Cole Lake Dam
Cole Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Perry County, Indiana, built in 1994. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Cole Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Cole Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Randy Cole (private). It impounds the Unnamed Tributary Little Windy Creek.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 390 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 47 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1994, the structure is 32 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/19/2022.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 87% 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 | Perry |
| River/Stream | Unnamed Tributary Little Windy Creek |
| Coordinates | 37.96816, -86.74449 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 39 ft |
| Dam Length | 390 ft |
| Year Completed | 1994 (32 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 47 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 47 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 477 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | RANDY COLE |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/19/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN03936 |
| Federal ID | IN03936 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |