Scales Lake Dam
Scales Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Warrick County, Indiana, built in 1935. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Scales Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Scales Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Warrick County Department Of Parks And Recreation (local government). It impounds the Unnamed Tributary Otter Creek.
The dam stands 31 feet tall and stretches 930 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 60 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,262 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1935, 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 02/22/2019.
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Location
| State | Indiana |
| County | Warrick |
| River/Stream | Unnamed Tributary Otter Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.06383, -87.24985 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Length | 930 ft |
| Year Completed | 1935 (91 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,262 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,262 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 701 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 60 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 810 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | WARRICK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 02/22/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN00442 |
| Federal ID | IN00442 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |