Upper Big Blue River Structure No. 19
Upper Big Blue River Structure No. 19 is an earth dam located in Henry County, Indiana, built in 1995. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Upper Big Blue River Structure No. 19
The primary purpose of Upper Big Blue River Structure No. 19 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 Big Blue River Conservancy District (local government). It impounds the Moon Brook near New Castle.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 14 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 246 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1995, the structure is 31 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 10/13/2020.
At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 78% of dams nationwide.
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 | Henry |
| Nearest City | New Castle |
| River/Stream | Moon Brook |
| Coordinates | 40.03324, -85.33750 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1995 (31 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 246 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 246 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 78 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 14 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | BIG BLUE RIVER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/13/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN03932 |
| Federal ID | IN03932 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |