Fontana Milldam is a gravity dam located in Buchanan County, Iowa, built in 1962. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 14 ft14 ft tall and 180 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Fontana Milldam
The primary purpose of Fontana Milldam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Buchanan County Conservation Board (local government). It impounds the Otter Creek near Hazelton.
The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 180 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 59 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 55 square miles. Completed in 1962, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. The most recent inspection on record was 12/23/1977. That was over 48 years ago.
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Location
| State | Iowa |
| County | Buchanan |
| Nearest City | Hazelton |
| River/Stream | Otter Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.60420, -91.90910 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Length | 180 ft |
| Year Completed | 1962 (64 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 280 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 59 acres |
| Drainage Area | 55 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Buchanan County Conservation Board |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 12/23/1977 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | IA00141 |
| Federal ID | IA00141 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |