Lake Lemon Dam
Lake Lemon Dam is an earth dam located in Monroe County, Indiana, built in 1952. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Lemon Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Lemon Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Bob Madden (local government). It impounds the Beanblossom Creek.
The dam stands 51 feet tall and stretches 660 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,650 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 45,700 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 70 square miles. Completed in 1952, 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. 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 02/27/2019. That was 7 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
At 51 feet, this dam is taller than 93% 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 | Monroe |
| River/Stream | Beanblossom Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.27244, -86.42688 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 51 ft |
| Dam Height | 51 ft |
| Dam Length | 660 ft |
| Year Completed | 1952 (74 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 45,700 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 45,700 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 13,300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,650 acres |
| Drainage Area | 70 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 33,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Bob Madden |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 02/27/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN00010 |
| Federal ID | IN00010 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |