Lake Santee is an earth dam located in Decatur County, Indiana, built in 1965. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 42 ft42 ft tall and 1,010 ft long, taller than 88% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Lake Santee
The primary purpose of Lake Santee is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Lake Santee Property Owners Association (private). It impounds the Righthand Fork Salt Creek.
The dam stands 42 feet tall and stretches 1,010 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 261 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,750 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1965, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 10/18/2018.
At 42 feet, this dam is taller than 88% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Indiana |
| County | Decatur |
| River/Stream | Righthand Fork Salt Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.39354, -85.29989 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Height | 42 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,010 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,750 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,750 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,710 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 261 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 12,300 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Lake Santee Property Owners Association |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/18/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN00114 |
| Federal ID | IN00114 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |