Lower Spring Lake Dam dam
Lower Spring Lake Dam
Lower Spring Lake Dam, located in Waverly-Offstream, Indiana, is a private recreational earth dam completed in 1963 by the USDA NRCS. The dam, standing at 21 feet in height with a length of 395 feet, serves as a source of recreation with a storage capacity of 103 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 65 acre-feet. The dam is situated on TR-Sinking Creek and White River, within the Louisville District of the US Army Corps of Engineers jurisdiction.
Despite its recreational value, Lower Spring Lake Dam is currently in poor condition with an undetermined hazard potential. The last inspection conducted on the dam was in October 1999, raising concerns about its structural integrity and safety. With no state regulation, inspection, or enforcement in place, the dam's maintenance and upkeep fall solely on its private owner. The dam's condition assessment in 2002 further highlights the urgent need for rehabilitation and maintenance to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and ecosystem.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the critical importance of dam safety and maintenance is key to preserving our natural landscapes and protecting communities from potential hazards. Lower Spring Lake Dam serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced in managing and maintaining aging infrastructure, highlighting the need for proactive measures to address deteriorating conditions and ensure the long-term sustainability of our water resources.
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 Lower Spring Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| White Lick Creek At Mooresville | 1,170 cfs | → |
| Little Buck Creek Near Indianapolis | 11 cfs | → |
| White River Near Centerton | 9,200 cfs | → |
| White R. At Stout Gen. Stn. At Indianapolis | 5,820 cfs | → |
| White River At Indianapolis | 5,090 cfs | → |
| Lick Creek At Indianapolis | 90 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lower Spring Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Henderson Ford Boat Ramp
- North White River Parkway East Drive 2483, Riverside
- Fall Creek Parkway Trail Indianapolis
- County Road 550 South 3427, Franklin
- South Mauxferry Road Johnson County
- White River Boat Ramp
Track Lower Spring Lake 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 Lower Spring Lake Dam
Where does the data for Lower Spring Lake 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 Undetermined 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 Lower Spring Lake Dam.