Lake Monroe (Indiana)

Lake Monroe

Satellite image of the lake
Location Monroe / Brown counties, Indiana, United States
Coordinates 39°03′31″N 86°26′47″W / 39.0587°N 86.4464°W / 39.0587; -86.4464Coordinates: 39°03′31″N 86°26′47″W / 39.0587°N 86.4464°W / 39.0587; -86.4464
Type Reservoir
Primary inflows Salt Creek
Primary outflows Salt Creek
Basin countries United States
Surface area 10,750 acres (4,350 ha)
Max. depth 18 m (59 ft)
Water volume 292 to 428 million cubic meters (1.03×1010 to 1.51×1010 cu ft)
Residence time 185–408 days

Lake Monroe is a reservoir located about 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Bloomington, Indiana, United States. The lake is the largest entirely situated in Indiana with 10,750 acres (43.5 km2) of water surface area spread over the counties of Monroe and Brown. Capacity varies from 292 gigalitres (237,000 acre·ft) to 428 gigalitres (347,000 acre·ft)[1] depending on water level. It is also home to 13,202 acres (53.43 km2) of protected forest and three recreational areas (Fairfax, Hardin Ridge, and Paynetown). Indiana's only federally protected U.S. Wilderness Area, the 13,000-acre (53 km2) Charles C. Deam Wilderness Area, is located on the south shore. The pool elevation (above sea level) is about 538 ft (164 m) year-round. During colder winters, limited ice fishing is available on protected backwater portions of the reservoir.

Ransburg Scout Reservation, a large Boy Scout camp comprising over 624 acres, is situated along the eastern shore with a private dock system in Siscoe Bay (also known as Boy Scout Bay). The largest marina situated on the lake is the Fourwinds Resort and Marina with over 800 boats. The reservoir provides abundant fishing throughout the year, and recreational opportunities such as boating and water skiing attract visitors from throughout Indiana and the Midwest.

Construction of Monroe

Salt Creek's valley below the dam; this is what land now under the lake looked like before the lake was built

Construction on the lake began in 1960 and was finished in 1965 at a cost of $16.5 million. Salt Creek was dammed south of Bloomington, Indiana and the reservoir fills the valley to the northeast of the dam extending into adjacent Brown County. It was thought that Elkinsville, a town in southern Brown County, had to be abandoned due to the path of the backwaters. Therefore, the town was acquired through the power of eminent domain. Later, this was found not to be necessary; the result of a mistake in elevation estimates.[2] The lake was designed as a primary water source for the City of Bloomington and to prevent flood damage downstream. The lake was created and is still managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District.

References

  1. ↑ Cole, Thomas. "Water Quality Modeling of Lake Monroe Using CE-QUAL-W2" (PDF). US Army Corps of Engineers. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  2. ↑ "Monroe Lake Cutaway".
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