Newport Lake Dam
Newport Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Brown County, Indiana, built in 1972. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Newport Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Newport Lake Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Normand A. Newport (private). It impounds the South Branch Salt Creek near Pikes Creek.
The dam stands 19 feet tall and stretches 200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 29 acre-feet. Completed in 1972, 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/15/1994. That was 31 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.
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 | Brown |
| Nearest City | Pikes Creek |
| River/Stream | South Branch Salt Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.15246, -86.10526 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Length | 200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 29 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 29 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 25 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 4 acres |
| Max Discharge | 2,247 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | NORMAND A. NEWPORT |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 11/15/1994 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN00251 |
| Federal ID | IN00251 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |