Autumn Lake Dam dam
Autumn Lake Dam
Autumn Lake Dam, located in Brown County, Indiana, was completed in 1969 and serves as a recreational resource for the surrounding area. The dam, with a height of 32 feet and a hydraulic height of 28 feet, creates a picturesque 6.5-acre lake for boating, fishing, and other outdoor activities. The structure, designed by Emerson Wheeler, is primarily made of earth and stone materials and spans 300 feet in length.
Despite its recreational benefits, Autumn Lake Dam poses a high hazard potential due to its poor condition assessment. The dam lacks outlet gates and features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 28 feet. The last inspection in September 2018 revealed the need for maintenance and repair to ensure the safety of downstream communities. The dam is state-regulated and inspected regularly by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, with a moderate risk assessment rating of 3.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in Autumn Lake Dam should be aware of its importance as a recreational destination and potential risks associated with its current condition. The dam, situated on an unnamed tributary of Big Thunder Creek, holds a maximum storage capacity of 81 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 49 acre-feet. While the dam contributes to local water management and conservation efforts, its high hazard potential underscores the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to mitigate risks and ensure public safety.
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 Autumn 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 | → |
| White River Near Centerton | 10,600 cfs | → |
| Sugar Creek Near Edinburgh | 3,580 cfs | → |
| Driftwood River Near Edinburgh Ind | 5,910 cfs | → |
| Youngs Creek Near Edinburgh Ind | 1,430 cfs | → |
| Flatrock River At Columbus | 2,000 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Autumn Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Henderson Ford Boat Ramp
- County Road 550 South 3427, Franklin
- South Mauxferry Road Johnson County
- River Road Johnson County
- Us 31 Edinburgh
Campgrounds
- Mason Ridge - Morgan Monroe State Forest
- Oak Ridge Camping Area
- Morgan - Monroe State Forest
- Mason Ridge Camping Area
- Brown County State Park
- Yellowwood State Forest
Track Autumn 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 Autumn Lake Dam
Where does the data for Autumn 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 High 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 Autumn Lake Dam.