Aitken Lake Dam dam
Aitken Lake Dam
Aitken Lake Dam, also known as William Aitken Lake Dam, is a privately owned structure located in Parke, Indiana, on an unnamed tributary of Big Raccoon Creek. Constructed in 1973 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 31 feet and serves primarily for recreational purposes, with a normal storage capacity of 29 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 50 acre-feet. Despite its limited drainage area of 0.2 square miles, the dam has a significant hazard potential due to its poor condition assessment and high risk assessment rating.
The dam lacks a spillway and outlet gates, adding to its risk profile, and has not been inspected since February 2018, with a scheduled inspection frequency of every 3 years. The dam's emergency action plan is not prepared, and it does not meet guidelines for inundation maps or risk management measures. With a significant hazard potential and a high risk assessment rating, Aitken Lake Dam presents a pressing concern for water resource and climate enthusiasts, highlighting the need for proactive monitoring and maintenance to ensure public safety and environmental protection in the event of an emergency.
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 Aitken Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Raccoon Creek At Coxville | 524 cfs | → |
| Wabash River At Montezuma | 7,970 cfs | → |
| Big Raccoon Creek Near Fincastle Ind | 87 cfs | → |
| Wabash River At Terre Haute | 8,510 cfs | → |
| Eel River At Bowling Green | 1,430 cfs | → |
| Plum Creek Near Bainbridge | 6 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Aitken Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Marshall Road Rockville
- Blackman Street, Clinton
- I 70 Clay County
- Henley Road 8823, Marshall
- Lake Shore Drive Owen County
- Ten High Drive Owen County
Track Aitken 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 Aitken Lake Dam
Where does the data for Aitken 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 Aitken Lake Dam.