Thomas J. Miller Lake Dam
Thomas J. Miller Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Scott County, Indiana, built in 1973. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Thomas J. Miller Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Thomas J. Miller Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Scott Howser (private). It impounds the Unnamed Tributary Kimberlin Creek near Austin Area.
The dam stands 31 feet tall and stretches 804 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 28 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 416 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1973, 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/23/2020.
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 | Scott |
| Nearest City | Austin Area |
| River/Stream | Unnamed Tributary Kimberlin Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.64794, -85.72281 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Length | 804 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 416 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 416 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 191 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 28 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,183 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | SCOTT HOWSER |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/23/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN00163 |
| Federal ID | IN00163 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |