Servel Lake Dam dam
Servel Lake Dam
Servel Lake Dam, located in Vanderburgh, Indiana, is a privately owned structure primarily used for recreational purposes. Standing at 19 feet tall and stretching 300 feet in length, this earth dam holds a maximum storage capacity of 76 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition has not been rated and was last inspected in 1985. With no state jurisdiction or regulatory agency overseeing its operations, the dam serves as a vital water resource for the local community.
The dam's location on Servel Lake provides a surface area of 10 acres and drains an area of 0.28 square miles. While it lacks outlet gates and spillway type specifications, the dam has not undergone any significant modifications since its completion. The absence of a Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and updated emergency contacts raises concerns about its preparedness in the event of a disaster. Despite these gaps, Servel Lake Dam remains a key feature in the region's recreational landscape.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the importance of assessing and maintaining dams like Servel Lake Dam becomes increasingly crucial. With its historical significance and recreational value, efforts to ensure the safety and longevity of this structure are essential for safeguarding the surrounding community and preserving the natural beauty of the area.
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 Servel Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Creek Near Wadesville | 10 cfs | → |
| Wabash River At New Harmony | 34,200 cfs | → |
| Pigeon Creek Near Fort Branch | 3 cfs | → |
| Little Wabash River At Carmi | 5,470 cfs | → |
| Ohio River At Old Shawneetown | 259,000 cfs | → |
| Green River At Lock 2 At Calhoun | 812 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Servel Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Dogtown Boat Ramp
- Angel Mounds Boat Ramp
- Ohio River Scenic Byway 221-383, Newburgh
- Euler Road, Chandler
- New Harmony Road 11699, Chandler
Paddle runs
- Russell Cemetery, Approx 1/4 Mile North Of Karbers Ridge Road To Proclamation Boundary, 1 Mile Nw Of Elizabethtown,Il
- Wallace Cemetery Approx 2.5 Miles Nw Of Herod, Il To Confluence With Ohio River At Golconda Jobs Corp Center
- Source, About 2 Miles East Of Delwood, Il (Sec 10, T11s, R6e) To Bridge At Eddyville Blacktop (Se1/4,Sec.16,T12s, R6e)
- 1 Minle Southwest Of Delwood, Il (Sec. 18, T11s, R13e) To Reesville, 1/4 Mile South Of The Confluence With Sugar Creek
- Bridge At Eddyville Blacktop To Confluence With Ohio River At Golconda,Il
Track Servel 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 Servel Lake Dam
Where does the data for Servel 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 Servel Lake Dam.