Northam Lake Dam dam
Northam Lake Dam
Northam Lake Dam in Brown, Indiana, stands as a significant water resource for recreation enthusiasts. The private-owned dam, with a height of 19 feet and a length of 180 feet, serves as a recreational area with a storage capacity of 25 acre-feet. Despite its non-federal regulation and inspection status, the dam poses a significant hazard potential, highlighting its importance in the context of water resource management and climate resilience.
Located in Congressional District 09, Indiana, Northam Lake Dam's last inspection dates back to October 1997, with a condition assessment of "Not Rated." The dam's emergency action plan status and risk assessment measures remain unspecified, underlining potential gaps in emergency preparedness and risk management. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the data on Northam Lake Dam prompts further exploration into the dam's structural integrity, emergency response readiness, and long-term risk mitigation strategies to ensure the safety of surrounding communities and the preservation of this vital water infrastructure.
With its primary purpose being recreation, Northam Lake Dam's existence underscores the delicate balance between human enjoyment of water resources and the need for sustainable dam maintenance and oversight. The dam's location within a scenic natural environment further emphasizes the importance of responsible stewardship and proactive risk management in safeguarding water resources for future generations. As advocates for water resource sustainability and climate resilience, the case of Northam Lake Dam serves as a compelling example of the intersection between recreational amenities, infrastructure safety, and environmental protection in the face of evolving climate challenges.
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 Northam Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Fork Salt Creek At Nashville | 1,210 cfs | → |
| White River Near Centerton | 10,600 cfs | → |
| Sugar Creek Near Edinburgh | 3,580 cfs | → |
| Driftwood River Near Edinburgh Ind | 5,910 cfs | → |
| Youngs Creek Near Edinburgh Ind | 1,430 cfs | → |
| White Lick Creek At Mooresville | 1,880 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Northam Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Henderson Ford Boat Ramp
- County Road 550 South 3427, Franklin
- South Mauxferry Road Johnson County
- River Road Johnson County
- Us 31 Edinburgh
Campgrounds
- Mason Ridge - Morgan Monroe State Forest
- Oak Ridge Camping Area
- Morgan - Monroe State Forest
- Mason Ridge Camping Area
- Yellowwood State Forest
- Horseman's Camp
Track Northam 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 Northam Lake Dam
Where does the data for Northam 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 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 Northam Lake Dam.