Diamondhead Lake Dam
Diamondhead Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Guthrie County, Iowa, built in 1963. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Diamondhead Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Diamondhead Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Long Branch Maintenance Corp (private). It impounds the Long Branch Creek near Van Meter.
The dam stands 43 feet tall and stretches 880 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 102 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,900 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 13 square miles. Completed in 1963, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 07/16/2019.
At 43 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Iowa |
| County | Guthrie |
| Nearest City | Van Meter |
| River/Stream | Long Branch Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.55870, -94.25960 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 43 ft |
| Dam Height | 43 ft |
| Dam Length | 880 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,900 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,900 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 825 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 102 acres |
| Drainage Area | 13 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Long Branch Maintenance Corp |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/16/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA00409 |
| Federal ID | IA00409 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |