Versailles Lake Dam
Versailles Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Ripley County, Indiana, built in 1956. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Versailles Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Versailles Lake 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 Department Of Natural Resources (state). It impounds the Laughery Creek.
The dam stands 65 feet tall and stretches 934 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 211 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,788 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 168 square miles. Completed in 1956, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/29/2020.
At 65 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 | Ripley |
| River/Stream | Laughery Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.07452, -85.24499 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 65 ft |
| Dam Height | 57 ft |
| Dam Length | 934 ft |
| Year Completed | 1956 (70 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,788 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,788 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,110 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 211 acres |
| Drainage Area | 168 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 65,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 06/29/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN00021 |
| Federal ID | IN00021 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |