"Contractors will be performing core sampling of the Sweetwater Dam." That is how the Cordry-Sweetwater Conservancy District explained the barricades in its October 6 alert. Starting Monday, October 12 at 10 a.m., Sweetwater Drive closed across the dam from Warbler Drive to the Sweetwater Marina. The District expected the work to take about two weeks and said it could run through October 30, depending on weather or unforeseen issues.
The samples serve two purposes, according to the District: the Indiana DNR's dam rating process, and "the upcoming Sweetwater Spillway project." This lake does its biggest work in the off-season, and the meetings coming up this fall are where the next project starts to take shape.
What the Core Samples Are For
The District's alert says the samples will give its engineering firm "important information to help determine the best solution for the upcoming Sweetwater Spillway project." Put simply, the design has not been chosen yet. Answering that question is the whole point of drilling into the dam.
The project has been on the District's books for months. At the July 2, 2026 Ecology Commission meeting, commissioners ranked budget priorities for the coming year, beyond the 13 items that go into every Ecology budget. Their list included lake dredging at $100,000, septic system replacement at the Sweetwater Beach facility at $100,000, retention ponds on the north end of Sweetwater at $100,000, invasive species removal at $50,000, and the "Sweetwater spillway project (already underway)." The spillway is the only item on that list without a dollar figure. That fits a project still waiting on engineering data.
Two firms appeared on the District's September 15 board agenda under the heading "Sweetwater Spillway Project": DLZ and Christopher Burke. The agenda lists both by name and engineer. That is as far as the public record goes for now.
Cordry Went First
The best guide to what a spillway project means here sits on the other lake. The District's Winter 2025 newsletter reported the Cordry Spillway Replacement Project finished. Work began in late October 2024 and wrapped up in mid-July 2025.
The newsletter describes a bigger job than the name suggests. Crews removed the deteriorating spillway, built a new structure and reinforced the surrounding areas. They used about 1,000 cubic yards of concrete to rebuild "the road, spillway, and both boat ramps."
Cordry's construction started in late October and ran through the following summer, about nine months. Sweetwater's first fieldwork began in mid-October, two years later. Nobody has said whether the Sweetwater project will touch the road, the marina approach or the boat ramps the way Cordry's did. What Cordry shows is how far a spillway project can reach once work starts, and why the design stage deserves attention now.
Where the Decisions Get Made
The next steps will go through two boards. Despite similar names, they are different bodies.
The Conservancy District runs the dam work. Its October calendar shows how much happens in committee before anything reaches the board: Roads and Ecology on October 1, Building on October 5, Security on October 6 and Water on October 8. The board meeting was scheduled for October 20 at 7 p.m. at the CSLOA Clubhouse. The September agenda notes that board meetings are "also available online live at www.cscd-in.org," so you don't have to attend in person to follow along. The District also lets residents subscribe to alerts by email or text. That is the place to watch for word on the dam closure ending.
The Cordry Sweetwater Lot Owners Association meets on its own schedule. Its board meets tonight, Thursday, October 22, at 7 p.m. at the Clubhouse, and again Thursday, November 19, at 7 p.m. The same calendar runs the lake's social season, and in the colder months nearly all of it moves to the Clubhouse.
The Off-Season Calendar, Lake and County
The October 17 Pumpkin Carving and Sweetwater Beach Block Party have already happened. Here is what's left between now and mid-December, with lake events listed alongside the Brown County dates closest to home.
| Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Thu., Oct. 22, 7 p.m. | CSLOA Board Meeting | CSLOA Clubhouse |
| Fri.–Sat., Oct. 23–24, 7–9 p.m. | Friendly Forest | Jackson Township FD Station 5, Helmsburg Road |
| Sat., Oct. 24 | Bourbon Festival, 21+ | Story, 6404 Indiana 135, Nashville |
| Sat., Oct. 24, 10 a.m. | Fall Brown County Cruise | Countywide |
| Fri.–Sat., Oct. 30–31, 7–9 p.m. | Friendly Forest | Jackson Township FD Station 5 |
| Through Sat., Oct. 31 | Backroads Studio Tour | Studios countywide |
| Sat., Nov. 7 | Last Nashville Nights of the season | Antique Alley, Nashville |
| Sat., Nov. 14, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | Chocolate Walk | Downtown Nashville |
| Wed., Nov. 18, 6:30 p.m. | Cordry Sweetwater Bookies, Twice | CS Library |
| Thu., Nov. 19, 7 p.m. | CSLOA Board Meeting | CSLOA Clubhouse |
| Sat., Nov. 21, 6 p.m. | BINGO/Karaoke | CSLOA Clubhouse |
| Sat., Dec. 12, 2–4 p.m. | Santa's Workshop | CSLOA Clubhouse |
The Friendly Forest dates come from the Brown County Democrat's community calendar, which lists four nights: October 23, 24, 30 and 31. The station describes a one-acre lighted trail with trick-or-treating, Halloween displays and music, plus free hot dogs, popcorn and hot chocolate. Admission is free and costumes are encouraged. The county visitors bureau lists only the first two nights, so the Democrat's list is the fuller one.
The Bookies meet on the third Wednesday of each month. December 16 is "Reader's Choice of Christmas Titles," so there's no assigned book. Library hours are Tuesday 2 to 5 p.m. and Wednesday and Thursday 3 to 6 p.m.
Two seasonal notes from the District apply to everyone on the water this time of year. The homepage repeats one request twice: "Please do not blow your leaves into the lakes." And now that Labor Day has passed, the lake's yellow light comes on an hour before sunset instead of at 8 p.m.
When Nashville Is the Plan
November 14 is the busiest day on the county calendar. The Chocolate Walk runs downtown from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The visitors bureau says nearly 40 local shops and restaurants take part, and tickets went from $30 to $35 on October 1 for whatever remains. That evening, Deana Carter plays the Brown County Music Center.
The rest of the Music Center's late-season lineup includes The Dolly Show on October 23 and Atlanta Rhythm Section & Orleans on October 25. November brings Amplify Nashville featuring The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band on the 7th, Blue October on the 8th, Little River Band on the 13th, John Waite on the 15th and TUSK on the 20th. Allman Betts Family Revival closes the month on November 29.
Nashville Nights in Antique Alley runs every Saturday evening in October plus the first Saturday in November. It offers late shopping, live music and dinner, with Ferguson House Bistro & Beer Garden open later than the shops. November 7 is the last one this year.
Two downtown storefronts are new or about to change. According to the Brown County Democrat, Clobberin Comics at 175 Jefferson St. held its grand opening in late May. It is open Wednesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday and Monday noon to 6 p.m., and closed Tuesdays. Brown County Bikes is building a two-story shop at 160 E. Main St. The Brown County Democrat reports that owners Kate Nolan and Danielle Wolter Nolan expect it finished around Thanksgiving. They will move then from 185 S. Jefferson St., where the shop has operated since 2020. The new building has 3,005 square feet on the main level, up from about 1,350. Plans include a bike wash, secure storage, a porch with a Brown County stone fire pit, and two upstairs rental units for visiting riders. The shop also hosts a community ride every Wednesday night when the trails are open.
Once the Sweetwater Dam crossing reopens, the next sign of the spillway project will likely show up on a District board agenda before it shows up at the lake. If you own at Cordry Sweetwater and want to talk through what shoreline infrastructure projects like this one mean for your property over time, Christopher Braun is glad to schedule a private consultation.
