Lake Geneva Dam dam
Lake Geneva Dam
The Lake Geneva Dam in Switzerland County, Indiana, stands as a vital structure regulating the flow of the Upper Indian Creek. Completed in 1944, this earth dam reaches a height of 30 feet and spans 460 feet in length, providing essential recreational opportunities and storing 303 acre-feet of water. Despite its significant role in water management, the dam's condition assessment in 2009 rated as poor, with a high hazard potential, prompting the need for regular inspections and potential risk management measures.
Situated in a picturesque location with a surface area of 18.55 acres, the Lake Geneva Dam boasts an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 16 feet, capable of discharging up to 444 cubic feet per second. However, with a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, there is a pressing need for improved emergency action plans and potential upgrades to meet safety guidelines. Given its high hazard potential and the surrounding community's reliance on its services, the Lake Geneva Dam serves as a critical infrastructure requiring ongoing attention and maintenance to ensure its continued functionality and safety for all water resource and climate enthusiasts in the area.
As the Louisville District oversees the operations of the Lake Geneva Dam, it remains essential for the state regulatory agency, IDNR, to conduct regular inspections and enforce necessary measures to address the dam's poor condition and high hazard potential. With the dam primarily serving recreational purposes and located in a region known for its natural beauty, ensuring the safety and stability of the Lake Geneva Dam is paramount to protect both the environment and the community. By prioritizing risk management and implementing necessary upgrades, this vital earth dam can continue to provide essential water resource management services while offering recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.
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 Lake Geneva Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio River At Markland Dam Near Warsaw | 66,300 cfs | → |
| Indian-Kentuck Creek Nr Canaan | 4 cfs | → |
| Eagle Creek At Glencoe | 316 cfs | → |
| Mud Lick Cr At Hwy 42 Nr Beaverlick | 16 cfs | → |
| Woolper Creek At Woolper Road Near Burlington | 7 cfs | → |
| Gunpowder Cr At Camp Ernst Rd Nr Union | 15 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Geneva Dam.
Boat launches
- Lafayette Street, Vevay
- Craigs Creek Boat Ramp
- Indiana 156 18249, Patriot
- Arnold Creek Ramp
- Indiana 156 2791, Patriot
- East Riverside Drive 7301, Jefferson County
Track Lake Geneva 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 Lake Geneva Dam
Where does the data for Lake Geneva 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 High 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 Lake Geneva Dam.