Hamilton Lake-south Dam
Hamilton Lake-south Dam is an earth dam located in Steuben County, Indiana, built in 1832. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Hamilton Lake-south Dam
Hamilton Lake-south Dam is a dam in Steuben, Indiana. The dam is owned by Indiana Department Of Natural Resources (state). It impounds the Fish Creek.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 280 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 755 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 18,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 16 square miles. Completed in 1832, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half 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 06/07/2018. That was 7 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 | Steuben |
| River/Stream | Fish Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.53408, -84.91283 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 280 ft |
| Year Completed | 1832 (194 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 18,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 18,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 16,400 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 755 acres |
| Drainage Area | 16 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 472 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Owner | INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 06/07/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN00800 |
| Federal ID | IN00800 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |