Clear Springs Fortner Lake

Clear Springs Fortner Lake is an earth dam located in Polk County, Florida, built in 1977. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.

Hazard potentialSignificantFailure could cause major damage
ConditionNot assessed
Emergency action planNone on file
Last inspectionNot reported
Height17 ft
Built197749 years ago

Dam profile

NID height · 17 ft
17 FT TWO-STORY HOUSEMEDIAN U.S. DAM · 24 FT

17 ft tall and 200 ft long. 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 Clear Springs Fortner Lake

The primary purpose of Clear Springs Fortner Lake is tailings. Tailings dams contain waste material from mining operations — typically a slurry of finely ground rock left over after valuable minerals have been extracted. These structures require ongoing monitoring because tailings can contain heavy metals and other contaminants. The dam is owned by The Mosaic Company (private). It impounds the Peace River near Bartow But Swfwmd Says Fort Meade.

The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 35 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 600 acre-feet. Completed in 1977, the structure is 49 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.

Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.

Location

StateFlorida
CountyPolk
Nearest CityBartow But Swfwmd Says Fort Meade
River/StreamPeace River
Coordinates27.85000, -81.78000

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height17 ft
Dam Height17 ft
Dam Length200 ft
Year Completed1977 (49 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage600 acre-ft
Max Storage600 acre-ft
Surface Area35 acres
Max Discharge120 cfs

Ownership & Safety

PurposeTailings
OwnerThe Mosaic Company
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationSignificant
Condition AssessmentNot assessed
Emergency Action PlanNo

Identifiers

NID IDFL00659
Federal IDFL00659
More InfoState Dam Safety Program