Gibson Generating Plant Dam is an earth dam located in Gibson County, Indiana, built in 1973. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 20 ft20 ft tall and 40,000 ft long. 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 Gibson Generating Plant Dam
Gibson Generating Plant Dam is a dam in Gibson, Indiana. The dam is owned by Duke Energy LLC (public utility). It impounds the Coffee Bayou.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 40,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,944 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 43,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/04/2020.
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 | Gibson |
| River/Stream | Coffee Bayou |
| Coordinates | 38.33521, -87.77213 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 40,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 43,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 43,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 29,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2,944 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,067 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Duke Energy LLC |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/04/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN00464 |
| Federal ID | IN00464 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |