Lake Barbara Dam dam
Lake Barbara Dam
Lake Barbara Dam, also known as Meyer Lake Dam, is a private earth dam located in Bartholomew County, Indiana. Built in 1967 by the USDA NRCS, the dam stands at a height of 22 feet and stretches 550 feet in length. The primary purpose of the dam is for recreation, with a normal storage capacity of 110 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 241 acre-feet. Situated on an unnamed tributary of the East Fork White River, the dam has a low hazard potential but is in poor condition according to a 2015 assessment.
Despite its age, Lake Barbara Dam continues to provide a recreational haven for water resource and climate enthusiasts in the area. With a surface area of 12 acres and a drainage area of 0.52 square miles, the dam offers opportunities for fishing, boating, and other water-based activities. However, the dam's condition assessment raises concerns about its long-term sustainability and the need for regular inspections and maintenance to ensure public safety and the preservation of the surrounding environment.
As the dam is under state regulation and inspection by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, efforts are being made to address the dam's poor condition and high risk assessment level. With its picturesque location and potential for outdoor recreation, Lake Barbara Dam serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible water resource management and the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to protect both people and the environment.
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 Barbara Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Fork White River At Seymour Ind | 2,440 cfs | → |
| East Fork White River At Columbus | 1,410 cfs | → |
| Flatrock River At Columbus | 501 cfs | → |
| Haw Creek Near Clifford | 18 cfs | → |
| Clifty Creek At Hartsville | 60 cfs | → |
| Vernon Fork Muscatatuck River At Vernon | 73 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Barbara Dam.
Boat launches
- East 800 South 5449-5899, Columbus
- North County Road 760 East 7248, Seymour
- Bartholomew County
- Indiana 258 5748, Seymour
- Water Street 300-498, Columbus
- North State Route 7 9340, Elizabethtown
Campgrounds
- Happy Hollow’S Children Camp
- Heflen Co Park
- Jackson - Washington State Forest
- Muscatatuck
- Irwin City Park
- Camp Atterbury Military
Track Lake Barbara 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 Barbara Dam
Where does the data for Lake Barbara 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 Low 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 Barbara Dam.