Morse Reservoir Dam
Morse Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Hamilton County, Indiana, built in 1955. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Morse Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Morse Reservoir 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 Citizens Energy Group (public utility). It impounds the Cicero Creek.
The dam stands 70 feet tall and stretches 1,500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,375 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 49,300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 216 square miles. Completed in 1955, 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 08/01/2018. That was 7 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
At 70 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Hamilton |
| River/Stream | Cicero Creek |
| Coordinates | 40.07257, -86.05005 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 70 ft |
| Dam Height | 70 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1955 (71 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 49,300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 49,300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 21,180 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,375 acres |
| Drainage Area | 216 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 66,513 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITIZENS ENERGY GROUP |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/01/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN00018 |
| Federal ID | IN00018 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |