Cedarville Dam
Cedarville Dam is an earth dam located in Allen County, Indiana, built in 1953. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Cedarville Dam
The primary purpose of Cedarville Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Fort Wayne - Utilities Engineering (public utility). It impounds the St. Joseph River.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 1,900 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 460 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,830 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 763 square miles. Completed in 1953, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/23/2018. That was 7 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
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 Indiana dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Indiana |
| County | Allen |
| River/Stream | St. Joseph River |
| Coordinates | 41.19876, -85.01832 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,900 ft |
| Year Completed | 1953 (73 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,830 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,830 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 600 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 460 acres |
| Drainage Area | 763 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 85,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF FORT WAYNE - UTILITIES ENGINEERING |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/23/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN00012 |
| Federal ID | IN00012 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |