Riley Lake Dam dam
Riley Lake Dam
Riley Lake Dam, located in Bartholomew County, Indiana, is a private earth dam situated on an unnamed tributary of North Branch Wolf Creek. Standing at a height of 30 feet with a structural height of 35 feet and a length of 400 feet, the dam serves a crucial role in water resource management in the area. With a normal storage capacity of 22 acre-feet and a surface area of 3.5 acres, the dam plays a significant role in regulating water levels and protecting against potential flooding.
Despite its importance, Riley Lake Dam is currently in poor condition, as assessed in October 2012, with a significant hazard potential. The last inspection in April 2018 revealed the need for maintenance and potential upgrades to ensure the safety and efficacy of the structure. With a high risk level assigned to it, there is a pressing need for risk management measures to be implemented to mitigate any potential dangers associated with the dam. It is crucial that the relevant authorities take proactive steps to address the dam's condition and ensure its continued functionality.
With the dam being located in an area prone to natural disasters and with a significant hazard potential, the enforcement of regular inspections and maintenance is essential to prevent any potential disasters. Given its location and the surrounding topography, Riley Lake Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience in the region, highlighting the importance of proactive measures to safeguard its structural integrity and functionality for the future.
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 Riley Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Flatrock River At Columbus | 501 cfs | → |
| East Fork White River At Columbus | 1,410 cfs | → |
| Driftwood River Near Edinburgh Ind | 995 cfs | → |
| North Fork Salt Creek At Nashville | 101 cfs | → |
| Sugar Creek Near Edinburgh | 295 cfs | → |
| Haw Creek Near Clifford | 18 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Riley Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- County Road North 325 West 4311, Bartholomew County
- Tannehill Road Bartholomew County
- Bartholomew County
- Water Street 300-498, Columbus
- County Road 550 North Bartholomew County
- Us 31 Edinburgh
Campgrounds
- Happy Hollow’S Children Camp
- Heflen Co Park
- Camp Atterbury Military
- Irwin City Park
- Brown County State Park
- Johnson County Park
Track Riley 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 Riley Lake Dam
Where does the data for Riley 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 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 Riley Lake Dam.