Old Timbers Lake
Old Timbers Lake is an earth dam located in Ripley County, Indiana, built in 1974. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Old Timbers Lake
The primary purpose of Old Timbers Lake is fish and wildlife pond. The dam creates habitat for fish and wildlife, supporting local ecosystems and potentially serving conservation goals. The dam is owned by Jefferson Proving Ground (federal). It impounds the Little Otter Creek near Versailles.
The dam stands 53 feet tall and stretches 770 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 165 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,039 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1974, the structure is well into its service life at over 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/06/2017. That was 8 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
At 53 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 | Ripley |
| Nearest City | Versailles |
| River/Stream | Little Otter Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.02833, -85.40000 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 53 ft |
| Dam Height | 53 ft |
| Dam Length | 770 ft |
| Year Completed | 1974 (52 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,039 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,039 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,252 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 165 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fish and Wildlife Pond |
| Owner | Jefferson Proving Ground |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 10/06/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN03556 |
| Federal ID | IN03556 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |