Youth Camp Lake Dam

Youth Camp Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Bartholomew County, Indiana, built in 1945. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.

About Youth Camp Lake Dam

The primary purpose of Youth Camp Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Bartholomew County Foundation For Youth (private). It impounds the Unnamed Tributary Wolf Creek.

The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 360 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 94 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1945, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.

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 05/28/2020.

At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 83% 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.

High HazardPoor ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateIndiana
CountyBartholomew
River/StreamUnnamed Tributary Wolf Creek
Coordinates39.17825, -86.05263

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height36 ft
Dam Height36 ft
Dam Length360 ft
Year Completed1945 (81 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage94 acre-ft
Max Storage94 acre-ft
Normal Storage71 acre-ft
Surface Area5 acres
Drainage Area0 sq mi
Max Discharge309 cfs
Spillway TypeNone

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerBARTHOLOMEW COUNTY FOUNDATION FOR YOUTH
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationHigh
Condition AssessmentPoor
Last Inspection05/28/2020
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDIN00264
Federal IDIN00264
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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