Horton Dam dam
Horton Dam
Horton Dam, located in High Springs, Florida, is a privately owned earth dam built in 1970 for recreational purposes on the Olustee Creek. Standing at a height of 20 feet and a length of 535 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 200 acre-feet with a normal storage level of 104 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is regulated by the state of Florida and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and integrity.
The dam serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock watering, and creating a small fish pond in addition to providing recreational opportunities for visitors. With a surface area of 10 acres, the dam offers a picturesque setting for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, and picnicking. While the dam has not been rated for its condition, it meets state permitting and inspection requirements, indicating a commitment to maintaining safe and sustainable water resources in the area.
Located in Columbia County, Florida, Horton Dam contributes to the local water supply and ecosystem by regulating the flow of the Olustee Creek. Although it does not have a spillway or outlet gates, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water levels and supporting the surrounding wildlife. With its scenic location and recreational amenities, Horton Dam is a valuable resource for both water enthusiasts and climate advocates who appreciate the importance of sustainable water management practices in preserving natural habitats.
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 Horton Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe River At O'Leno State Park Fla | 31 cfs | → |
| Santa Fe River At River Rise Nr High Springs | 37 cfs | → |
| Santa Fe River At Worthington Springs | · | → |
| Santa Fe River Near Fort White | 586 cfs | → |
| Ichetucknee R @ Hwy27 Nr Hildreth | 225 cfs | → |
| New River Nr Lake Butler Fla | · | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Horton Dam.
Boat launches
- Southwest Us Highway 27 Columbia County
- Southwest Rum Island Terrace Columbia County
- Highway 47 22430, Fort White
- Northwest 2nd Avenue 265, Lake Butler
- Southeast Boat Ramp Glen 120, Lake City
- Southeast Evergreen Drive 358, Lake City
Campgrounds
- O'Kemp Group Camp
- Dogwood Campsite
- Oleno State Park
- The Group Landing
- Hog Pen Landing
- Ocean Pond Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Ichetucknee Headspring To The First Powerline Crossing Over Ichetucknee River
- The First Powerline Crossing The Ichetuckee River To The Confluence With The Santa Fe River, Down The Santa Fe River To The Suwannee River
- The Little River Springs At River Mile 81 To The Mouth Of The River At The Gulf Of Mexico
- The Confluence Of The North Prong And Middle Prong To Trader's Hill
- State Highway 6 To The Confluence With The Suwannee River
Track Horton 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 Horton Dam
Where does the data for Horton 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 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 Horton Dam.