Mason Foertsch Dam dam
Mason Foertsch Dam
Mason Foertsch Dam, located in Spencer, Indiana, along Crooked Creek, is a private-owned structure primarily used for recreation. Completed in 1993, this earth dam stands at a height of 32 feet and has a length of 435 feet. With a storage capacity of 27 acre-feet, the dam covers a surface area of 10 acres and has a drainage area of 0.1 square miles, making it a significant water resource in the region.
Despite being in fair condition as of the last assessment in 2013, Mason Foertsch Dam poses a significant hazard potential, with a high risk assessment rating. The dam lacks a spillway and outlet gates, raising concerns about its ability to handle maximum discharge events. The dam is inspected every 3 years, with the last inspection conducted in January 2019. The risk management measures and emergency action plan for the dam are not clearly documented, indicating a potential area for improvement in ensuring the safety and integrity of the structure.
With Larry Bucshon (R) as the representative for the congressional district, the regulation and oversight of Mason Foertsch Dam fall under the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The dam's location and design make it a key point of interest for water resource and climate enthusiasts, as it presents both recreational opportunities and potential risks that require careful monitoring and management to ensure the safety of surrounding communities and ecosystems.
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 Mason Foertsch Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Fork Anderson River At Bristow | 2 cfs | → |
| Ohio River At Cannelton Dam At Cannelton | 84,100 cfs | → |
| Patoka River At Jasper | 85 cfs | → |
| South Fork Panther Creek Near Whitesville | 20 cfs | → |
| Patoka River At Winslow | 204 cfs | → |
| Pigeon Creek Near Fort Branch | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mason Foertsch Dam.
Boat launches
- Water Street 300, Troy
- North 300 East 15029, Lincoln City
- North 1st Street, Cannelton
- Hawesville
- East 14th Street 961-999, Ferdinand
- Sr 166 8699, Perry County
Campgrounds
- Buckhorn Primitive Campground/ Youth Tent Area
- Lake Lincoln Campground
- Lincoln State Park
- Gobbler's Run Non-Electric Campground
- Vastwood Park
- Vastwood Co Park
Paddle runs
- Carnes Mill Site To 7.65 Miles Above Confluece With Ohio River At Confluence With Turkey Creek
- City Limits Of English, In To Carnes Mill Site In Ne1/4ne1/4 Of Sec 13, T3s, R1w
- State Road 337 Bridge To State Road 56 Bridge At Prospect, In
- State Road 56 Bridge To Forest Purchase Boundary At Roland, In
- Junction Of North/South Forks Of Lost River To State Road 337 Bridge, Approx 4 Miles Southeast Of Orleans, In
Track Mason Foertsch 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 Mason Foertsch Dam
Where does the data for Mason Foertsch 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 Mason Foertsch Dam.