Lake Barbara Dam
Lake Barbara Dam is an earth dam located in Noble County, Indiana, built in 1979. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Lake Barbara Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Barbara Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Ron Harke (private). It impounds the Unnamed Tributary South Branch Elkhart River.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 225 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 84 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 886 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1979, the structure is 47 years old.
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 07/21/2020.
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Location
| State | Indiana |
| County | Noble |
| River/Stream | Unnamed Tributary South Branch Elkhart River |
| Coordinates | 41.34897, -85.43269 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 225 ft |
| Year Completed | 1979 (47 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 886 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 886 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 613 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 84 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,196 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Ron Harke |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 07/21/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN00787 |
| Federal ID | IN00787 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |