Nichols Lake Dam dam
Nichols Lake Dam
Nichols Lake Dam, located in Santa Rosa, Florida, was completed in 1971 by the USDA NRCS and serves as a vital recreational spot for water resource and climate enthusiasts. With a height of 14 feet and a length of 395 feet, the dam holds a storage capacity of 140 acre-feet, providing ample space for fish and wildlife habitat enhancement as well as recreational activities. The dam is situated on Nichols Creek and is regulated by the NWFWMD, ensuring proper inspection, permitting, and enforcement measures are in place to manage its high hazard potential.
Despite its age, Nichols Lake Dam remains a key structure for water management in the area, with a spillway width of 80 feet and uncontrolled outlet gates. The dam's moderate risk assessment (3) highlights the need for ongoing risk management measures to ensure its safety and functionality for the surrounding community. While the dam's condition is currently not rated, its role in providing a recreational haven and supporting local ecosystems underscores its importance in the region's water resource and climate conservation efforts.
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 Nichols Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow River Nr Milton | 3,720 cfs | → |
| Big Coldwater Creek Nr Milton | 777 cfs | → |
| Blackwater River Nr Baker | 793 cfs | → |
| Yellow River At Milligan | 2,230 cfs | → |
| Shoal River Nr Crestview | 1,940 cfs | → |
| Juniper Creek At State Hwy 85 Nr Niceville | 67 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Nichols Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Eglin Air Force Base, Milton
- Log Lake Road, Milton
- Fisher Old Miller Road 11198, Santa Rosa County
- Okaloosa County
- Ward Basin Road 3002, Santa Rosa County
Campgrounds
- Blackwater River State Park
- Clear Creek Rv Military - Fort Knox
- Hurlburt Field Military
- Pearl Creek
- Naval Live Oaks Group Camping
- Eglin Afb Military
Fishing spots
Track Nichols 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 Nichols Lake Dam
Where does the data for Nichols 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 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 Nichols Lake Dam.