Watson Lake Dam dam
Watson Lake Dam
Watson Lake Dam, located in Tilden, Kentucky, along Caldwell Creek, is a privately owned Earth dam primarily used for recreation purposes. Built in 1936 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), this dam stands at a height of 27 feet and spans a length of 275 feet, creating a surface area of 3.1 acres and a storage capacity of 34 acre-feet. Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, its condition is assessed as fair, with the last inspection conducted in August 2013.
Maintained by the Kentucky Division of Water, Watson Lake Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state agencies to ensure its safety and compliance with water resource management guidelines. While the dam has not undergone significant modifications since its construction, it does have an uncontrolled spillway and is situated within a drainage area of 0.02 square miles. The risk assessment for this dam is moderate, with a DSAC assigned date and a hazard potential rated as low.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Watson Lake Dam represents a historical and recreational site in Webster County, Kentucky. With its serene waters and surrounding natural beauty, the dam offers a peaceful escape for visitors seeking outdoor activities and relaxation. While its risk assessment indicates a moderate level of concern, ongoing inspections and regulatory oversight by state agencies ensure that the dam continues to serve its purpose safely and responsibly for both human enjoyment and environmental conservation.
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 Watson Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Green River At Lock 2 At Calhoun | 884 cfs | → |
| Tradewater River At Olney | 23 cfs | → |
| Ohio River At Old Shawneetown | 259,000 cfs | → |
| Big Creek Near Wadesville | 14 cfs | → |
| Pond River Near Apex | 18 cfs | → |
| Wabash River At New Harmony | 40,300 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Watson Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Union County
- Daisey Mae Road Union County
- Crittenden County
- Dogtown Boat Ramp
- Blackburn Road 198, Union County
- Hamilton Ferry Road 8501, Daviess County
Campgrounds
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)
- Bridge At Eddyville Blacktop To Confluence With Ohio River At Golconda,Il
- 1 Minle Southwest Of Delwood, Il (Sec. 18, T11s, R13e) To Reesville, 1/4 Mile South Of The Confluence With Sugar Creek
Track Watson 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 Watson Lake Dam
Where does the data for Watson 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 Watson Lake Dam.