Olinger Lake dam
Olinger Lake
Olinger Lake, located in Pike, Indiana, is a privately-owned reservoir primarily used for recreation. The earth dam, completed in 2000, stands at a height of 43 feet and spans 875 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 1700 acre-feet. Despite its low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, the reservoir poses a high risk due to its proximity to an unnamed tributary of Cup Creek and its drainage area of 1.13 square miles. The dam has not been modified since its construction and does not have a spillway, outlet gates, or locks.
Managed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Olinger Lake is subject to state regulations, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The last inspection in March 2019 revealed a need for regular monitoring, as the dam's condition assessment was last performed in January 2014. While the reservoir does not currently meet emergency action plan guidelines or have prepared inundation maps, it is crucial for the authorities to prioritize risk management measures to ensure the safety of the surrounding community in the event of a dam failure. Overall, Olinger Lake serves as an important recreational resource in Indiana but requires ongoing monitoring and maintenance to mitigate potential risks associated with its dam structure.
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 Olinger Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Patoka River At Winslow | 390 cfs | → |
| Patoka River At Jasper | 221 cfs | → |
| White River At Petersburg | 18,800 cfs | → |
| White River Above Petersburg | 1,500 cfs | → |
| Pigeon Creek Near Fort Branch | 305 cfs | → |
| Middle Fork Anderson River At Bristow | 48 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Olinger Lake.
Boat launches
- Pigeon Pit 1157-1163, Winslow
- North 300 East 15029, Lincoln City
- Jasper Riverwalk, Jasper
- East 14th Street 961-999, Ferdinand
- County Road 675 East, Otwell
- North 325 East 721, Dubois County
Campgrounds
- Pike State Forest
- Lynnville Park
- Gobbler's Run Non-Electric Campground
- Lincoln State Park
- Buckhorn Primitive Campground/ Youth Tent Area
- Lake Lincoln Campground
Paddle runs
- State Road 56 Bridge To Forest Purchase Boundary At Roland, In
- State Road 337 Bridge To State Road 56 Bridge At Prospect, In
- City Limits Of English, In To Carnes Mill Site In Ne1/4ne1/4 Of Sec 13, T3s, R1w
- Carnes Mill Site To 7.65 Miles Above Confluece With Ohio River At Confluence With Turkey Creek
- Junction Of North/South Forks Of Lost River To State Road 337 Bridge, Approx 4 Miles Southeast Of Orleans, In
Track Olinger Lake 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 Olinger Lake
Where does the data for Olinger Lake 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 Olinger Lake.