Versailles Lake Town Hall Addresses Lake and Dam Conditions

Facts, options, and the future of Versailles State Park Lake

Brandt Baughman. Photo by Cheryl Damon-Greiner.

(Versailles, Ind.) - Nearly 200 residents, property owners, business owners, government officials and Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) representatives attended a town hall meeting August 24 at the Versailles Community Center to discuss the condition and future of Versailles State Park Lake.

The meeting, organized around efforts to preserve the lake, focused on the lake’s sediment buildup, the condition of the dam, options identified in a 2021 DNR feasibility study and a newly presented treatment option that could cost significantly less than previously considered alternatives.

According to information presented at the meeting, approximately 60% of the lake is filled with sediment, affecting recreational activities. The dam has been rated “conditionally poor.” Officials explained that the rating does not indicate an immediate emergency but means repairs are needed to prevent future problems and maintain safety.

Several residents raised concerns about the potential effects of a dam failure, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall. The condition of the lake was also discussed in terms of wildlife habitat and the economic impact on surrounding communities when declining lake conditions contribute to fewer visitors to the park.

Brandt Baughman, director of Indiana State Parks within the DNR, answered questions about potential solutions. He emphasized that addressing the lake’s sediment and repairing the dam are separate issues.

Baughman referenced the DNR’s 2021 feasibility study, which examined several alternatives. He said the options were expensive and that not every option would preserve the lake for recreation.

One option discussed would involve dredging portions of the lake to restore recreational areas and constructing a roller-compacted concrete spillway for the dam. The estimated cost in the 2021 study was $103.5 million. Baughman said the cost could be as high as $180 million today. He said the park’s existing budget cannot cover that level of expenditure.

The state budget will be considered after the beginning of 2027, and Baughman said the DNR has already submitted its requested budget. Any new expenditures would have to be submitted in the next budget in 2029.

Baughman also said he had only recently become aware of another potential approach involving the natural breakdown of organic sediment and was not yet in a position to comment on its effectiveness.

An industry representative at the meeting presented that option, known as SchlixX Plus. According to the presentation, the treatment is designed to promote the biological digestion of organic sediment at the bottom of lakes and ponds. Results are expected to begin appearing within approximately 10 weeks to six months, with the overall process estimated at two to three years because of the size of Versailles Lake and the amount of sediment.

The representative estimated the initial treatment at approximately $400,000, with the total project expected to cost less than $1 million.

Questions were also raised about grants and private funding. Baughman said the DNR could discuss potential funding options.

The $100 million being spent on a new lodge at Potato Creek State Park was also brought up. Baughman explained that the funding did not come from the DNR’s existing budget. The Potato Creek State Park Lodge funding was added as a line item to the state budget in 2023 by then-Gov. Eric J. Holcomb.

State Rep. Alex Zimmerman encouraged residents to participate in the process and contact elected officials. “Positive changes happen when voices are heard,” he told attendees.

Organizers also discussed a broader vision for Versailles State Park, including the possibility of a lodge and an aquatic center capable of hosting regional and local swimming competitions.

Attendees were encouraged to review reports and supporting information at ICareAboutVersaillesStatePark.org.

Organizers said they plan to continue communicating with the community as additional information becomes available.