La Lumiere Dam dam
La Lumiere Dam
La Lumiere Dam, located in LaPorte, Indiana, stands as a testament to the engineering feats of its time, having been completed in 1940. This privately-owned earth dam, with a height of 15 feet and a length of 300 feet, serves the crucial function of impounding an unnamed tributary of the Galena River. With a storage capacity of 112 acre-feet and a surface area of 14 acres, this dam plays a vital role in managing water resources in the region.
Despite its historical significance, La Lumiere Dam faces challenges in terms of its condition assessment, which was reported as poor during its last inspection in 2006. The dam's hazard potential is considered high, necessitating regular inspections and maintenance to ensure public safety and prevent potential disasters. While the risk assessment for the dam is moderate, with a DSAC (Dam Safety Action Classification) assignment pending, there is a pressing need for risk management measures to be implemented to secure its long-term integrity and functionality.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts monitor La Lumiere Dam's condition and risk profile, it remains a focal point for ongoing discussions on dam safety and management practices. With its significant storage capacity and critical role in water resource management, efforts to address its current poor condition and high hazard potential are crucial to safeguarding the surrounding communities and ecosystems. The coordination between private ownership, state regulation, and federal oversight will be essential in ensuring the long-term resilience and sustainability of this important infrastructure asset.
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 La Lumiere Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Trail Creek At Michigan City | 54 cfs | → |
| Trail Creek At Michigan City Harbor | · | → |
| Galien River Near Sawyer | 63 cfs | → |
| Little Calumet River At Porter | 44 cfs | → |
| Kankakee River At Davis | 551 cfs | → |
| Juday Creek Near South Bend | 16 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near La Lumiere Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Michigan, New Buffalo, Berrien County
- Stone Lake Public Boat Launch
- South Red Arrow Highway 16979, New Buffalo Township
- North Chain Public Boat Launch
- Burgoyne Road 13379, Buchanan Township
- River Front Drive Buchanan
Campgrounds
- Dunewood - Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
- Dunewood Campground
- Warren Dunes State Park
- Warren Dunes-Rustic
- Weko Beach
- State Park
Fishing spots
Track La Lumiere 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 La Lumiere Dam
Where does the data for La Lumiere 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 High 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 La Lumiere Dam.