Chinook Mine Dam No. 7 dam
Chinook Mine Dam No. 7
Chinook Mine Dam No. 7, located in Vigo, Indiana, stands as a private earth dam with a height of 17 feet and a length of 812 feet. This dam serves a primary purpose that extends beyond typical water resource management, and its storage capacity is noted at 166 acre-feet. The dam's construction date remains unspecified, but its last inspection took place in August 1988, highlighting its age and potential need for updated assessments.
Despite not being regulated or permitted by the state, Chinook Mine Dam No. 7 poses an undetermined hazard potential and has yet to receive a condition rating. The dam's emergency action plan status, risk assessment, and risk management measures remain unknown. With a drainage area of 2 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 1150 cubic feet per second, this structure plays a significant role in local water management efforts.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Chinook Mine Dam No. 7 presents an intriguing case study of a privately owned dam with limited state oversight and an uncertain hazard potential. Its unique characteristics and historical inspection data provide valuable insights into the complexities of managing and maintaining dams in environmentally sensitive areas like Vigo, Indiana. As discussions around water security and climate resilience continue to evolve, understanding the status of structures like Chinook Mine Dam No. 7 becomes increasingly important for ensuring the safety and 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 Chinook Mine Dam No. 7 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wabash River At Terre Haute | 12,400 cfs | → |
| Big Raccoon Creek At Coxville | 956 cfs | → |
| Eel River At Bowling Green | 3,610 cfs | → |
| Wabash River At Montezuma | 10,000 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Cataract | 2,480 cfs | → |
| Big Raccoon Creek Near Fincastle Ind | 340 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Chinook Mine Dam No. 7.
Boat launches
- I 70 Clay County
- Blackman Street, Clinton
- Ten High Drive Owen County
- Lake Shore Drive Owen County
- Brann Road Owen County
- Marshall Road Rockville
Track Chinook Mine Dam No. 7 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 Chinook Mine Dam No. 7
Where does the data for Chinook Mine Dam No. 7 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 Chinook Mine Dam No. 7.