1913 Flood

1913 Flood. A History of Indian Lake. History has recorded many major floods and the devastation they created. One of the greatest floods ever in Ohio occurred in March of 1913. Rivers in the region, including the Great Miami River, overflowed their banks destroying many towns and cities along the way. The still-frozen ground could not absorb the 10-inch rainfall. Some thought at the time that Indian Lake spillway had burst or the banks of the reservoir had eroded away causing the flooding. After the waters receded, many Miami Valley residents believed Indian Lake should be drained to prevent future flooding. However, the Corps of Engineers quickly concluded that properties along the Miami River all the way to Dayton were flooded hours prior to any water escaping over the spillway. Had the reservoir not existed, many more lives would have been lost and more property damaged. Sidney, Piqua, Troy and many smaller communities along the river would have suffered greater damage. An estimated 420 people lost their lives in the Miami Valley.

Although damage in the Indian Lake community was not catastrophic, almost every home and business was effected. In addition, lost forever was the Miami and Erie Canal. Although no longer in operation, locks were washed out and the banks of the canal were damaged beyond repair. In 1914 Ohio passed a law, now known as the Ohio Conservancy Law that created conservancy districts around the state. The first major watershed district in the nation was the Miami Conservancy District. The conservancy district currently maintains large scale flood control dry dams, flood basins and levees along several of the local rivers. Between 1918 and 1921, the Lockington Dam north of Piqua and the Englewood Dam north of Dayton, were huge undertakings of the Corps of Engineers to help prevent future flooding. In 2015 the John and Mary Rudolph Nature Area was created. This 52 acre preserve provides an additional four billion cubic feet of flood control locally.