Sturgeon Lake Dam dam
Sturgeon Lake Dam
Sturgeon Lake Dam, located in Gibson County, Indiana, was completed in 1965 and stands at a height of 19 feet with a length of 530 feet. This earth-type dam serves as a private water resource structure with a storage capacity of 95 acre-feet, primarily for flood control purposes. While the dam has a low hazard potential, it has not been recently inspected or rated for its condition.
Despite its importance in managing water resources for the area, Sturgeon Lake Dam has not been regulated or permitted by the state authorities, and it lacks regular inspections and enforcement measures. The dam's primary purpose and specific design features are not explicitly documented, and there is limited information available on its operational and emergency preparedness protocols. This lack of oversight raises concerns about the long-term safety and effectiveness of the dam in mitigating flood risks and safeguarding downstream communities.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the intersection of infrastructure management and environmental protection, Sturgeon Lake Dam presents an intriguing case study. With limited data on its maintenance history and emergency response plans, there is a pressing need for increased monitoring and regulatory oversight to ensure the dam's continued functionality and resilience in the face of changing climate patterns and potential hazards. Stakeholders are encouraged to advocate for improved governance and risk assessment practices to safeguard this vital water resource structure and the surrounding ecosystem.
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 Sturgeon Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Patoka River Near Princeton | 1,010 cfs | → |
| White River At Petersburg | 18,800 cfs | → |
| White River Above Petersburg | 1,500 cfs | → |
| Patoka River At Winslow | 390 cfs | → |
| Pigeon Creek Near Fort Branch | 305 cfs | → |
| Wabash River At Mt. Carmel | 32,100 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sturgeon Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Pigeon Pit 1157-1163, Winslow
- County Road 300 Knox County
- County Road 825 South Daviess County
- County Road 600 South Daviess County
- County Road 675 East, Otwell
- County Road 600 South, Montgomery
Campgrounds
- Prides Creek Co Park
- Lincoln Trail
- Kimmell City Park
- Pike State Forest
- Ouabache Trails County Park
- Lynnville Park
Track Sturgeon 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 Sturgeon Lake Dam
Where does the data for Sturgeon 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 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 Sturgeon Lake Dam.