Little Raccoon Dam No. 1 - Albright
Little Raccoon Dam No. 1 - Albright is an earth dam located in Parke County, Indiana, built in 1973. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Little Raccoon Dam No. 1 - Albright
The primary purpose of Little Raccoon Dam No. 1 - Albright is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Little Raccoon Conservancy District (local government). It impounds the Weisner Creek near Jessup.
The dam stands 42 feet tall and stretches 850 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 32 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,971 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 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 12/11/2018. That was 7 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
At 42 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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 | Parke |
| Nearest City | Jessup |
| River/Stream | Weisner Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.69031, -87.26405 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Length | 850 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,971 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,971 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 181 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 32 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,230 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | LITTLE RACCOON CONSERVANCY DISTRICT |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 12/11/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN00232 |
| Federal ID | IN00232 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |