valuable case study for sustainable water management practices in the face of a changing climate.
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 Burgess Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Fork White River At Seymour Ind | 6,250 cfs | → |
| Muscatatuck River Near Deputy | 2,110 cfs | → |
| West Fork Blue River At Salem | 220 cfs | → |
| Vernon Fork Muscatatuck River At Vernon | 2,320 cfs | → |
| East Fork White River At Columbus | 7,760 cfs | → |
| East Fork White River Near Bedford | 6,410 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Burgess Lake.
Boat launches
- Boat Ramp Access Jackson County
- Jackson County
- Indiana 258 5748, Seymour
- County Road 775 South, Vallonia
- North County Road 760 East 7248, Seymour
- East Delaney Millport Road 76, Vallonia
Campgrounds
- Jackson - Washington State Forest
- Starve Hollow State Rec Area
- Delaney Creek Park
- Hardy Lake State Rec Area
- Campground Gatehouse
- Hickory Ridge Horse Camp
Paddle runs
- Junction Of North/South Forks Of Lost River To State Road 337 Bridge, Approx 4 Miles Southeast Of Orleans, In
- State Road 337 Bridge To State Road 56 Bridge At Prospect, In
- State Road 56 Bridge To Forest Purchase Boundary At Roland, 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
Track Burgess Lake 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 Burgess Lake
Where does the data for Burgess Lake 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 Burgess Lake.