Little Raccoon Dam No. 17
Little Raccoon Dam No. 17 is an earth dam located in Parke County, Indiana, built in 1974. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Little Raccoon Dam No. 17
The primary purpose of Little Raccoon Dam No. 17 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 Little Raccoon Conserv. Dist. (local government). It impounds the Unnamed Tributary Little Raccoon Creek near Minshall.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 555 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 12 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 426 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1974, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 10/10/2019.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 83% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Indiana |
| County | Parke |
| Nearest City | Minshall |
| River/Stream | Unnamed Tributary Little Raccoon Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.71848, -87.18079 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 555 ft |
| Year Completed | 1974 (52 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 426 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 426 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 67 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 12 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,966 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | LITTLE RACCOON CONSERV. DIST. |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/10/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN00458 |
| Federal ID | IN00458 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |