Summit Lake State Park Dam dam
Summit Lake State Park Dam
Summit Lake State Park Dam, also known as Big Blue River Structure No. 20, is a captivating earth dam located in Henry County, Indiana. Completed in 1981, this dam stands at a height of 64 feet and spans a length of 3150 feet, creating a reservoir with a normal storage capacity of 15,900 acre-feet. The dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, including fish and wildlife pond activities, in addition to providing flood control and water resource management for the surrounding area.
Managed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Summit Lake State Park Dam is inspected regularly to ensure its structural integrity and safety. With a high hazard potential due to its location on the Big Blue River, the dam is classified as being in satisfactory condition. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a maximum discharge capacity of 4,900 cubic feet per second, further highlighting its importance in managing water flow and mitigating flood risks in the region.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Summit Lake State Park Dam offers a fascinating example of how dams can serve multiple purposes beyond flood control. Its scenic location and recreational opportunities make it a popular destination for visitors seeking outdoor activities amidst Indiana's natural beauty. As a key component of the local ecosystem and water management infrastructure, this dam plays a crucial role in balancing the needs of the community while preserving the environment for future generations to enjoy.
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 Summit Lake State Park Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Whitewater River Near Economy | 1 cfs | → |
| White River At Muncie | 97 cfs | → |
| White River At Anderson | 218 cfs | → |
| White River At Raible Avenue At Anderson | 233 cfs | → |
| Mississinewa River Near Ridgeville | 38 cfs | → |
| East Fork Whitewater River At Richmond | 76 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Summit Lake State Park Dam.
Track Summit Lake State Park 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 Summit Lake State Park Dam
Where does the data for Summit Lake State Park 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 Summit Lake State Park Dam.