Hawthorne Wildlife Dam dam
Hawthorne Wildlife Dam
Hawthorne Wildlife Dam, located in Vigo, Indiana, is a crucial water resource structure regulating the flow of Lost Creek. Built in 1985, this earth dam stands at a height of 10 feet and stretches 4500 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 120 acre-feet. Despite its modest size, the dam plays a significant role in managing water levels and protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding.
State-regulated and inspected, Hawthorne Wildlife Dam has been deemed to have a significant hazard potential, although its condition was assessed as fair in 2013. With a high-risk assessment rating, it is essential that proper risk management measures are in place to ensure the safety and integrity of the dam. While it currently lacks a spillway and outlet gates, the dam continues to serve its primary purpose effectively and remains a vital component of the local water management infrastructure.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Hawthorne Wildlife Dam offers a fascinating case study in sustainable water management practices. With its unique location and design, this earth dam provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of balancing water conservation, wildlife protection, and infrastructure development in a changing climate. As discussions around dam safety and risk mitigation continue to evolve, Hawthorne Wildlife Dam serves as a reminder of the importance of proactive maintenance and monitoring to ensure the long-term resilience 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 Hawthorne Wildlife Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wabash River At Terre Haute | 12,800 cfs | → |
| Big Raccoon Creek At Coxville | 1,630 cfs | → |
| Eel River At Bowling Green | 7,260 cfs | → |
| Wabash River At Montezuma | 10,800 cfs | → |
| Big Raccoon Creek Near Fincastle Ind | 649 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Cataract | 2,770 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hawthorne Wildlife Dam.
Boat launches
- I 70 Clay County
- Blackman Street, Clinton
- Apple Street Darwin
- Marshall Road Rockville
- Paris
- Ten High Drive Owen County
Track Hawthorne Wildlife 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 Hawthorne Wildlife Dam
Where does the data for Hawthorne Wildlife 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 Significant 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 Hawthorne Wildlife Dam.