Flatbelly Lake Dam
Flatbelly Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Kosciusko County, Indiana, built in 1962. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Flatbelly Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Flatbelly Lake Dam is fish and wildlife pond. The dam creates habitat for fish and wildlife, supporting local ecosystems and potentially serving conservation goals. The dam is owned by Indiana Department Of Natural Resources (state). It impounds the Unnamed Tributary Papakeechie Lake.
The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 162 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1962, 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/18/2017. That was 8 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
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 | Kosciusko |
| River/Stream | Unnamed Tributary Papakeechie Lake |
| Coordinates | 41.36838, -85.67392 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 162 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 480 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 458 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Fish and Wildlife Pond |
| Owner | Indiana Department of Natural Resources |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/18/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN00502 |
| Federal ID | IN00502 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |