Upper Big Blue River Structure No. 2
Upper Big Blue River Structure No. 2 is an earth dam located in Rush County, Indiana, built in 1972. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Upper Big Blue River Structure No. 2
The primary purpose of Upper Big Blue River Structure No. 2 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 Goose Creek near Carthage.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 562 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 25 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,208 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1972, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 08/16/2019.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 82% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Indiana |
| County | Rush |
| Nearest City | Carthage |
| River/Stream | Goose Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.77672, -85.56232 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 562 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,208 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,208 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 154 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 25 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,300 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | BIG BLUE RIVER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/16/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN00227 |
| Federal ID | IN00227 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |