Turkey Creek Dam and Dike Conservancy District

04/21/2026

As warmer weather arrives, so do invasive species that threaten the health of our lakes. These plants and pests can crowd out native species and hurt the recreational activities that we all love. Learn how to spot them, and report any sightings to DNR to help protect our community’s natural treasure!

If you believe that you have found an invasive species around Turkey Creek, it can be reported to Indiana DNR.

04/17/2026

📌Meeting Notice📌

Please be advised that the Governing Board of the Turkey Creek Dam and D**e Conservancy District will meet at 3:00 pm on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the Conservancy District Offices located at the Wawasee Area Conservancy
Foundation at 11566 N-State Road 13, Syracuse, IN 46567

This will be our 2nd quarter meeting to discuss items related to the function of flood control structure, maintenance and improvements.

04/15/2026

Ever wonder what's happening with the water levels after a big storm? Curious whether the lake temperature is warm enough for swimming? Want to know if it's going to rain before you head out on the boat? There's now a free, live dashboard that puts all of that information in one place!

The Lake Wawasee Watershed now provides for real-time water monitoring of Lake Wawasee and Syracuse Lake. This comprehensive monitoring network tracks conditions around the clock through a partnership with the Turkey Creek Dam and D**e Conservancy, Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation, and Ecosystems Connections Institute (ECI). The site updates hourly from field-deployed sensors. It offers a range of specific data, including:

🔹Stream Flow and Water Levels
🔹Current Water Temperature
🔹Local Weather Conditions
🔹Historical Data

The dashboard is designed to help users plan lake activities and stay safe. The site is centered around an interactive map with several advanced layers and features that residents will find very useful. A GPS locate button helps users orient themselves on the lake, and the lake depth contours show how deep the water is. While on the water, the live radar layer helps users monitor for quickly building afternoon storms, allowing time to get off the water safely.
Explore the dashboard for yourself:

04/13/2026

An update from The Turkey Creek Dam and D**e Conservancy District Board regarding lake level concerns:

"As of April 13, 2026, our gauges on Wawasee and Syracuse lakes are averaging 3.6
inches above maximum levels set by the DNR. The good news is this is 3 inches lower
than just last week. During heavy frequent rain events and when the run-off is high, it
can take up to a week to lower water levels by 1 inch. With no rainfall and stable
inflows, the lakes can drop as much as 3 inches per week. The dam spillway gates are
at maximum allowable open setting and have been open since March. These gates are
managed by Syracuse Parks Department and held to DNR-mandated sea level
elevations.

The DNR does not allow the Parks Department to purposefully lower the lakes below
the minimum at any time. Inflows from Dillon creek, Turkey Creek and Leeland Channel
are finally trending down. The Parks Department will usually close the spillway gates in
late May or early June depending on the weather. The gates typically remain closed
until late fall when precipitation increases. For more detailed information generated by
monitoring devices and the National Weather Service use this link:
https://eciwaterdata.com/wawasee. We will also be posting updates as they arise on our
site at turkeycreekddcd.org.

As you can see, there are many moving pieces to safeguard our lake levels. Each
organization is doing their part to manage a successful path forward. At Turkey Creek
Dam and D**e Conservancy District, we are grateful for the partnership of the Parks
Department and the DNR, as well as the support of our entire lake community. Working
together we are ensuring appropriate and safe lake level management."

Turkey Creek Dam & D**e Conservancy District provides water level management services, ensuring safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible control of local water resources.

03/12/2026

Dive into the past to understand the future of our lakes! Learn about the history, the critical infrastructure the district protects, and how its five-member board ensures equitable representation for our community.

You can read the article here:

Turkey Creek Dam and D**e Conservancy District maintains infrastructure that protects legal lake levels for Lake Wawasee, Syracuse Lake, and Mudd Lake in Kosciusko County, Indiana.

02/11/2026

Have you heard about the Turkey Creek Gate Repair and Restoration Project? Read the report below to learn how this essential maintenance successfully addressed gate decay and structural flaws, securing the dam’s future for years to come!

Comprehensive overview of the Turkey Creek Dam 2025 gate repair and restoration project, including scope, timeline, and community impact.

11/26/2025

Giving Thanks for Our Beautiful Lakes 🦃💧

Happy Thanksgiving from the Turkey Creek Dam and D**e Conservancy District!

Whether you are enjoying the view from your shoreline or visiting family out of town, we are working to keep you informed. Did you know you can see real-time lake data on our website?

Whether you need to know the water temperature, 24-hour rainfall totals, or current lake levels, we update our data hourly to keep the community engaged and safe.

Current Dashboard Features: 🔹 Water Temperature 🌡️ 🔹 Lake Levels (Above/Below Average) 📉 🔹 Rainfall Totals 🌧️

See what the lake is doing right now by visiting the link below!

https://turkeycreekddcd.org/

10/22/2025

🚨MEETING ALERT🚨
Our 2025 Quarter 4 Board Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 23rd at 3PM. Important details to know about this meeting:

📌 Location: Conservancy District Office, WACF Education Center, 11586 N SR 13, Kosciusko County, IN
📌 Review the 2026 budget
📌 Discuss the BCS website and social media proposal
📌 Address the completion of the control device inspection and improvements

10/21/2025

Did you know dams are classified as high-risk by insurers? At Turkey Creek, we understand the importance of proactive maintenance and rigorous safety standards. Our latest blog explores how insurance companies assess dam risk, why premiums are increasing nationwide, and what steps we’ve taken to ensure our infrastructure remains insurable and resilient.

Read about it here:

Insurance coverage for dams is a major challenge for districts like Turkey Creek, facing high premiums, limited broker interest, and strict inspections. Learn how restoration efforts helped secure traditional insurance.

10/09/2025

Did you know if the newly designed d**e were to fail, Lake Wawasee could lose several feet of water? This would trigger environmental damage resulting in serious consequences for our community. That’s why we’re here: to safeguard the lake, maintain the structure, and ensure this natural treasure thrives for generations to come.

09/26/2025

What keeps our lakes safe from flooding and erosion? The d**e. Read about how we restored it and see the transformation from its original state to now in our latest blog here. ➡️

Discover how d**es protect Lake Wawasee’s homes, ecosystems, and infrastructure from flooding and erosion.