Upper Big Blue River Structure No. 7-a
Upper Big Blue River Structure No. 7-a is an earth dam located in Henry County, Indiana, built in 1976. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Upper Big Blue River Structure No. 7-a
The primary purpose of Upper Big Blue River Structure No. 7-a 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 Big Blue River Conservancy District (local government). It impounds the Buck Creek near Knightstown.
The dam stands 62 feet tall and stretches 840 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 40 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,060 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 17 square miles. Completed in 1976, the structure is 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/13/2020.
At 62 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Henry |
| Nearest City | Knightstown |
| River/Stream | Buck Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.80414, -85.48886 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 62 ft |
| Dam Height | 62 ft |
| Dam Length | 840 ft |
| Year Completed | 1976 (50 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,060 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,060 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 248 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 40 acres |
| Drainage Area | 17 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 27,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | BIG BLUE RIVER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/13/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN00515 |
| Federal ID | IN00515 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |