Indian Lakes Preserve Dam is an earth dam located in Ripley County, Indiana, built in 1973. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 37 ft37 ft tall and 753 ft long, taller than 83% 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 Indian Lakes Preserve Dam
The primary purpose of Indian Lakes Preserve Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Indian Lakes Preserve Thousand Trails Incorporated (private). It impounds the Unnamed Tributary Pipe Creek.
The dam stands 37 feet tall and stretches 753 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 52 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,215 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1973, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/11/2019. That was 7 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
At 37 feet, this dam is taller than 83% 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 | Ripley |
| River/Stream | Unnamed Tributary Pipe Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.27518, -85.11441 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Length | 753 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,215 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,215 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 485 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 52 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,774 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Indian Lakes Preserve Thousand Trails Incorporated |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/11/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN00246 |
| Federal ID | IN00246 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |