Lake Monroe (Indiana)
Encyclopedia
Lake Monroe is a reservoir
located about 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Bloomington
, Indiana
, United States
. The lake is the largest in Indiana
with 10750 acres (43.5 km²) of water spread over the counties of Monroe
and Brown
. It is also home to 13202 acres (53.4 km²) of protected forest and three recreational areas (Fairfax, Hardin Ridge, and Paynetown). Indiana's only federally protected U.S. Wilderness Area, the 13000 acres (52.6 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. Lake Monroe was the last lake in Indiana to allow concussion fishing until a ban was passed in 1985 ..
Rock musician John Mellencamp
is a native of the area, and resides on the shore of the lake. 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.
was dammed south of Bloomington, Indiana and the reservoir fills the valley to the north west 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. 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.
in 1923 by the Monroe County
Sheriff. With his last act, Conley is said to have vowed revenge upon the county forever. However, the connection between that Conley and the one from urban legends seems tenuous at best, according to historians. For example, at that time, the county's gallows
were not on the site of what is now Lake Monroe but instead in downtown Bloomington
at the corner of Kirkwood Ave. and Dunn St .
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
located about 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Bloomington
Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County in the southern region of the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 80,405 at the 2010 census....
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The lake is the largest in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
with 10750 acres (43.5 km²) of water spread over the counties of Monroe
Monroe County, Indiana
As of the census of 2010, there were 137,974 people, 46,898 households, and 24,715 families residing in the county. The population density was 306 people per square mile . There were 50,846 housing units at an average density of 129 per square mile...
and Brown
Brown County, Indiana
Brown County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population is 15,242. The county seat is Nashville.- History :...
. It is also home to 13202 acres (53.4 km²) of protected forest and three recreational areas (Fairfax, Hardin Ridge, and Paynetown). Indiana's only federally protected U.S. Wilderness Area, the 13000 acres (52.6 km²) Charles C. Deam Wilderness Area
Charles C. Deam Wilderness Area
The Charles C. Deam Wilderness Area is located close to the city of Bloomington, Indiana. Lake Monroe forms the northern boundary. It was established as wilderness in 1982 and is managed by the Hoosier National Forest. It covers approximately 13,000 acres . It was named in honor of former State...
, 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. Lake Monroe was the last lake in Indiana to allow concussion fishing until a ban was passed in 1985 ..
Rock musician John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp, previously known by the stage names Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, and John Cougar Mellencamp, is an American rock singer-songwriter, musician, painter and occasional actor known for his catchy, populist brand of heartland rock that eschews synthesizers and other artificial sounds...
is a native of the area, and resides on the shore of the lake. 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
Construction on the lake began in 1960 and was finished in 1965 at a cost of $16.5 million. Salt CreekSalt Creek (White River)
Salt Creek is a stream in the southern part of the U.S. state of Indiana. A tributary of the East Fork of the White River, the creek begins in southwestern Bartholomew County, flows through southern parts of Brown and Monroe counties, and meets the White River just downstream from Bedford in...
was dammed south of Bloomington, Indiana and the reservoir fills the valley to the north west of the dam extending into adjacent Brown County
Brown County, Indiana
Brown County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population is 15,242. The county seat is Nashville.- History :...
. It was thought that Elkinsville
Elkinsville, Indiana
Elkinsville is an unincorporated community in Van Buren Township, Brown County, Indiana. It was once a thriving farming village, but was evacuated during the construction of nearby Lake Monroe Reservoir via eminent domain in 1964. All that remains of Elkinsville today are some private residences,...
, 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. 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.
Folklore
There is a variety of local stories that take place around the Lake Monroe area. Several revolve around a local ne'er-do-well named Jon Conley. According to some stories, Conley is an escaped criminal (or, in some stories, the ghost of a criminal) who lurks the backwaters of the lake looking for victims to kill. There was a historical Jonathan Conley who was wrongly hanged for the crime of arsonArson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
in 1923 by the Monroe County
Monroe County, Indiana
As of the census of 2010, there were 137,974 people, 46,898 households, and 24,715 families residing in the county. The population density was 306 people per square mile . There were 50,846 housing units at an average density of 129 per square mile...
Sheriff. With his last act, Conley is said to have vowed revenge upon the county forever. However, the connection between that Conley and the one from urban legends seems tenuous at best, according to historians. For example, at that time, the county's gallows
Gallows
A gallows is a frame, typically wooden, used for execution by hanging, or by means to torture before execution, as was used when being hanged, drawn and quartered...
were not on the site of what is now Lake Monroe but instead in downtown Bloomington
Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County in the southern region of the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 80,405 at the 2010 census....
at the corner of Kirkwood Ave. and Dunn St .