Kickapoo Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Sullivan County, Indiana, built in 1969. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 54 ft54 ft tall and 2,750 ft long, taller than 94% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Kickapoo Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Kickapoo 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 Department of Natural Resources (state). It impounds the Big Branch near Sullivan.
The dam stands 54 feet tall and stretches 2,750 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 378 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,538 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1969, 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 06/17/2020.
At 54 feet, this dam is taller than 94% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Indiana |
| County | Sullivan |
| Nearest City | Sullivan |
| River/Stream | Big Branch |
| Coordinates | 39.15970, -87.24772 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,750 ft |
| Year Completed | 1969 (57 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,538 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,538 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,303 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 378 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 8,335 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Department of Natural Resources |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 06/17/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN00446 |
| Federal ID | IN00446 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |