Crainsboro Lake Dam dam
Crainsboro Lake Dam
Crainsboro Lake Dam, located in Brown, Indiana, is a privately owned structure built in 1963 primarily for recreational purposes. The dam stands at a height of 31 feet and spans 350 feet in length, creating a surface area of 10.9 acres with a maximum storage capacity of 116 acre-feet. Situated on an unnamed tributary of North Fork Salt Creek, the dam is regulated by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity.
Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is rated as poor, with a high risk level of 2. The last inspection in 2017 revealed the need for maintenance and potential risk management measures. With no spillway and outlet gates, the dam relies on the surrounding topography for water discharge. Although the dam has not been modified in recent years, its risk level underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to protect both the environment and nearby communities.
As a popular recreational spot, Crainsboro Lake Dam serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between water resource management and climate resilience. Its location within the Louisville District and association with the North Fork Salt Creek watershed highlights the interconnectedness of water infrastructure and environmental sustainability. The ongoing challenges faced by the dam in terms of condition assessment and risk management underscore the need for proactive measures to ensure the safety and stability of this essential water resource in Indiana.
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 Crainsboro Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Fork Salt Creek At Nashville | 1,210 cfs | → |
| Driftwood River Near Edinburgh Ind | 5,910 cfs | → |
| Sugar Creek Near Edinburgh | 3,580 cfs | → |
| Youngs Creek Near Edinburgh Ind | 1,430 cfs | → |
| Flatrock River At Columbus | 2,000 cfs | → |
| East Fork White River At Columbus | 7,760 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Crainsboro Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Tannehill Road Bartholomew County
- County Road 550 South 3427, Franklin
- County Road North 325 West 4311, Bartholomew County
- River Road Johnson County
- South Mauxferry Road Johnson County
- Us 31 Edinburgh
Campgrounds
- Happy Hollow’S Children Camp
- Brown County State Park
- Camp Atterbury Military
- Johnson County Park
- Heflen Co Park
- Yellowwood State Forest
Track Crainsboro 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 Crainsboro Lake Dam
Where does the data for Crainsboro 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 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 Crainsboro Lake Dam.