South Bend dam
South Bend
South Bend, located in St. Joseph County, Indiana, is home to a hydroelectric dam on the St. Joseph River. This dam, completed in 1850, is a Timber Crib type structure standing at 12 feet tall and stretching 435 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 800 acre-feet and a drainage area of 3,572 acres, the dam serves as a source of hydroelectric power, providing a sustainable energy solution for the local community.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the South Bend dam has a low hazard potential and is inspected every three years to ensure its safety and functionality. The spillway, which is uncontrolled, has a width matching the length of the dam at 435 feet. The dam's overall risk assessment is moderate, indicating a need for ongoing monitoring and risk management measures. Despite these considerations, the South Bend dam continues to play a crucial role in the region's water resource management and climate resilience efforts.
South Bend's hydroelectric dam not only contributes to the local energy supply but also serves as a key infrastructure for water management and environmental sustainability. With its historical significance dating back over a century, the dam stands as a testament to the intersection of human innovation and natural resource utilization. As climate change intensifies, the South Bend dam remains a symbol of how communities can harness the power of water resources to meet their energy needs while prioritizing ecological balance and long-term resilience.
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 South Bend -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Juday Creek Near South Bend | 16 cfs | → |
| St. Joseph River At Elkhart | 3,740 cfs | → |
| St. Joseph River At Niles | 4,270 cfs | → |
| Elkhart River At Goshen | 547 cfs | → |
| Dowagiac River At Sumnerville | 318 cfs | → |
| Yellow River At Plymouth | 186 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near South Bend .
Boat launches
- Schellinger Square 86, Mishawaka
- Capital Avenue, Mishawaka
- Northside Trail, South Bend
- Riverside Drive 1861, South Bend
- Riverside Drive 3402-3992, South Bend
- Edgewater Boulevard 1215, Elkhart
Campgrounds
- Potato Creek State Park
- Elkhart County Fairgrounds
- Camp Betz
- Shamrock Park
- Wood Lake Scout Reservation
- Elkhart Co. / Middlebury Koa Holiday
Fishing spots
Track South Bend 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 South Bend
Where does the data for South Bend 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 South Bend .