Elk Creek Lake
depth
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Depth scale
Survey readout
Elk Creek Lake is mapped to a depth of 20 ft on the Indiana DNR survey and covers about 45 acres in Washington County, Indiana. Depths come from the Indiana DNR survey of 2016.
Measured from the Indiana DNR lake bathymetry survey.
- Deepest mapped contour
- 20 ft
- Survey year
- 2016
- Surface area
- 45 acres
- Shoreline
- 1.83 mi · irregular
- Aquatic vegetation
- 21% of surface · NDVI estimate
- Public access
- Boat Ramp · Elk Creek PFA · Indiana DNR site
Additional depth details10 contours
- Contour depths
- 0–20 ft
- Recorded point soundings
- 20 ft, 16 ft
Provenance
Sources: IN DNR Lake Bathymetry, USGS 3DEP, USDA NAIP (public domain), OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
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Map details & sources4 sources
All layers registered to one bounding box; positions in WGS 84.
Survey-derived depth contours drape over USGS 3DEP elevation, with a USDA NAIP aerial basemap and OpenStreetMap shoreline. Color shows surveyed depth; dark lines are the survey's own isobaths.
- Coordinates
- 38.64905, -85.94650
- IN DNR lake ID
- 145222944
- Vertical exaggeration
- 3.0× below the waterline; land at true scale
- Basemap
- USDA NAIP · public domain
- Model size
- 2.0 MB
Paddling
Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-09-21Elk Creek Lake has a heavily wooded and largely undeveloped setting, well sheltered geometry, little nearby major-road exposure. Watercraft controls: Electric motors only.
Why this score?5 components
Included in the index
| Component | Rating | Points of weight | Measurement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural setting | Excellent | 25.3 of 30 | 85% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (84% forest, 1% wetland; 4% developed) |
| Geometric wind exposure | Excellent | 25.0 of 25 | mean fetch 470 m · 67% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · short fetch in most directions |
| Watercraft controls | Electric motors only | 14.2 of 15 | Electric motors only |
| Public access | Good | 12.8 of 15 | 1 DNR fishing access site · boat ramp · fishing pier |
| Road isolation | Excellent | 15.0 of 15 | relatively isolated from major roads · 1 INDOT-classified segment within 1.2 km, peak 295 vehicles/day |
Additional paddling considerations
These describe the lake but are not part of the v1 Paddling Index and do not change the number above.
- Wake sensitivity
- Moderate — narrow in places — wakes would carry across parts of the lake
- Aquatic vegetation
- Moderate — approximately 21% mapped coverage · NAIP aerial imagery (NDVI)
- Observed motorized activity
- Unknown — No lake-level measurement of boat traffic is available. Legal permission to operate motors is not evidence of use.
- Wildlife habitat potential
- High — 84% forest and 1% wetland cover within 150 m of shore
Compare Indiana lakes by Paddling Index →
Fish you might catch
from DNR surveys10 species with recent evidence in this lake — sized relative to each other. Illustrations are AI-generated representative adults in everyday colors, not photographs (provenance).
ShinerAbout these fish → the Fish of Indiana guide
Fishing rules for this lake Beta
Size and daily limits for the 10 species found here — 8 open to harvest.
These are hook-and-line size and daily limit rules. The fishing code sets no closed season for these species on inland lakes, but posted property rules can close a water — see the notes. Gear, spearing and bow fishing, netting and bait collection are set by other sections of 312 IAC 9 and are not shown here.
Official rule text for this lake
“An individual may take minnows at any time during the year.” — 312 IAC 9-7-15(a), Indiana Administrative Code
From 312 IAC 9-7 (Sport fishing), Indiana Administrative Code (readopted 2025-03-25), and the 2026-2027 Indiana Fishing Regulations Guide · verified 2026-09-15. Regulations can change — the Indiana Administrative Code (312 IAC 9-7) is the controlling source; verify current regulations before fishing. Official regulations
Fishery
surveyed 2019 and 2024Gamefish Largemouth Bass 144 · Channel Catfish 7
Panfish Bluegill 124 · Redear Sunfish 57 · Warmouth 44
All survey species10 species
Gamefish
Panfish
Bullhead & catfish
Forage & nongame
Non-native species records
No non-native species recorded in the available dataset. This does not confirm that no non-native species are present.
Source: Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership Conservation Planner; underlying nonindigenous species records from the USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database.
Elk Creek Lake — common questions
How deep is Elk Creek Lake?
The deepest contour on the Indiana DNR bathymetric survey of Elk Creek Lake is 20 ft. That is the deepest depth the historical survey map records, which may differ from the deepest point of the lake itself.
How big is Elk Creek Lake?
Elk Creek Lake covers about 45 acres in Washington County, Indiana.
What fish are in Elk Creek Lake?
Species with survey, catch or recent-stocking evidence include channel catfish, largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, redear sunfish. The page lists all 10 species and the evidence behind each.
Is there public access to Elk Creek Lake?
Yes. The Indiana DNR lists a public access site on Elk Creek Lake: a boat ramp with a fishing pier. The DNR records no fee. DNR directions: "Nine miles east of Salem on SR 56, then two miles south on Elk Creek Lake Rd."
