S-65 is an earth dam located in Osceola County, Florida, built in 1964. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 40 ft40 ft tall and 520 ft long, taller than 86% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About S-65
The primary purpose of S-65 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 Sfwmd (local government). It impounds the Kissimmee River (c-38) near Turkey Hammock.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 520 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 31,383 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 730,000 acre-feet. Completed in 1964, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 12/19/2024.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 86% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Florida |
| County | Osceola |
| Nearest City | Turkey Hammock |
| River/Stream | Kissimmee River (c-38) |
| Coordinates | 27.80353, -81.19741 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 520 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 730,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 730,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 350,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 31,383 acres |
| Max Discharge | 11,000 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Sfwmd |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/19/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | FL00271 |
| Federal ID | FL00271 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |