Harrison West Lake Dam (South) dam
Harrison West Lake Dam (South)
Located in Bartholomew, Indiana, the Harrison West Lake Dam (South) is a private dam with a primary purpose of recreation. Completed in 1949, this earth dam stands at a height of 25 feet with a structural height of 27 feet and a length of 350 feet. The dam holds a normal storage capacity of 35 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 4 acres, drawing water from an unnamed tributary of Denios Creek.
Despite its recreational function, the dam poses a significant hazard potential with a poor condition assessment as of 2014. With a risk assessment rating of High (2), the dam's inspection frequency is every 3 years, with the last inspection conducted in January 2017. The dam lacks a spillway and outlet gates, which raises concerns about its ability to manage water levels during heavy rainfall or flooding events. With the dam regulated and permitted by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, ensuring its safety and maintenance remains crucial for both water resource and climate enthusiasts.
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 Harrison West Lake Dam (South) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Fork White River At Columbus | 13,400 cfs | → |
| Flatrock River At Columbus | 3,500 cfs | → |
| Haw Creek Near Clifford | 915 cfs | → |
| Driftwood River Near Edinburgh Ind | 9,520 cfs | → |
| North Fork Salt Creek At Nashville | 2,890 cfs | → |
| Sugar Creek Near Edinburgh | 4,340 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Harrison West Lake Dam (South).
Boat launches
- County Road North 325 West 4311, Bartholomew County
- Bartholomew County
- Water Street 300-498, Columbus
- Tannehill Road Bartholomew County
- County Road 550 North Bartholomew County
- East 800 South 5449-5899, Columbus
Campgrounds
- Happy Hollow’S Children Camp
- Heflen Co Park
- Camp Atterbury Military
- Irwin City Park
- Brown County State Park
- Johnson County Park
Track Harrison West Lake Dam (South) 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 Harrison West Lake Dam (South)
Where does the data for Harrison West Lake Dam (South) 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 Harrison West Lake Dam (South).