Lake Sullivan Dam Busseron No. K-1 is an earth dam located in Sullivan County, Indiana, built in 1968. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 40 ft40 ft tall and 1,500 ft long, taller than 86% 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 Sullivan Dam Busseron No. K-1
The primary purpose of Lake Sullivan Dam Busseron No. K-1 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 Sullivan Co. Park & Recreation Dist. (local government). It impounds the Morrison Creek near Sullivan.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 1,500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 460 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 13,178 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11 square miles. Completed in 1968, 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 02/28/2018.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 86% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Indiana |
| County | Sullivan |
| Nearest City | Sullivan |
| River/Stream | Morrison Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.09985, -87.37537 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1968 (58 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 13,178 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 13,178 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,936 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 460 acres |
| Drainage Area | 11 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 18,845 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Sullivan Co. Park & Recreation Dist. |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 02/28/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN00154 |
| Federal ID | IN00154 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |