Mercer Lake Dam dam
Mercer Lake Dam
Mercer Lake Dam, located in Greene County, Indiana, was completed in 1970 and serves as a recreational site with a primary purpose of providing leisure activities for water resource and climate enthusiasts. The dam, classified as an Earth type with a height of 20 feet and a length of 355 feet, has a storage capacity of 170 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 353 cubic feet per second. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam has not been rated for its condition since its last inspection in 1994.
The dam, owned privately, is not regulated by the state and does not require permitting, inspection, or enforcement actions. While the dam's emergency action plan status and risk management measures are unclear, its location offers a serene environment for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife observation. Water enthusiasts can explore the tranquil waters of Mercer Lake and appreciate the beauty of the surrounding landscape in this unassuming yet vital water resource structure.
With a rich history dating back over 50 years, Mercer Lake Dam stands as a testament to the importance of water management in sustaining natural ecosystems and supporting outdoor recreation. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the preservation and maintenance of structures like Mercer Lake Dam become increasingly crucial in ensuring sustainable water use for future generations of enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.
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 Mercer Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| White River At Newberry | 4,700 cfs | → |
| Eel River At Bowling Green | 1,390 cfs | → |
| Mill Creek Near Cataract | 200 cfs | → |
| East Fork White River At Shoals | 7,890 cfs | → |
| Busseron Creek Near Carlisle | 165 cfs | → |
| East Fork White River Near Bedford | 4,200 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mercer Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- 625 North Greene County
- County Road 200 South, Dugger
- County Road 25 North, Dugger
- Greene County
- Goodman Road, Dugger
Campgrounds
Track Mercer 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 Mercer Lake Dam
Where does the data for Mercer 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 Mercer Lake Dam.