Cecil M. Harden Dam dam
Cecil M. Harden Dam
Cecil M. Harden Dam, also known as Cecil M. Harden Lake, is a crucial Federal-owned structure in Indiana designed by the US Army Corps of Engineers to primarily reduce flood risks along the Raccoon Creek. Completed in 1960, this earth dam stands at a hydraulic height of 115 feet and a structural height of 119 feet, with a length of 1860 feet and a maximum storage capacity of 132,800 acre-feet. Despite its successful track record in flood risk reduction, a risk assessment conducted in 2013 deemed the dam to have a moderate urgency level, warranting further study to address potential vulnerabilities.
While the dam significantly mitigates flood risks to surrounding communities, the risk of downstream flooding remains, especially during extreme rainfall events that may overwhelm the spillway system. In the unlikely event of internal erosion causing a breach, catastrophic flooding could impact towns along Raccoon Creek and the Wabash River, posing a hazard to residential structures and potentially resulting in scattered life losses. To manage these risks, the USACE actively monitors and inspects the dam, collaborates with emergency managers, updates emergency plans, and conducts regular exercises with state and local response teams. By prioritizing safety measures and ensuring the dam's structural integrity, efforts are made to protect the public and reduce the likelihood of dam failure.
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 Cecil M. Harden Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Raccoon Creek Near Fincastle Ind | 340 cfs | → |
| Big Raccoon Creek At Coxville | 956 cfs | → |
| Wabash River At Montezuma | 10,000 cfs | → |
| Big Walnut Creek Near Roachdale | 538 cfs | → |
| Plum Creek Near Bainbridge | 15 cfs | → |
| Eel River At Bowling Green | 3,610 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cecil M. Harden Dam.
Boat launches
- Marshall Road Rockville
- Henley Road 8823, Marshall
- Blackman Street, Clinton
- I 70 Clay County
- Lake Shore Drive Owen County
- Ten High Drive Owen County
Track Cecil M. Harden 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 Cecil M. Harden Dam
Where does the data for Cecil M. Harden 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 Cecil M. Harden Dam.