Yarling Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Brown County, Indiana, built in 1950. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 29 ft29 ft tall and 365 ft long, taller than 65% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. 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 Yarling Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Yarling Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Sharon Yarling (private). It impounds the Unnamed Tributary North Fork Salt Creek.
The dam stands 29 feet tall and stretches 365 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 41 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1950, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/29/2020.
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 | Brown |
| River/Stream | Unnamed Tributary North Fork Salt Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.33268, -86.18422 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Length | 365 ft |
| Year Completed | 1950 (76 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 41 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 41 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 34 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 85 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Sharon Yarling |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 07/29/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN00582 |
| Federal ID | IN00582 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |