Inglis Main Dam & Spillway

About Inglis Main Dam & Spillway

The primary purpose of Inglis Main Dam & Spillway is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by State Of Florida (state). It impounds the Withlacoochee River near Inglis.

The dam stands 43 feet tall and stretches 4,400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4,060 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 61,400 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2,020 square miles. Completed in 1968, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.

This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/20/2024.

At 43 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.

Living Downstream

If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Florida dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.

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