Earlham Lake Dam dam
Earlham Lake Dam
Earlham Lake Dam, located in Johnson County, Indiana, is a privately owned earth dam constructed in 1963 for the primary purpose of recreation. This significant structure stands at a height of 49 feet and spans a length of 785 feet, with a storage capacity of 468 acre-feet. The dam sits on TR-Indian Creek and is regulated by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
Despite its age, Earlham Lake Dam has been assessed as unsatisfactory in condition, with a significant hazard potential. The last inspection in 2018 raised concerns, prompting the need for further risk assessment and management measures. The dam's emergency action plan (EAP) status is unclear, highlighting the importance of updating emergency contacts, preparing inundation maps, and ensuring that the EAP meets established guidelines to mitigate potential risks and protect downstream communities from flooding events.
As enthusiasts of water resources and climate, it is crucial to monitor the condition of Earlham Lake Dam and advocate for necessary upgrades and maintenance to safeguard both the dam's structural integrity and the surrounding environment. By staying informed about the dam's risk assessments and management measures, we can contribute to effective emergency preparedness and response, promoting sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climate patterns and potential hazards.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Earlham Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar Creek Near Edinburgh | 3,580 cfs | → |
| Driftwood River Near Edinburgh Ind | 5,910 cfs | → |
| Youngs Creek Near Edinburgh Ind | 1,430 cfs | → |
| North Fork Salt Creek At Nashville | 1,210 cfs | → |
| White River Near Centerton | 10,600 cfs | → |
| Flatrock River At Columbus | 2,000 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Earlham Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- County Road 550 South 3427, Franklin
- South Mauxferry Road Johnson County
- River Road Johnson County
- Us 31 Edinburgh
- Tannehill Road Bartholomew County
Campgrounds
- Johnson County Park
- Camp Atterbury Military
- Mason Ridge - Morgan Monroe State Forest
- Irwin City Park
- Heflen Co Park
- Oak Ridge Camping Area
Paddle runs
Track Earlham Lake Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Earlham Lake Dam
Where does the data for Earlham Lake Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Significant hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Earlham Lake Dam.