Viking Lake Dam

Viking Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Montgomery County, Iowa, built in 1957. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.

About Viking Lake Dam

The primary purpose of Viking Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Iowa Department Of Natural Resources (state). It impounds the Dunns Creek near Villisca.

The dam stands 69 feet tall and stretches 1,220 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 148 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,450 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1957, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 05/10/2022.

At 69 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.

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Significant HazardFair ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Not Required

Location

StateIowa
CountyMontgomery
Nearest CityVillisca
River/StreamDunns Creek
Coordinates40.97660, -95.02820

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height69 ft
Dam Height69 ft
Dam Length1,220 ft
Year Completed1957 (69 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage3,450 acre-ft
Max Storage3,450 acre-ft
Normal Storage1,900 acre-ft
Surface Area148 acres
Drainage Area3 sq mi
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerIowa Department of Natural Resources
Owner TypeState
Hazard ClassificationSignificant
Condition AssessmentFair
Last Inspection05/10/2022
Emergency Action PlanNot Required

Identifiers

NID IDIA01366
Federal IDIA01366
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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