ANNUAL MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM LAKE LEVELS FOR INDIANA, WATER YEARS 1942-85 by Kathleen K. Fowler U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Open-File Report 88-331 Prepared in cooperation with the INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Indianapolis, Indiana 1988 DEPARTMENT OP THE INTERIOR DONALD PAUL HODEL, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Dallas L. Rack, Director For additional information, Copies of this report can write to: be purchased from: District Chief U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Books and Open-File Reports Section 5957 lakeside Boulevard Federal Center, Building 810 Indianapolis, Indiana 46278 Box 25425 Denver, Colorado 80225 CONTENTS Rage Abstract................................................................ 1 Introduction............................................................ 1 Rirpose and scope................................................... 2 Previous work....................................................... 2 Acknowledgments..................................................... 3 Available information................................................... 3 Method of data presentation............................................. 10 Summary................................................................. 18 References cited........................................................ 19 Appendix A: lake-station descriptions and annual maximum and mininum lake levels........................................................... 20 Appendix B: Index of lake stations..................................... 359 FIGURES Figures 1-6. Maps showing: 1. location of lake stations in Indiana except those in Kbsciusko, lagrange, Noble, Steuben, and Whitley Counties............................................ 2. Location of lake stations in Kbsciusko County, Indiana, 3. location of lake stations in lagrange County, Indiana., 4. location of lake stations in Noble County, Indiana..... 5. location of lake stations in Steuben County, Indiana.., 6. location of lake stations in Whitley County, Indiana... TABLE Table 1. lake stations and period of record............................ 11 -iii- CONVERSION FACTORS AND ABBREVIATIONS For those readers who prefer to use metric (International System) units, rather than the inch-pound terms in this report, the following conversion factors may be used: Multiply Inch-Pound Unit |ty Tb Obtain Metric Unit acre 4,04? square meter foot (ft) 0.3048 meter inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer square mile (mi2 ) 2.590 square kilometer DATUM The National Geodetic Vertical Datun of 1929 (NGVD) is a geodetic datum derived from a general adjustment of the first-order level nets of both the United States and Canada. It was formerly called Sea Level Datum of 1929 or mean sea level. Although the datun was derived from the average sea level over a period of many years at 26 tide stations along the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Pacific coasts, it does not necessarily represent local mean sea level at any particular place. -iv- ANNUAL MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM LAKE LEVELS FOR INDIANA, WATER YEARS 19^2-85 By Kathleen K. Powler ABSTRACT Indiana has many natural and manmade lakes. lake-level data are avail­ able for 217 lakes. These data were collected during water years 19^2-85 by use of staff gages and, more recently, continuous recorders. The period of record at each site ranges from 1 to 43 years. Data from the lake stations have been compiled, and maximum and minimum lake levels for each year of record are reported. In addition to annual maximum and minimum lake levels, each lake station is described by gage location, surface area, drainage area, period of record, datum of gage, gage type, established legal level, lake- level control, inlets and outlets, and extremes for the period of record. INTRODUCTION The natural lakes in Indiana are located primarily in the northern part of the State. Natural lakes and the manmade lakes and reservoirs have con­ tributed to the State's vast surface-water resource. Use of this resource has resulted in conflicts among water users regarding water levels. Low lake levels are beneficial with respect to flood control, but greatly diminish the usefulness of a lake for boating, fishing, and other recreation. High lake levels provide abundant water supplies to cities and towns, but increase the risk of flooding to homes and agricultural areas in close proximity to the lakes. The usefulness of a lake often is increased substantially by minimizing lake-level fluctuations. However, many problems can arise from attempts to control lake levels. Seepage to or from ground water, transpiration, and evaporation influence lake levels, but are difficult or impractical to control. Generally, lake levels are maintained by the installation of control structures on the lake-outlet channel. In 1935, the Indiana State Legislature recognized the benefits of mini­ mizing lake-level fluctuations and adopted a procedure for establishing and maintaining lake levels (Acts of Indiana General Assembly, 1935, Chapter 102). However, sufficient data were not available for properly establishing legal lake levels; therefore, in 19^2, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Indiana Department of Conservation (now the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)), began establishing lake stations on many Indiana lakes. In 19^7, a law was passed authorizing the Indiana Department of Conservation to establish legal levels for all the natural and manmade lakes in the State. 1 The 19^7 law stated in part: The Indiana Department of Conservation of the State of Indiana is hereby authorized and empowered to estab­ lish, by appropriate monuments, the average normal water level of all natural and artificial lakes of the State of Indiana and to construct or sponsor and supervise the construction of dams, spillways, and control works neces­ sary to maintain the average normal lake level. Such water level monuments shall be as permanent in character as practicable and shall fix the average normal level, and indicate the elevation of the highest point to which the water of such lake or lakes shall have risen within the past ten years prior to the passage of this act*** (Acts of the Indiana General Assembly, 19^7, Chapter 350). Solutions to lake-level problems depend on the availability of basic data. Information about normal levels, maximum and minimum levels, and the frequency and duration of extreme levels are needed to manage the State's lake resources (Perrey and Corbett, 1956, p. 4, 5.). Since 19^2, the U.S. Geological Survey has maintained a lake-level monitoring program on many of Indiana's lakes. The data collected are used in the establishment of legal lake levels; in flood studies; in the design and construction of bridges, piers, and dams; and in many other projects requiring the knowledge of past and present lake levels. Purpose and Scope The purpose of this report is to present the annual maximum and minimum lake levels from water years 19^2-85 for 217 natural and manmade lakes in Indiana. .Most of these data were previously unpublished and were stored in the U.S. Geological Survey's Indiana District Office files. The information in this report consists of lake-gage location, lake surface area, lake drain­ age area, period of record, datun of gage, gage type, established legal lake levels, lake-level controls, lake inlets and outlets, extreme lake levels for the period of record, and annual extreme lake levels for the period of record through September 1985- Previous Work The first major study of Indiana lakes (Perrey and Corbett, 1956) de­ scribed a historical and modern overview of natural and manmade lakes. Results from several lake studies discussed in the report include rate of sedimentation in lakes, variations in lake temperature, evaporation from lake surfaces, and ice conditions on northern Indiana lakes. The report contains level data for 28 lakes that have periods of record ranging from 7 to 11 years. TJables of maximum and minimum levels, average levels, maximum thick­ ness of ice cover, discharge measurements at the outlet, and hydrographs are included for each lake. 2 Since the publication of Perrey and Corbett's report in 1956, the U.S. Geological Survey has conpleted the topographic mapping of Indiana. The maps (at a scale of 1:24,000), which were conpleted in 1965 and are updated period­ ically, have provided a more accurate base for determining drainage areas and surface areas of lakes. The present report uses the more accurate informa­ tion. Also revised from Perrey and Corbett (1956) are the datums of several of the lake stations. Minor errors in the original surveys have been correct­ ed, and the updated values are included. A note has been added where previ­ ously published data has been revised. Acknowledgments Lew Trent of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Water, provided valuable assistance by supplying information detailing the type of control structure and the date of its installation for many of the lakes included in this report. lake-level data for the 11 reservoirs in this report were supplied by the U.S. Army Corps of Ehgineers, the Indianapolis Water Company, and the City of Indianapolis, Flood Control Division. AVAILABLE INFORMATION Water-level records have been collected for many of the State's lakes for more than 40 years. Beginning in 1942, records were based on once-daily staff-gage readings by a local observer. After 1976, digital water-stage recorders were installed, in addition to the staff gages, at most lake sta­ tions in the