Thomas Lake Dam
Thomas Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Putnam County, Indiana, built in 1938. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Thomas Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Thomas Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Thomas Lake Association Inc. (private). It impounds the Snake Creek.
The dam stands 38 feet tall and stretches 900 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 14 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 311 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1938, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 10/10/2019.
At 38 feet, this dam is taller than 85% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Indiana |
| County | Putnam |
| River/Stream | Snake Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.61238, -87.00210 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Length | 900 ft |
| Year Completed | 1938 (88 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 311 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 311 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 205 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 14 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 649 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | THOMAS LAKE ASSOCIATION INC. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 10/10/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN00399 |
| Federal ID | IN00399 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |