Meadow Lake Dam
Meadow Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Adair County, Iowa, built in 1964. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Meadow Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Meadow 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 Tr-north Turkey Creek near Howe.
The dam stands 39 feet tall and stretches 920 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 42 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 770 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1964, 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 07/10/2024.
At 39 feet, this dam is taller than 86% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Iowa |
| County | Adair |
| Nearest City | Howe |
| River/Stream | Tr-north Turkey Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.38770, -94.43700 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 39 ft |
| Dam Height | 39 ft |
| Dam Length | 920 ft |
| Year Completed | 1964 (62 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 770 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 770 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 293 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 42 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 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 | 07/10/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA00020 |
| Federal ID | IA00020 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |