Buffalo Trace Lake Dam
Buffalo Trace Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Harrison County, Indiana, built in 1971. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Buffalo Trace Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Buffalo Trace Lake 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 Harrison County Park And Recreation Board (local government). It impounds the Unnamed Tributary South Fork Blue River near Palmyra.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 420 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 29 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 292 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1971, 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 01/10/2019.
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Location
| State | Indiana |
| County | Harrison |
| Nearest City | Palmyra |
| River/Stream | Unnamed Tributary South Fork Blue River |
| Coordinates | 38.41143, -86.10479 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 420 ft |
| Year Completed | 1971 (55 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 292 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 292 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 162 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 29 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,577 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | HARRISON COUNTY PARK AND RECREATION BOARD |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/10/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN00205 |
| Federal ID | IN00205 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |