Eagle Creek Reservoir Dam
Eagle Creek Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Marion County, Indiana, built in 1967. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Eagle Creek Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Eagle Creek Reservoir 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 Indianapolis Department Of Public Works (local government). It impounds the Eagle Creek.
The dam stands 92 feet tall and stretches 5,100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,350 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 110,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 168 square miles. Completed in 1967, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/25/2018. That was 7 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
At 92 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Marion |
| River/Stream | Eagle Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.82244, -86.30408 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 92 ft |
| Dam Height | 85 ft |
| Dam Length | 5,100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1967 (59 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 110,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 110,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 24,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,350 acres |
| Drainage Area | 168 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 15,400 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | INDIANAPOLIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 06/25/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN00084 |
| Federal ID | IN00084 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |