Union Grove Lake Dam
Union Grove Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Tama County, Iowa, built in 1920. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Union Grove Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Union Grove 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 Deer Creek near Garwin.
The dam stands 29 feet tall and stretches 1,205 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 117 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,120 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11 square miles. Completed in 1920, the structure is over a century 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 10/03/2023.
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Location
| State | Iowa |
| County | Tama |
| Nearest City | Garwin |
| River/Stream | Deer Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.12430, -92.71950 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,205 ft |
| Year Completed | 1920 (106 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,120 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,120 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 770 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 117 acres |
| Drainage Area | 11 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Iowa Department of Natural Resources |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/03/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA01373 |
| Federal ID | IA01373 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |