Riley Lake Dam dam
Riley Lake Dam
Located in Vigo, Indiana, the Riley Lake Dam is a privately owned structure that was completed in 1964 for the primary purpose of recreation. With a height of 13 feet and a length of 480 feet, this earth dam holds a storage capacity of 65 acre-feet, providing a surface area of 1.43 acres for recreational activities. Despite not being regulated or inspected by the state, the dam's hazard potential is considered significant, highlighting the importance of regular maintenance and monitoring to ensure its safety and stability.
The Riley Lake Dam poses a potential risk due to its condition being labeled as "Not Rated" and the last inspection taking place in 1964. While no emergency action plan (EAP) or risk assessment has been conducted, the dam's location in Congressional District 08, Indiana, emphasizes the need for proactive measures to mitigate any potential hazards. With no spillway or outlet gates specified, the dam's hydraulic and structural height of 13 feet each warrant attention to prevent any unforeseen incidents that could impact the surrounding community and environment.
Although the Riley Lake Dam offers a picturesque setting for recreational activities, its condition assessment, emergency preparedness, and risk management measures remain undetermined. With the dam's location in Indiana's water resource landscape, there is a need for stakeholders to prioritize safety protocols and regular inspections to ensure the longevity and functionality of this vital structure. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is crucial to advocate for proper maintenance and monitoring of dams like Riley Lake to uphold the safety of communities and ecosystems downstream.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wabash River At Terre Haute | 13,500 cfs | → |
| Eel River At Bowling Green | 669 cfs | → |
| Big Raccoon Creek At Coxville | 633 cfs | → |
| Wabash River At Montezuma | 13,100 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Cataract | 244 cfs | → |
| Wabash River At Riverton Ind | 17,300 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Riley Lake Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
- I 70 Clay County
- Apple Street Darwin
- Blackman Street, Clinton
- Sullivan County
- 625 North Greene County
- North Co Road 300 East, Sullivan
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.