Sawmill Lake Dam
Sawmill Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Bartholomew County, Indiana, built in 1997. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Sawmill Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Sawmill Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Sawmill Lake Lot Owners Association Incorporated (private). It impounds the Unnamed Tributary South Branch Salt Creek.
The dam stands 45 feet tall and stretches 695 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 34 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 674 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1997, the structure is 29 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 05/04/2020.
At 45 feet, this dam is taller than 91% 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 | Bartholomew |
| River/Stream | Unnamed Tributary South Branch Salt Creek |
| Coordinates | 39.13232, -86.06792 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Length | 695 ft |
| Year Completed | 1997 (29 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 674 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 674 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 483 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 34 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,076 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | SAWMILL LAKE LOT OWNERS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/04/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IN03943 |
| Federal ID | IN03943 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |