S-179 dam
S-179
S-179, located in Miami-Dade County, Florida, is a state-regulated dam with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the Mowry Canal (C-103). Built in 1967, this dam stands at 32 feet high and has a storage capacity of 812 acre-feet, with a normal storage of 788 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the condition assessment for S-179 is currently rated as 'Not Rated', indicating a need for further evaluation to ensure its structural integrity and safety.
Managed by the state of Florida, S-179 is equipped with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement processes in place to oversee its operations. The dam has not been modified in recent years, and its emergency action plan (EAP) status, risk assessment, and risk management measures are currently not available. With a last inspection date recorded in 1905, there is a potential need for updated assessments and emergency preparedness plans to ensure the continued safety and effectiveness of this flood control structure in the face of evolving climate conditions and water resource management challenges.
With a surface area of 25 acres and a maximum discharge capacity of 1920 cubic feet per second, S-179 plays a critical role in flood control efforts in the region. As climate change continues to impact water resources and extreme weather events become more frequent, the importance of maintaining and updating infrastructure like S-179 to mitigate flood risks and protect local communities becomes increasingly vital. It is essential for stakeholders and regulatory agencies to prioritize the assessment, maintenance, and improvement of structures like S-179 to adapt to changing climate conditions and ensure the long-term resilience of water resource management systems.
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 S-179 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Canal 111 At S-18-C Near Florida City | 15 cfs | → |
| Levee 31 North Extension At 7 Mile Nr West Miami F | 165 cfs | → |
| Levee 31 North Extension At 5 Mile Nr West Miami F | 91 cfs | → |
| Levee 31 North Extension At 4 Mile Nr West Miami F | 184 cfs | → |
| Levee 31 North Extension At 3 Mile Nr West Miami F | 149 cfs | → |
| Levee 31 North Extension At 1 Mile Nr West Miami | 241 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near S-179.
Boat launches
- Ingraham Highway, Homestead
- Barnes Sound #1
- Falls Boat Launch
- Barnes Sound #2
- Steamboat Creek
- Card Sound Rd
Campgrounds
- Larry And Penny Thompson Park
- Elliott Key Campground
- Boca Chita Key Campground
- Long Pine Key - Everglades National Park
- Long Pine Key Campground
- John Pennekamp - Coral Reef State Park
Track S-179 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 S-179
Where does the data for S-179 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.