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 monitoring network, operated in partnership with Turkey Creek Dam and Dike Conservancy, Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation, and  Ecosystems Connections Institute (ECI), tracks conditions across the Lake Wawasee and Syracuse Lake watershed around the clock. Visit eciwaterdata.com/wawasee to see what’s happening right now.

What You Can Check

Stream Flow & Water Levels

See how much water is flowing through the creeks that feed the lakes — Greater Dillon Creek, Martin Creek, Papakeechie Inflow, Turkey Creek Inflow, and the outflow at the Wawasee/Syracuse Dam. After a heavy rain, you can watch the streams rise in real time. During a dry spell, you can see how low they get compared to normal. This is the same type of data the USGS collects on major rivers, now available for your local streams.

Water Temperature

Check the current water temperature before you head to the lake. Whether you’re planning a swim, taking the kids out, or heading out for an early morning fishing trip, knowing the water temperature helps you plan your day.

Local Weather Conditions

The dashboard includes current air temperature, humidity, wind speed, and barometric pressure — all specific to the Wawasee area, not a regional average from a city 30 miles away. You can also toggle on live weather radar directly on the map to see exactly where rain is falling and what’s headed your way.

Historical Comparisons

Wondering if this spring has been wetter than usual? Is the creek running higher than normal for this time of year? The charts let you overlay historical averages, minimums, and maximums so you can compare today’s conditions to years of past data. Select the Min, Max, Mean, or Median buttons above any chart to see how current conditions stack up.

Plan Your Weekend on the Lake

Heading to the lake this weekend? Here’s how the dashboard helps you make the most of it:

• Thursday/Friday — check the weather radar and stream flow trends. If a big rain moved through midweek, creek levels will tell you whether the water is still high and muddy or has settled back to normal. Rising streams mean runoff is carrying sediment into the lake, which can affect water clarity for a day or two.
• Saturday morning — pull up the water temperature before you pack. Is it warm enough for the kids to swim, or should you bring the wetsuits? Check the wind speed — calm mornings are ideal for kayaking, fishing, and skiing. Gusty conditions might mean it’s a better day for shore activities.
• On the water — keep the radar layer on to watch for afternoon storms building. Indiana summer weather can change fast, and seeing a line of rain 30 minutes away gives you time to get off the water safely.
• Fishing — water temperature and barometric pressure trends both influence fish behavior. Many anglers find that falling pressure and stable water temperatures mean better bite. The dashboard gives you both at a glance.
• Fall and shoulder season — water temperature drops faster than air temperature in autumn. The dashboard helps you gauge whether it’s still comfortable for water sports or time to switch to scenic boat rides and shoreline walks.

Know Where You Are

The map includes a GPS locate button that centers the map on your current location. This is especially useful when you’re out on the water:

• Find your depth — turn on the lake depth contours and the map will show how deep the water is right where you are. Helpful for anchoring, finding fishing structure, or knowing what’s below you.
• Orient yourself — on a big lake like Wawasee, it’s easy to lose track of where you are relative to channels, inflows, and nearby landmarks. The satellite basemap with depth contours gives you a detailed picture from your phone.
• See what watershed you’re in — turn on watershed boundaries to see which drainage area you’re in and which monitoring station is tracking the water flowing past you.

How to Use the Dashboard

The site is built around an interactive map. Here’s how to get started:

1. Open the map at eciwaterdata.com/wawasee. Each dot on the map is a monitoring station.
2. Tap or click a station to see its current readings, charts, and historical data.
3. Switch between measurements using the buttons above the chart — stream flow, water temperature, and more.
4. Change the time range to zoom out and see the bigger picture — the last week, month, year, or a custom date range you choose.

 

Explore the Map Layers

The map has several bonus features you can turn on using the layers button (the stacked squares icon in the upper right). These include:

• Lake depth contours — see how deep the water is across Lake Wawasee, Syracuse Lake, and surrounding lakes. Great for fishing and boating.
• Watershed boundaries — see the land area that drains into each creek. Everything inside that boundary flows to that monitoring station and eventually to the lake.
• Stream network — all the mapped streams and channels in the watershed.
• Wind — animated wind layer showing current wind speed and direction across the area. See at a glance whether it’s calm or gusty before heading out, and which direction the wind is blowing across the lake.
• Flow path tracer — click anywhere on the map and watch it trace the path that rainwater would take from that exact spot, through ditches, creeks, and lakes, all the way to the watershed outlet. It’s a great way to understand how everything is connected.
• Weather radar — live NEXRAD radar overlay so you can see precipitation in real time.

Why This Matters for Residents

If you live on or near the lake, this data is directly relevant to your daily life:

• Planning lake days — check water temperature, wind, and rain forecasts before loading up the boat or packing a picnic
• After storms — see how local streams responded to rainfall and whether water levels are elevated
• Flooding awareness — monitor creek levels during heavy rain events to understand how water is moving through the watershed
• Seasonal changes — track how conditions change through the year, from spring runoff to summer heat to fall turnover
• Property awareness — if you live along a creek or near the shore, keeping an eye on water levels helps you stay informed
• Understanding your watershed — the flow path tracer and watershed boundaries show how your property, your neighborhood, and the surrounding land are all connected to the lake

The data updates every hour from sensors deployed in the field, so what you see on the dashboard reflects current conditions, not yesterday’s data.