Thunderbird Lake Dam
Thunderbird Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Sullivan County, Indiana, built in 1957. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Thunderbird Lake Dam
Thunderbird Lake Dam is a dam in Sullivan, Indiana. The dam is owned by Indiana & Michigan Electric Co., Inc. (private). It impounds the Turman Creek.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 1,450 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 101 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,749 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 25 square miles. Completed in 1957, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 07/12/2019.
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Location
| State | Indiana |
| County | Sullivan |
| River/Stream | Turman Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.21610, -87.42424 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,450 ft |
| Year Completed | 1957 (69 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,749 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,749 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 477 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 101 acres |
| Drainage Area | 25 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 21,300 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Owner | INDIANA & MICHIGAN ELECTRIC CO., INC. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/12/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN00155 |
| Federal ID | IN00155 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |