Delaney Creek Dam No. 4 dam
Delaney Creek Dam No. 4
Delaney Creek Dam No. 4, also known as Spurgeon Lake, is a vital water resource structure located in Washington County, Indiana. Built in 1973 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along an unnamed tributary of Delaney Creek. With a height of 29 feet and a length of 950 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 626 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 12 acres.
Despite its importance in mitigating flood risks, Delaney Creek Dam No. 4 is currently assessed as being in poor condition, with a low hazard potential. The last inspection in 2016 revealed a need for improvements to ensure the continued effectiveness and safety of the structure. While the dam lacks a spillway and outlet gates, it has a maximum discharge capacity of 1185 cubic feet per second. The surrounding area has a drainage area of 2.44 square miles, highlighting the significance of this dam in managing water flow and protecting the community from potential flooding events.
Given its critical role in flood risk reduction, the condition assessment and risk management of Delaney Creek Dam No. 4 are key considerations for water resource and climate enthusiasts. With the potential for high risk due to its condition and age, ongoing monitoring, maintenance, and potential upgrades are essential to ensure the long-term resilience and effectiveness of this important infrastructure. As a locally owned and regulated structure, collaboration between stakeholders and regulatory agencies will be crucial in addressing any identified issues and safeguarding the surrounding area from the impacts of extreme weather events.
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 Delaney Creek Dam No. 4 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Fork Blue River At Salem | 220 cfs | → |
| East Fork White River Near Bedford | 6,410 cfs | → |
| East Fork White River At Seymour Ind | 6,250 cfs | → |
| Blue River At Fredericksburg | 13,200 cfs | → |
| Muscatatuck River Near Deputy | 2,110 cfs | → |
| Silver Creek Near Sellersburg | 3,490 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Delaney Creek Dam No. 4.
Boat launches
- County Road 775 South, Vallonia
- East Delaney Millport Road 76, Vallonia
- North Elk Creek Road 3477-3501, Scottsburg
- Jackson County
- Boat Ramp Access Jackson County
- Indiana 258 5748, Seymour
Campgrounds
- Delaney Creek Park
- Starve Hollow State Rec Area
- Jackson - Washington State Forest
- Clark State Forest
- Deam Lake Campground
- Hardy Lake State Rec Area
Paddle runs
- Junction Of North/South Forks Of Lost River To State Road 337 Bridge, Approx 4 Miles Southeast Of Orleans, In
- State Road 337 Bridge To State Road 56 Bridge At Prospect, In
- State Road 56 Bridge To Forest Purchase Boundary At Roland, In
- City Limits Of English, In To Carnes Mill Site In Ne1/4ne1/4 Of Sec 13, T3s, R1w
- Carnes Mill Site To 7.65 Miles Above Confluece With Ohio River At Confluence With Turkey Creek
Track Delaney Creek Dam 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 Delaney Creek Dam No. 4
Where does the data for Delaney Creek Dam 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 Delaney Creek Dam No. 4.