Union Mills Dam
Union Mills Dam is an earth dam located in LaPorte County, Indiana, built in 1920. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Union Mills Dam
The primary purpose of Union Mills Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by David Scarborough (local government). It impounds the Mill Creek.
The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 180 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 18 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 83 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 19 square miles. Completed in 1920, the structure is over a century 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 02/28/2018.
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Location
| State | Indiana |
| County | LaPorte |
| River/Stream | Mill Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.49446, -86.77823 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Length | 180 ft |
| Year Completed | 1920 (106 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 83 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 83 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 56 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 18 acres |
| Drainage Area | 19 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 296 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | David Scarborough |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 02/28/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN00352 |
| Federal ID | IN00352 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |