Lake George Dam
Lake George Dam is an earth dam located in Lake County, Indiana, built in 1846. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Lake George Dam
Lake George Dam is a dam in Lake, Indiana. The dam is owned by Lake County (local government). It impounds the Deep River.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 550 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 242 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,450 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 124 square miles. Completed in 1846, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half 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 10/25/2018. That was 7 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
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 | Lake |
| River/Stream | Deep River |
| Coordinates | 41.53488, -87.25773 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 550 ft |
| Year Completed | 1846 (180 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,450 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,450 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 242 acres |
| Drainage Area | 124 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,700 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | LAKE COUNTY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 10/25/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN00350 |
| Federal ID | IN00350 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |