Patoka Lake Dam
Patoka Lake Dam is a rockfill dam located in Dubois County, Indiana, built in 1978. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Patoka Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Patoka 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 Usace - Louisville District (federal). It impounds the Patoka River near Jasper.
The dam stands 145 feet tall and stretches 1,500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8,880 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 301,640 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 168 square miles. Completed in 1978, the structure is 48 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/01/2022.
At 145 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Dubois |
| Nearest City | Jasper |
| River/Stream | Patoka River |
| Coordinates | 38.43434, -86.70759 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 145 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1978 (48 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 301,640 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 301,640 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 167,290 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8,880 acres |
| Drainage Area | 168 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 40,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Louisville District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 08/01/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN03018 |
| Federal ID | IN03018 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |