Coffing Brothers Dam dam
Coffing Brothers Dam
Coffing Brothers Dam, located in Fountain, Indiana, was completed in 1962 and serves primarily for recreation. This earthen dam stands at a height of 34 feet, with a hydraulic height of 39 feet, and a total length of 460 feet. It has a storage capacity of 126 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 7.4 acres. The dam is situated on an unnamed tributary of Coal Creek and is regulated by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Despite its low hazard potential, Coffing Brothers Dam has been rated as being in poor condition as of July 2011. The last inspection conducted on the dam was in August 2016, with a frequency of inspections set at every 5 years. The dam has an uncontrolled spillway type and no outlet gates. In the event of an emergency, the dam's Emergency Action Plan status and risk assessment remain unclear, highlighting potential areas for improvement in the dam's safety and management protocols.
Overall, Coffing Brothers Dam presents a moderate risk level and remains under state jurisdiction in terms of permitting, inspection, and enforcement. With its picturesque location and recreational purpose, the dam serves as a vital resource for the local community and water enthusiasts. Moving forward, continued monitoring and maintenance efforts will be crucial to ensure the dam's structural integrity and the safety of its surrounding areas.
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 Coffing Brothers Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wabash River At Covington | 5,340 cfs | → |
| Vermilion River Near Danville | 811 cfs | → |
| Wabash River At Montezuma | 10,000 cfs | → |
| Middle Fork Vermilion River Above Oakwood | 117 cfs | → |
| Big Raccoon Creek At Coxville | 956 cfs | → |
| Sugar Creek At Crawfordsville | 950 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Coffing Brothers Dam.
Boat launches
- Henley Road 8823, Marshall
- Lake Vermilion County Park
- Marshall Road Rockville
- East 1725 North Road Vermilion County
- Blackman Street, Clinton
- Paris
Track Coffing Brothers 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 Coffing Brothers Dam
Where does the data for Coffing Brothers 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 Coffing Brothers Dam.