Greenwood Lake Dam
Greenwood Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Martin County, Indiana, built in 1937. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Greenwood Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Greenwood Lake Dam 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 Dod Usn (federal). It impounds the First Creek near Newberry.
The dam stands 55 feet tall and stretches 1,559 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 800 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 29,800 acre-feet. Completed in 1937, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/25/2024.
At 55 feet, this dam is taller than 94% of dams nationwide.
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 | Martin |
| Nearest City | Newberry |
| River/Stream | First Creek |
| Coordinates | 38.88550, -86.87010 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Height | 55 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,559 ft |
| Year Completed | 1937 (89 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 29,800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 29,800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 12,780 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 800 acres |
| Max Discharge | 27,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | DOD USN |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 06/25/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN03007 |
| Federal ID | IN03007 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |