Don Williams Lake Dam
Don Williams Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Boone County, Iowa, built in 1965. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Don Williams Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Don Williams Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Boone County Conservation Board (local government). It impounds the Bluff Creek near Des Moines River.
The dam stands 58 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 160 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,680 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 33 square miles. Completed in 1965, 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 05/23/2022.
At 58 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
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Location
| State | Iowa |
| County | Boone |
| Nearest City | Des Moines River |
| River/Stream | Bluff Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.11100, -94.01800 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 58 ft |
| Dam Height | 58 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,680 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,680 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,764 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 160 acres |
| Drainage Area | 33 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Boone County Conservation Board |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/23/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA00134 |
| Federal ID | IA00134 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |