Baker Lake Dam dam
Baker Lake Dam
Baker Lake Dam in Bartholomew, Indiana, stands as a crucial structure along an unnamed tributary of Wolfe Creek. Built in 1954 for recreational purposes, the earth dam rises 28 feet tall and stretches 500 feet in length, creating a 3.5-acre surface area for fish and wildlife pond activities. However, recent assessments have deemed the dam's condition as poor, with a significant hazard potential, urging the need for improvements to ensure safety and functionality.
Despite its current state, Baker Lake Dam continues to provide essential storage of up to 49 acre-feet for recreational and environmental purposes. The dam's spillway, utilizing an uncontrolled design, spans 9 feet wide, catering to the region's drainage area of 0.08 square miles. With a moderate risk assessment in place, it becomes clear that the dam requires attention and management to mitigate potential hazards and maintain its vital role in the local ecosystem.
As climate change impacts water resources and infrastructure, the maintenance and upkeep of dams like Baker Lake Dam become increasingly important. With its location in a private ownership setting, collaboration between state regulatory agencies and the dam's owners is crucial to ensure proper inspection, enforcement, and risk management measures are implemented. As enthusiasts in water resources and climate change, it is essential to advocate for the sustainable management of dams like Baker Lake Dam to protect both communities and the environment for future generations.
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 Baker Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Fork White River At Columbus | 3,690 cfs | → |
| Flatrock River At Columbus | 691 cfs | → |
| Driftwood River Near Edinburgh Ind | 3,870 cfs | → |
| North Fork Salt Creek At Nashville | 3,760 cfs | → |
| Sugar Creek Near Edinburgh | 2,470 cfs | → |
| Haw Creek Near Clifford | 556 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Baker Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- County Road North 325 West 4311, Bartholomew County
- Bartholomew County
- Water Street 300-498, Columbus
- Tannehill Road Bartholomew County
- County Road 550 North Bartholomew County
- Us 31 Edinburgh
Campgrounds
- Happy Hollow’S Children Camp
- Heflen Co Park
- Camp Atterbury Military
- Irwin City Park
- Brown County State Park
- Johnson County Park
Track Baker 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 Baker Lake Dam
Where does the data for Baker 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 Baker Lake Dam.