Cagles Mill Dam
Cagles Mill Dam is a rockfill dam located in Putnam County, Indiana, built in 1953. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Cagles Mill Dam
The primary purpose of Cagles Mill Dam 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 Usace - Louisville District (federal). It impounds the Mill Creek near Bowling Green.
The dam stands 150 feet tall and stretches 950 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,400 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 228,120 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 295 square miles. Completed in 1953, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/02/2021.
At 150 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Putnam |
| Nearest City | Bowling Green |
| River/Stream | Mill Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.48645, -86.91745 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 150 ft |
| Dam Length | 950 ft |
| Year Completed | 1953 (73 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 228,120 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 228,120 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 27,112 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,400 acres |
| Drainage Area | 295 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 75,700 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Louisville District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 08/02/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN03002 |
| Federal ID | IN03002 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |