Foerderer Lake Dam #1 dam
Foerderer Lake Dam #1
Foerderer Lake Dam #1, located in Brown, Indiana, serves as a crucial water resource for the community, providing a surface area of 1.6 acres and a drainage area of 0.05 square miles. Completed in 1966, this earth dam stands at a height of 27 feet and has a storage capacity of 20 acre-feet, primarily designed for recreational purposes. Although the dam has a low hazard potential and is in fair condition as of its last assessment in 2005, it is subject to regular inspections and meets state regulatory standards for safety and enforcement.
Despite its modest size and purpose, Foerderer Lake Dam #1 plays a significant role in managing water resources for the area, with a maximum discharge capacity of 163 cubic feet per second. The dam's location near an unnamed tributary of Gnaw Bone Creek highlights its importance in maintaining water quality and ecosystem health. While the dam does not feature a spillway or outlet gates, its risk assessment indicates a high level of risk, prompting the need for ongoing monitoring and risk management measures to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure.
As part of the Louisville District and owned privately, Foerderer Lake Dam #1 stands as a testament to the importance of water resource management and climate resilience in local communities. With its historical significance dating back to the mid-20th century, the dam continues to provide recreational opportunities while facing the challenges of aging infrastructure and increasing climate variability. By remaining vigilant in its inspections and maintenance efforts, stakeholders can safeguard this vital water resource for future generations of enthusiasts and environmental stewards.
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 Foerderer Lake Dam #1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Fork Salt Creek At Nashville | 339 cfs | → |
| Flatrock River At Columbus | 572 cfs | → |
| East Fork White River At Columbus | 1,810 cfs | → |
| Driftwood River Near Edinburgh Ind | 1,080 cfs | → |
| Sugar Creek Near Edinburgh | 332 cfs | → |
| Haw Creek Near Clifford | 27 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Foerderer Lake Dam #1.
Boat launches
- County Road North 325 West 4311, Bartholomew County
- Tannehill Road Bartholomew County
- Bartholomew County
- Water Street 300-498, Columbus
- Us 31 Edinburgh
Campgrounds
- Happy Hollow’S Children Camp
- Heflen Co Park
- Camp Atterbury Military
- Brown County State Park
- Johnson County Park
- Irwin City Park
Track Foerderer Lake Dam #1 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 Foerderer Lake Dam #1
Where does the data for Foerderer Lake Dam #1 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 Foerderer Lake Dam #1.