Palmetto Settling Area No 4 dam
Palmetto Settling Area No 4
Palmetto Settling Area No 4 is a private-owned earth dam located in Fort Meade, Florida, along the banks of Little Payne Creek. Completed in 1967, this dam stands at a height of 47 feet and has a length of 16,000 feet, with a storage capacity of 7,300 acre-feet. The primary purpose of this dam is for tailings management, serving as a crucial structure in the area.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, Palmetto Settling Area No 4 is regulated by the state of Florida for inspection, permitting, and enforcement. Even though the condition assessment is currently not rated, the dam's emergency action plan status and risk management measures are not fully documented. With a history of over 50 years, this dam plays a key role in water resource management for the region and is an essential asset for climate resilience in the area.
Overall, Palmetto Settling Area No 4 is an important earth dam that provides vital storage capacity for the surrounding community. Its location along Little Payne Creek highlights its significance in water resource management and climate adaptation efforts. As efforts continue to monitor and assess the dam's condition and emergency preparedness, it remains a critical infrastructure asset for the region's 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 Palmetto Settling Area No 4 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Payne Creek Near Bowling Green Fl | 3 cfs | → |
| Whidden Creek Near Fort Meade Fl | 7 cfs | → |
| Peace River At Bowling Green Fl | 6 cfs | → |
| South Prong Alafia River Near Ft Lonesome Fl | 7 cfs | → |
| Little Charlie Creek Near Mouth Near Wauchula Fl | 0 cfs | → |
| Peace River At Fort Meade Fl | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Palmetto Settling Area No 4.
Boat launches
- Griffin Road 676, Wauchula
- Doc Lindsey Road 2215-2837, Fort Meade
- Alderman's Ford Park Trail Hillsborough County
- Highlands By The Lake Way 3184, Lakeland
- Alligator Alley, Plant City
- Keen Road 506, Frostproof
Campgrounds
- Alafia River State Park
- Alderman's Ford Park Campsite 4
- Alderman's Ford Park Campsite 1
- Alderman's Ford Park Campsite 3
- Alderman's Ford Park Campsite 2
- Group Campsite B
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- County Road 780 Bridge To State Road 72 Bridge
- Begins Downstream Of The State Road 72 Bridge To The Southern Boundary Of Myakka River State Park
- The Southern Boundary Of The Myakka River State Park To Ends Approximately At River Mile 23 Where Riverfront Residential Development Begins
- Approximately At River Mile 23 Where Riverfront Residential Development Begins To The Vicinity Of Snook Haven Fish Camp At Approximately River Mile 18
- Approximately River Mile 18 To A Point Just Upriver Of The Us 41 Highway Crossing
- A Point Just Upriver Of The Us 41 Highway Crossing To The Sarasota/Charlotte County Line
Track Palmetto Settling Area No 4 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 Palmetto Settling Area No 4
Where does the data for Palmetto Settling Area No 4 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 Low 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 Palmetto Settling Area No 4.