Lake Mohee Dam Repair Projected at $4 Million; Blackford County Surveyor Notes Safety Concern

From the Blackford County Drainage Board meeting on May 4, 2026

County Surveyor Paul Shriever told the Drainage Board that the Lake Mohee Dam reconstruction is now projected to cost approximately $4 million — up from an engineer's estimate of $2.8 million due to inflation and delays. That figure does not include pumping muck from the lake.

Shriever raised a safety concern: "Last year is the first year I noticed that the water was disappearing and not reappearing," indicating water may be flowing through the dam structure rather than over it. The dam has not passed an inspection since Shriever has been in office. Some rip-rap work was accepted for a few years but is not a permanent fix.

Funding has also hit a snag. County council approved the bond concept last year but did not actually set up the bond, meaning fresh council approval will be needed. The drainage board is using county general surplus funds as bridge financing in the meantime.

Permitting through the DNR and Army Corps of Engineers remains the primary bottleneck. If everything aligns this year, the cost could come in slightly under $4 million.

The project was previously estimated at $4 million with a $2,000-per-acre landowner assessment.

Source: YouTube transcript — Blackford County Drainage Board Meeting, May 4, 2026

Some information may be inaccurate due to video audio quality.