Puff Lake Dam dam
Puff Lake Dam
Puff Lake Dam, located in Bartholomew County, Indiana, is a state-owned structure built in 1988 on Muddy Branch Creek with a primary purpose classified as 'Other'. This earth dam stands at a height of 33.5 feet, with a hydraulic height of 29.7 feet and a structural height of 42 feet. The dam has a length of 950 feet, a storage capacity of 1807 acre-feet, and a surface area of 111.7 acres. Despite its significant storage capacity, the dam has a low hazard potential but is currently in poor condition, as assessed in 2018.
Even though Puff Lake Dam does not have a spillway, it has a maximum discharge capacity of 500 cubic feet per second. The dam is under the regulatory jurisdiction of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and undergoes regular state inspections, permitting, and enforcement. The last inspection was conducted in April 2018, revealing a poor condition assessment. Despite the high risk level associated with the dam, appropriate risk management measures are yet to be specified.
With its location in the Louisville District and under the ownership of the state of Indiana, Puff Lake Dam serves as a critical infrastructure for water resource management in the region. Climate and water resource enthusiasts may find interest in monitoring the condition and risk assessment of this dam, as well as the potential implications for the surrounding environment and communities in the event of a failure.
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 Puff Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Driftwood River Near Edinburgh Ind | 3,870 cfs | → |
| Sugar Creek Near Edinburgh | 2,470 cfs | → |
| Flatrock River At Columbus | 691 cfs | → |
| East Fork White River At Columbus | 3,690 cfs | → |
| Youngs Creek Near Edinburgh Ind | 1,510 cfs | → |
| Haw Creek Near Clifford | 556 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Puff Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Tannehill Road Bartholomew County
- County Road North 325 West 4311, Bartholomew County
- Us 31 Edinburgh
- River Road Johnson County
- County Road 550 North Bartholomew County
Campgrounds
- Heflen Co Park
- Camp Atterbury Military
- Irwin City Park
- Johnson County Park
- Happy Hollow’S Children Camp
- Brown County State Park
Paddle runs
Track Puff 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 Puff Lake Dam
Where does the data for Puff 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 Puff Lake Dam.