Upper Big Blue River Structure No. 15
Upper Big Blue River Structure No. 15 is an earth dam located in Henry County, Indiana, built in 1969. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Upper Big Blue River Structure No. 15
The primary purpose of Upper Big Blue River Structure No. 15 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 Big Blue River Conservancy District (local government). It impounds the Moonshine Run near New Castle.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 1,460 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 22 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,072 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1969, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/07/2019.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 87% 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 | Henry |
| Nearest City | New Castle |
| River/Stream | Moonshine Run |
| Coordinates | 39.95985, -85.33366 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,460 ft |
| Year Completed | 1969 (57 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,072 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,072 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 132 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 22 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 7,435 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | BIG BLUE RIVER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/07/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN00179 |
| Federal ID | IN00179 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |